Easter is right around the corner, and Paris - Roubaix is just two hangovers away. With the smell of Belgian frites and Ale, that is more alcohol than water, wafting in the air it is a good time to start a fight. Roubaix is in France -if you did not know. It is flat, but it is super long and the roads are, for lack of a pretty word, Crap. Made by conquering Romans millions of billions of years ago out of big freaking rocks. Let's ride bikes on them. Great idea. Vlaanderen is in Belgium, and is not flat and has crappy roads also. Vlaanderen has a kick arse flag. Roubaix has a concrete velodrome. Vlaanderen is long and has crazy wind.
Which is the "harder" race? That will start the verbal fists flying. I love them both. I have a favorite, so I am biased out the wazoo. I think that Vlaanderen gets so overlooked because people "just don't know". Roubaix is way more popular and gets a ton of press. Both races are hardman races. One has to be a different breed of rider to win these contests. Merckx, Museeuw, Vlaeminck, Moser, Boonen are a few names that have turned themselves inside-out, broken themselves down, and crushed souls over the harsh roads of Northern France. Who is the Best Roubaix winner?
Who is your favorite for this edition of the race? Is it going to be a new winner of l'enfer du nord? Or are we going to have a repeat? Will the winner of Vlaanderen have that special touch and be able to pull off the Vlaanderen - Roubaix double? Can George pull off a top 100? 50? 25? 15? Is it going to be another win by a darkhorse? Are you bold enough to make a prediction? Who is going to be standing at the side of the road waiting and waiting and waiting for the team car?
Fighting words:
My favorite: Tom Boonen
2012 Roubaix winner: Not bold enough, want to see Tom make it a double (2005) again and to get his 4th.
Best ever winner: Sorry Eddy, Vlaeminck did it 4 times
Ronde van Vlaanderen is the harder of the two in my opinion
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