Vahetada Pariis-Roubaix'l ratast või mitte?

To change a bike or not to change a bike at Paris-Roubaix?

Sunday's Paris-Roubaix is a race in two acts – the first two hours are on completely flat roads, and then, between the third and fourth hours, the 30 cobblestone sectors begin.

For the cobblestones, cyclists often use bikes specially adapted for this race, which can better withstand the uneven road surface, but this can come at the cost of speed during the first two hours. Nevertheless, four-time Paris-Roubaix winner Tom Boonen believes this is part of the race's essence.

"I've seen it 15 times, and nobody has ever benefited from it. Riders who try it think they're saving energy in the first 100 kilometers by riding a faster-rolling bike," Boonen said.

He has seen Mathieu van der Poel do it, but the Belgian believes it doesn't actually help. Not because it doesn't help at all, but because Roubaix is often like a roller coaster – constantly changing and unpredictable – and such a strategy can be a big risk in a race that often proceeds at a relentless pace from start to finish.

"You don't want to change your bike too early because you want to benefit from a faster-rolling bike for as long as possible. But you also don't want to leave the change too late, because then you won't get back to the front in time to hit the first cobblestone sector at the right moment. So much stress just to save 15 watts," Boonen analyzed.

In recent years, especially after Matthew Hayman's shocking victory in 2016, most teams have focused on getting their riders into the early breakaway of the day to give them more tactical options later, avoid positional battles, and give them a chance to aim for a good result. This means that in some years, riders may not enjoy a calm ride at all before the cobbles.

And if someone uses the bike change strategy, they become vulnerable to potential collective attacks. "Competitors watch when Van der Poel changes bikes. They keep the pace high and do everything they can to make it difficult for Van der Poel to rejoin the group," Boonen said.

 

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