So Paris-Roubaix is happening as we type this. The pros have just raced through the forest of Arenberg on some of the toughest pavé in the race and they’ve got less than two hours until they finish in the Roubaix velodrome. Canyon bikes has put together a series of videos on what they are calling the Trinity of classics. Paris-Roubaix is their second choice, and they also break it into another trinity of the 3 most critical and sketchy secteurs of cobbles. They hot the three that get five star ratings, starting with the Trouée d’Arenberg, then Mons-en-Pévèle and Carrefour de l’Arbre. If you didn’t have time to spend 6 hours chasing the race today, this is a good place to start before we see how it turns out.
Check out more classics recaps with Canyon’s Ronde van Vlaanderen Trinity after the break, a pre-Roubaix prep video from Sunweb, plus follow Jeremy Powers in Iceland, and a bit of trail fun with Cotic….
The first of the northern Spring Classics, De Ronde van Vlaanderen was also the first of the Monuments that Canyon is highlighting in their Trinities series, getting into the courses that set the mood for elite racing in Europe. “Across Flanders, connoisseurs are able to recall the action that unfolded at key crunch points in years gone by; who was in the breakaway up the Koppenberg, who got dropped on the Oude Kwaremont, or who launched their race-winning assault over the Kapelmuur. Although the course may change from one year to the next, this trinity remains a staple that will forever be at the heart of De Ronde.”
Team Sunweb has a pre-Roubaix video too. It gives a bit of insight into their preparations for the third Monument of the season. After getting the win in 2015 Sunweb returns to northern France with a wealth of cobblestone power and experience. The video shows what preparing for the extremes is all about details and precision in equipment.
Ride with JPows and his Focus Paralane in Iceland. The Focus Paralane is both a fast road bike, but capable of hitting all manner of terrain. Focus claims it has adventure molded into its DNA. Focus does Factory builds of many of their bikes that are something of an ideal spec envisioned by their pro riders and bike designers. Powers joined Focus in Iceland on the Factory version of the Paralane with its 1x drivetrain and 30mm tires to take on some terrain unknown to him, ready for any track, trail, or weather.
With all of those off-road road shenanigans, Cotic gives us a look at some proper trail riding. They say that “Sheffield is at peace. It’s quiet….maybe TOO quiet.” For just a couple of minutes their own caped superhero Rocketman returns on a fat tired squishy bike. He must chase down the evil Straightline. OK, it’s more of a silly story and an ode against new standards, but there is still some fun riding hidden in there too. It’s a follow-up to the original Rocketman – What Would Rocketman Ride – video and then part Rocketman two the – Rise of Straightline.
