VeloNews: Tom Boonen left no doubt that he was king of the cobbles in 2012, winning Paris-Roubaix on Sunday with a long, solo effort. Boonen (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) escaped with teammate Niki Terpstra 55 kilometers from the finish and was quickly alone en route to his record-tying fourth win at the “Hell of the North.”

SteepHill - Start time: Sunday April 8 10:10 CET (1:10 AM PDT);
Earliest live video: 13:00 CET (3:00 AM PST);
Approximate finish 16:46 CET (7:46 AM PDT).

Paris - Roubaix - April 8 (Results),
Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco - April 2-7 (Stages & results),
Scheldeprijs - April 4 (Start list),
Circuit Cycliste Sarthe - April 3-6 (Stages & results),
UCI Track World Championships - April 4-8 (Races & results),
Tour of Flanders - Women - April 1 (Results),
Tour of Flanders - Men - April 1 (Results),
Cape Epic - March 25-April 1 (Races & results),
Amgen Tour of California - May 13-20 (Stages ),
More...

road.cc: Silver Swift and Thomas in Madison and Houvenaghel in pursuit, bronze for Varnish in TT where Australia's Meares sets new world record.

BikeRadar: The violence associated with Paris-Roubaix’s cobbles puts riders on unmodified road bikes at a distinct disadvantage. With that, Felt have modified their F1 for the Argos-Shimano team to fit the unique needs of the brutal race.

CXMagazine: Sure, it’s a little silly. But here at Cyclocross Magazine HQ, we’re getting in the Easter-egg-hunting spirit by imagining ourselves soaring effortlessly over barriers, like Zach McDonald or Jeremy Powers. Of course, none of the staff at CXM is capable of such feat (see: Is Joey OK? for elaboration), but it doesn’t mean that we can’t dream.

VeloNation: Hushovd, Ballan and Hincapie determined to show well.

Sanchez scoops Vuelta al Pais Vasco win with blazing time trial.

VeloNation: Euskaltel Euskadi rider defeats Rodriguez in wet, tricky conditions.

VeloNation: Trott takes the Omnium; Meyer responds with the Points Race; Baugé takes back his sprint crown; Meares gets a Keirin consolation.

Pedal: Ina Yoko Teutenberg (Ger) Specialized lululemon scored another sprint win at the Energiewacht women’s tour on Stage 3 in Midwolda, 110.4km, pipping Marianne Vos.

CycleSport: After four classics, the score is now Tom Boonen four, the rest of the world, nil.

RBAction: Evergreen American George Hincapie has admitted that this year could be his last Paris-Roubaix as he prepares to compete in the famous spring classic for a record-equaling 17th time on Sunday. Now 38, the likeable Hincapie arrived in France fresh from taking part in his 17th Tour of Flanders last weekend, an outright record which he described as "an honor" afterwards.

Track World Championships: Yet another World record falls as pre-Olympic competition closes.

VeloNation: Final day sees the fastest ever 500 metres, and the men’s Keirin won by the usual rider in an unusual way.

CyclingWeekly: The UCI rules state that only a current world champion may have rainbow piping on their equipment. When a rider no longer holds the title of world champion they may wear rainbow piping on the collar and cuffs of their jersey.

BikeRadar verdict: 4 out of 5 stars. "A great tool for tackling your local rides harder than ever, and it’s free. Well worth a fiddle."

CyclingNews: Lotto Belisol team principal Marc Sergeant has opened the door for Sep Vanmarcke joining his team, telling Cyclingnews that the 23-year-old could be their number one transfer target and that, “we need a guy like him."

RedKitePrayer: As “traditional” doping is the unwanted off-spring of progress in pharmacology, gene-doping is the evil spawn of the new science of gene therapy. Instead of altering DNA to resolve an existing mutation or attack a disease, cheaters are hoping to trigger genetic changes that will result in enhanced athletic performances.

CyclingNews: 32 names were listed in his final report, including Alessandro Ballan (BMC), Damiano Cunego (Lampre-ISD), Marco Bandiera (Omega-Quick Step), Marzio Bruseghin (Movistar), Mauro Da Dalto (Liquigas-Cannondale), Manuele Mori (Lampre-ISD), Massimiliano Mori (formerly of Lampre) Daniele Pietropolli (Lampre-ISD), Simone Ponzi (Astana), Mauro Santambrogio (BMC) and Michael Rasmussen (Christina Watches).

 

VeloNews: Every year, pro teams lining up for the most brutal road race of the calendar, Paris-Roubaix, search for ways to decrease the likelihood of punctures without limiting performance. It turns out there are a lot of ways to skin a cat. Wheel and tire selection, tire pressure, and the use of sealant are all hotly debated among riders, mechanics and manufacturer staff.

BikeRadar: Mother Nature constantly threatened rain at this year's Paris-Roubaix but the windy – but mostly dry – conditions kept both the riders and bikes relatively clean and definitely mud-free at the end of the day. Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) won his fourth title aboard Specialized's new S-Works Roubaix, Europcar captain Sebastien Turgot sprinted for second on a Colnago Cross Prestige, and Alessandro Ballan (BMC) came in third after starting in Compiègne on his brand-new BMC GranFondo GF01.

CyclingNews: Taylor Phinney (BMC) achieved the two aims he set out on in his first Paris-Roubaix, helping his team secure a podium place for Alessandro Ballan and finishing the race in 15th place.

BikeHugger: We rolled out of Valeciennes for a 10 mile warmup before our tour guides introduced us to what I would consider the worst feeling cobbles of the entire route. You hear all sorts of advice about riding cobbles… ride the gutter, ride the crown, ride a big gear, ride fast… none of it really applies to the Arenberg.

Today's Quote

“Paris-Roubaix is a race that is one of the most important in terms of experience playing a big role. It is such a hard race…your body takes a pounding unlike any other race on the calendar. I hope the team will look for me in the later part of the race to help a super Thor or a super Ale.” - George Hincapie VeloNation

Pedal: Ina Yoko Teutenberg (Ger) Specialized lululemon is now leading overall following Stage 4a in Winsum 71km, where she was second behind winner Kirsten Wild (Ned) AA Drink-Leontien.nl Cycling Team, and the 26.5km TTT on 4b from Veendam to Oude Pekela won by Specialized lululemon.

BikeRadar: Spin are best known for their titanium bikes but they have a penchant for deep-section carbon hoops too. Just arrived in the office are their new, hand-built Supersonic SSC50s. As with all things Spin, they're completely customisable.

MurrietaPatch: Trina Jacobson, of San Diego, placed highest among women in the Murrieta race, and Connor McCutcheon, of Big Bear Lake, highest among men. The Murrieta race—held March 9-11—was one of six qualifying races for the 2012 Nature Valley Grand Prix, slated for June 12-17 in Minnesota, according to a news release.

InnerRing: The weather for Sunday’s Paris-Roubaix race is uncertain but if riders make it to the finish then a shower is guaranteed. Indeed Paris-Roubaix must be the only race where the washing facilities make up part of the legend.

VeloNews: Largely unnoticed by the swarming European press corps, Davis Phinney looked on as his son – a two-time winner of Paris-Roubaix’s U23 edition – fielded questions alongside some of the sport’s biggest names: Thor Hushovd, Allesandro Ballan and George Hincapie. The experience was a special one for the former Team 7-11 sprinter.