Robinski Wins First MR Crown

Beats Hushvod in two up sprint to take victory.

Robinski

It is said that the five qualities needed to win in the SanRaflaael Velodrome are Luck, Strength, Luck, Tactics and Luck. That held true today in the Marin-Roubaix where a resurgent Jimmy Robinski, after a nearly 200km escape with Ken Hushvod, pipped his breakaway companion at the line to claim a hard won victory. 

It was a strong field that rolled out under clear skies and warm winds from the Hushvod Boosters Club to contest the 87th edition of the Marin-Roubaix. Everyone expected a very tactical race but the group was taken aback when Hushvod launched an attack at the first sprint point, only a few kms into the day. Shortly thereafter, perhaps sensing the possibility for a winning move, Robinski jumped across and quickly bridged to Hushvod and the duo quickly pushed their advantage to 5 minutes over a disinterested peloton. The gap grew even further when Jonas Lodewick suffered a puncture at Pau Clouf and was delayed by an absent support car. 

As Robinski and Hushvod rolled on, Lodewick, Marcus Clijisters, Thibauld Thomas and Ravan Moezzerts were able to chase back and regain contact at Cirque du Camp Chinois with the main group containing RA VonSchmidt and Stijn Cherry. Almost immediately Lodewick, with Clijisters on his wheel attacked straight through the bunch and quickly built up a gap through L'Arivee d'Bucks as Cherry, VonSchmidt, Thomas and Moezzerts were briefly detained by an enraged local protestor.

With Hushvod and Robinski nowhere in sight and having seemingly built an insurmountable lead, Clijisters and Lodewick looked to be ready to duel it out for the final podium spot when Clijisters suffered an untimely puncture of his own. 

Lodwick with perfect 

form on the bike throw

While chasing back through the dreaded Railroad d'Arenberg, Lodewick was struck by the Cerberus Curse with his 2nd and third flats of the day. A nearby fan captured a picture of the enraged Lodewick in full "Bjarne Riis mode" before he retired from the fake-race.

Ahead, Hushvod did his best to distance and crack Robinski but the wily Russian held on to the velodrome at L'Ecole du SanRafaael and came over the top to clip the dejected Hushvod at the line. Moezzerts out foxed the rest of the bunch to come home for the remaining step of the podium.

Podium L to R: Hushvod, Robinski, Moezzerts