Paris Roubaix

Paris Roubaix, the 'Queen of Classics' and the 'Hell of the North', South of Lille, France is known for pain and hardship. Paris Roubaix runs over 259 kilometres and has no hills to speak, but features 50k of 'Pave'. These cobbled section mark out this race as the toughest or most crazy, depending on your point of view.

Action in the Arenberg Forest - Pic Sirotti

The race begins in Compiegne, famous as the spot where the World War One Armistice was signed and some forty years later Hitler forced the French to sign surrender terms, on the same spot and in the same rail carriage. The 'Pave' sections have become French 'monuments' protected by law and cannot be tarmaced over. Usually used by local farmers on tractors the small tracks weave through areas devastated by WW1 and this blighted environment fostered it's 'Hell of the North' reputation.

Once the race has left Compiegne some 80 kilometres of metalled roads are run off at a high speed and then at Troisvilles the race is turned upside down when the firsts set of 'Pave' is reached. Thereon each rider is hoping to avoid crashing, puncturing or breaking a bike on the cobbles. After a succession of sections the team leaders will be mentally preparing for the Arenberg Forest, and will want to be near the front to avoid the crashes that haunt the forest. To call the 'Pave' rough is an understatement as the cobbles are more like grave stones jutting out of the track that sits above a mining tunnel. The race is not won at this point but can be lost.

With plenty of sections still to go the race will move onto the killer cobbles of Carrefour and L'Arbre, like the Arenberg the cobbles here are simply horrendous and barriers not only hold back the tens of thousands of fans, but also force the competitors to ride the worst bits of road. Race favourites such as Tom Boonen and others will have hoped to have joined a selection at this point or be away alone. The cobbles thereon are less severe and whether it be a sprint or a lone finish the Velodrome at Roubaix will erupt with noise and the winner, like all who complete the course will head to the showers with each cubicle bearing the name of a winner such as Eddy Merckx.

The lottery that is Paris Roubaix can be further complicated by the weather - if it's dry, dust chokes all making it almost impossible to breath and if wet the mud and water hides the pot holes and makes the cobbles slick coating the riders head to foot in a suit of mire.

Date/Website - April 13, Paris Roubaix FRA, (ASO) - /www.letour.fr/

Previous winners
2007 Stuart O’Grady
2006 Fabian Cancellera
2005 Tom Boonen
2004 Magnus Backstedt
2003 Peter Van Petegem
2002 Johan Museeuw
2001 Servais Knaven