Here are 10 reasons why the 257.5km spring Classic, Paris-Roubaix, is our favourite one-day race of the year. – By Whit Yost

10. Showering with the Pros?!

After the race, most riders climb into high-tech team buses for a hot shower and a change of clothes. But several still honour the tradition of heading to the cold, dingy showers of the Roubaix velodrome’s locker room. With bronze plaques honoring past winners in each stall, the setting is rustic, but historic. It’s the perfect place for a post-race interview, and journalists often huddle around the riders as they undress and wash the grime and sweat from the bodies. It’s not the most private or luxurious option, but it certainly adds another layer of authenticity to the Paris-Roubaix experience.

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