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

5. Race Sections So Wild, They Get Their Own Nicknames

Each stretch of pavé is called a secteur. There are 27 of them in this year’s edition, each of which is given a star rating according to its length, the irregularity of the cobblestones, the general condition of the sector, and its location within the race. Of these 27 sectors, the most famous has to be the 5-star Trouée d’Arenberg or “Arenberg Trench” through the forest of Wallers.

Known by aficionados simply as “the Forest,” this 2.4km sector marks the first significant battleground of the race. Riders must emerge from the forest safely in order to remain in contention for the win. As such, there’s an intense battle to enter the stretch at the front of the charging peloton, and crashes are common as riders try to maintain their speed and position over the Forest’s dangerous stones.

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