Here are 10 reasons why the 257.5km spring Classic, Paris-Roubaix, is our favourite one-day race of the year. – By Whit Yost
1. Seeing Riders Take On the Cobblestones
Paris-Roubaix is by far the flattest of cycling’s five Monuments (the oldest, hardest, and most legendary one-day races in professional cycling), but don’t let that fool you: It’s the most punishing race on the calendar. The reason? About 53 kilometres of roads lined with cobblestones (called pavé), many of which are hundreds of years old.
These aren’t the decorative cobblestones you might find lining a suburban driveway. No, these are large stones―about the size of a baby’s head (in Dutch they’re actually called kinderkoppen, which means just that)―that look and feel as if they’ve been dropped into place from the sky. These stones give the race its character, and believe it or not, they’re an endangered species: A volunteer organisation called Les Amis de Paris Roubaix is dedicated to protecting them from re-paving and maintaining them so that they can be used in the race year.
Here are 10 reasons why the 257.5km spring Classic, Paris-Roubaix, is our favourite one-day race of the year. – By Whit Yost
2. The Final Laps in the Velodrome
Track cycling was one of the world’s most popular sports in the late-19th century, and most major cities in Europe (and many in the United States) had velodromes. Roubaix opened its first outdoor velodrome in 1895 and, according to cycling historian Peter Cossins, would host several stars over the coming years including African-American legend Marshall “Major” Taylor and Frenchman Maurice Garin, who later won the inaugural Tour de France.
In an attempt to generate some buzz about the new velodrome, in 1896 local officials decided to host a road race (still a relatively new kind of cycling event) that would start in Paris and finish in the velodrome. While the original velodrome is now gone, the tradition remains. A “newer” velodrome was built in the mid-20th century, and riders have been finishing Paris-Roubaix with 1.5 laps of its concrete track (with a few exceptions) since 1943. That means spectators get a great view of the action when it counts!
Here are 10 reasons why the 257.5km spring Classic, Paris-Roubaix, is our favourite one-day race of the year. – By Whit Yost
3. You’re a History Buff
Paris-Roubaix is known “affectionately” as “the Hell of the North”—and not, says Cossins, because of its cobblestones.
The race was forced to take a few years off during World War I. After the war, the race organisation sent a small team out to scout the race course, much of which went right through some of the bloodiest battlegrounds of the war. They were shocked with the devastation that was left in the Great War’s wake, a hellish landscape that hardly resembled the countryside that had hosted the race in prior years.
In addition to giving the race its nickname, the war took the lives of two of Roubaix’s earliest champions, Octave Lapize and Francois Faber, and the 1919 edition began with a minute of silence in honour of those who had lost their lives.
Here are 10 reasons why the 257.5km spring Classic, Paris-Roubaix, is our favourite one-day race of the year. – By Whit Yost
4. Oh Man, the Mud!
Mud often plays a role in determining the outcome of Paris-Roubaix, as many of its roads are used primarily by farmers throughout the rest of the year. As a result, by early April the stones are often covered with a layer of thick, slippery mud. If it’s dry, this mud turns to a fine dust that covers the riders and their bikes in a brown, talc-like powder. If it’s wet, they’re coated in a thick, gooey paste of manure and grime that often makes it hard just to tell who’s who.
The mud is so bad this year that race organisers are even thinking of re-routing the race to avoid some of the more treacherous sections. Such a decision would be hated by fans, but welcomed by the peloton.
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.
Here are 10 reasons why the 257.5km spring Classic, Paris-Roubaix, is our favourite one-day race of the year. – By Whit Yost
6. Oggling the Next-Gen Equipment
For an event as punishing as Paris-Roubaix, riders, staff, and team equipment sponsors have long sought effective methods of softening the blow of the pavé: Wider, suppler handmade tubulars to dampen the ride and prevent pinch flats; skateboard deck tape to keep water bottles in place; and extra layers of handlebar tape to protect riders’ hands are some of the more popular contemporary modifications. Suspension forks, dual-suspension framesets, and cyclocross bikes have been used in the past.
This year we’ll see more controversial disc brake set-ups as well as various suspension arrangements which are employed to dampen the severity of the cobbles.
Here are 10 reasons why the 257.5km spring Classic, Paris-Roubaix, is our favourite one-day race of the year. – By Whit Yost
7. Legendary Contenders, Heated Rivalry
Belgium’s Tom Boonen (Quick-Step Floors) already has four Roubaix victories on his resume, and could break the record with his fifth win Sunday. Boonen’s form isn’t too bad right now but he’s been stronger: He hopes to capitalise on his experience and his incredibly strong team this year. Greg Van Avermaet, Peter Sagan and reigning champion, Mat Hayman, will be his biggest threats come Sunday.
Here are 10 reasons why the 257.5km spring Classic, Paris-Roubaix, is our favourite one-day race of the year. – By Whit Yost
8. Even the Fans Are Worth Watching
Thousands of fans line each of Paris-Roubaix’s 27 secateurs, or sections, of cobblestones, eager for first-hand looks at the action. In fact, with a good driver and a map, it’s possible to jump ahead and see four or five sections throughout the race. Of course, the fans become rowdier and more intense as the race progresses, fueled by beer and the hope that their favourite rider will win. Just over the border from Belgium, Belgian fans are especially common. Some come down in RVs several days before the race bringing flags, costumes, and—did we mention beer?
Here are 10 reasons why the 257.5km spring Classic, Paris-Roubaix, is our favourite one-day race of the year. – By Whit Yost
9. The Challenges Don’t Stop at the Finish Line
A race this tough deserves a trophy to match its character. So it makes sense that the winner of Paris-Roubaix receives his own, full-size cobblestone. The sight of an exhausted, skinny-armed cyclist trying to lift the heavy prize over his head has become one of the more comical sights in professional cycling. And yes, several have dropped it—luckily not on themselves. Imagine the display case Tom Boonen will need if he manages to win his fifth cobbled trophy!
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.