Paris-Roubaix

Born in the era when races were publicity machines for sponsors, Paris-Roubaix is one of the oldest one-day races and celebrated its centenary in 1996. Since the demise of Paris-Bordeaux, it is the only modern-day race which truly echoes those times around the turn of the century when the heroic marathon endeavours of racing cyclists captured the imagination of the public across Europe.

To many this is the Queen of the classics - its character coming from the sections of cobbles towards the end of the race, usually totalling around 65 kms of the 265 kms route, that batter the riders into submission. Only a very strong rider will win on the velodrome in Roubaix.

Luck, and the weather, play an influencing role on the race. Many riders have their chances ruined by a plague of punctures, or by being held up behind someone else's crash. There is the argument that if you want to win you have to ride in the front 6 on the cobbles but even so there is still a great element of chance. Not for nothing is the race known as "The Hell of the North".

Now France's sole one-day classic, in recent years the French fans who line the route in their thousands and pack the stadium in Roubaix have had little to cheer bar Duclos-Lasalle's wins in 1992 and 1993. But cheer they do, and any rider managing to finish this magnificent race can expect a warm welcome at the finish.

We hope you enjoy our selection of articles on this, cycling's last link with its eccentric past. Just click on the cobbles or the text links below...

The Hell Of The North

Relive some of the notable achievements on the road to Roubaix in our Potted History of the race and its competitors...

The Road To Roubaix

In 1967 Jan Janssen won We have a contemporary report and pictures from the race...
In 1981 Bernard Hinault was at his peak and wore his rainbow jersey to victory in Roubaix, the first French winner in over 25 years...
In 1982 Hinault had to settle for 9th place. We have a pictorial of the race...
If you were watching, then 1994 was a truly vintage year for Paris-Roubaix. If you were a rider then it was a very bad year indeed...

Official Paris-Roubaix Site

Other Paris-Roubaix Links