Those are hallowed words in the world of cycling. I understand that probably few of my readers know, or even care to know about the professional racing scene. But I hope, in some regard, that this blog gives a peak into the sometimes bizarre and often misunderstood world of competitive cycling.
First off, "What grand thing could possibly come out of nothern France and Belgium in early Spring?" Other than the Chunnel (The English Channel tunnel) and waffles, 99% of the population would be hard-pressed to respond differently if at all. To get back to the question, quite simply, the two greatest bike races in the world. Why? The calendar of the highest level of professional cycling is broken into 8 pillars. 3 grand tours (three-week-long stage races) and 5 single day classics. Of the grand tours, Le Tour de France takes the cake. On the classic's side, Paris-Roubaix is generally the most highly esteemed with the Tour of Flanders just a quick step behind (I can hear the Belgians guffawing already at that statement). And it just so happens that I live in the breadbasket of all three, with two of them on back to back weekends! Oohh la chance!
So what makes Paris-Roubaix so great? It doesn't have any iconic climbs like the Tour of Flanders. In fact, it is completely flat! So why is this the toughest test to both man and machine in the world? One word - pavé. French for "cobblestones", this course serves up the gnarliest chunks of rock - which when laid together barely give semblance to the term "road"- the world over. Yep, 50 kilometers (30 miles) of these little bastards (pardon my French) dot the course that runs from Compiegne to Roubaix - 260 km in total (160 miles). And to add to the suffering, the early spring weather in this part of the world is less than accommodating. 40 degree (F) temperatures, rain, and mud are the norm. It the only professional race where lightweight, high tech racing bikes bread to fly are severely bogged down with tank-like reinforcements to simply stay in one piece for the race's duration - and even then, these steeds have been known to break apart and fall away beneath the riders during the race. Crashes and tire punctures come quick and often. It is a race where the racing tactics are simple and there are no fluke winners. Quite frankly, the strongest man WILL win. It has been this way since 1896, and for these reasons it has deserving garnered the title "Hell of the North". You either love it or hate it.
So why, again, am I telling you this. Well, because this Sunday I'm hoping on my bike in a quest to see if I have what it takes to take on the Queen of the Classics in all her splendor. The weather forecasts for Sunday have just changed - they're now calling for thunderstorms, and I'm admittedly a bit nervous. For one, I've never attempted anything close to that distance and two...well you got to see the cobbles to believe them! Why these roads where ever created is simply beyond me.
I was blessed enough to be in attendance to the 2010 edition of this professional race at the most famous section of pavé - La Trouée d'Arenberg. The following are some of the videos I took. Enjoy!
