Paris-Roubaix, Part One

   I was reminded Sunday morning, during Eurosport’s coverage of Paris-Roubaix, that there is a distinct difference between the Cobbled Classics (Tour of Flanders or Paris-Roubaix) and Ardennes Classics (Flèche Wallone or Liège-Bastogne-Liège) later in the spring. Commentators David Harmon and Sean Kelly pointed out that, while everyone knows of the physically punishing sections of cobbles in the early spring contests, the later races have more difficult hills as they roll through the countryside and favor riders with more of an all-around ability.

Tom Boonen (left) won Sunday to tie him with legend Roger de Vlaeminck for most Roubaix wins, four.

   They also had a discussion on why, unlike the days of Francesco Moser and Eddy Merckx, we no longer see riders who excel at the Classics and major tours, and it all comes down to a specialization in modern bicycle racing. Sean explained that in the modern era of cycling, one-day events are contested at such a high tempo throughout, that riders are required to peak early in order to excel at the Classics, and the tour riders generally peak in the late spring to early summer. Teams select their squads for their particular strengths handling the topography of the course, and while you occasionally see cyclists more known for their climbing ability excel during the Ardennes Classics, generally the more powerful body types deal better with the harsh conditions of the North.
   Paris-Roubaix covers 261 kilometers (162 miles), of which 51.5 are covered in cobbles that have been in place since the rule of Napolean. Cobbles is actually a misnomer, since that would be more of a rounded pebble used in inner city streets, and the term pavé should be used instead. Granite setts, which are roughly hewn blocks, are used because they are considerably smoother, and believed to be safer, than cobbles.

   As television coverage of the race increased after World War II, mayors along the route resurfaced their cobbled roads for fear the rest of France would see them as backward and not invest in the region. Fearing that the race would become a boring, flat event that would lead to a pack sprint every year, race directors actively sought to preserve sections of pavè. Unfortunately many of these sections are used heavily as farm roads and are broken apart and covered in mud (see picture at right), which led to the formation of the Les Amis de Paris–Roubaix, the friends of the race, who help to maintain the route. The forçats du pavé (“forced” laborers), as they call themselves, will adopt a section of pave, sometimes ripping out severely damaged areas and completely resetting the stones.
   Maintenance of the course in no way means a smooth ride is on the menu. Not all sections receive the appropriate attention, and I think there is a real attempt to leave some difficulty in the race. Weather creates its own brand of fun as well - rainy days make the stones treacherous and the mud moves over the road quickly, while dry conditions see a choking cloud of dust trailing the riders and race caravan all day! Images of barely recognizable cyclists making their way to the post-race showers are standard media fare. By the way, the shower cubicles are named after past winners, and each is adorned with an appropriate plaque with that information.

   Here are two fantastic pictures I found - the one above includes barely recognizable American cyclist George Hincapie, who this year set a record for most finishes in Roubaix with 17, out in front of my all-time favorite cyclist, Johan Museeuw, a three time winner of this race. George and Johan finished 4th and 2nd, respectively, in this particularly messy 2001 race. Below, Kevin Ista shows extreme helmet head while attempting to rehydrate on the infield grass of the Roubaix Velodrome.

   The incredible amount of pounding over the uneven surface puts stress on rider and machine. George Hincapie crashed spectacularly in 2006 when his steerer tube snapped – just imagine riding along and having your handlebars suddenly come off! Cyclists have tried many modifications to their bicycles to better deal with the ever-present threat of flat tires and the accumulated strain on their bodies. Tubular tires are preferred because they have less pinch-flats than clincher rims, and riders are always experimenting with tire width and air pressure. Some companies have developed self-sealing tubes, but I haven’t heard that they are a miracle cure. Riders prevent sore hands with extra padding in their gloves or with extra layers of gel tape on the handlebars. Suspension systems similar to those found on mountain bikes have had some success, but modern frame materials dampen much vibration and eliminate the extra weight most pros aren’t willing to add with shock absorbers. One compromise seen in the peloton has been the use of the more relaxed geometry of a cyclocross frame.

   I’ll continue with more stories from Paris-Roubaix next week, but I’ll finish this article with a quote from Chris Horner, American cyclist currently racing for the Radio Shack-Nissan team: “They plowed a dirt road, flew over it with a helicopter, and then just dropped a bunch of rocks out…That's Paris–Roubaix. It's that bad - it's ridiculous."