Paris-Roubaix: Hell of the North Sunday

The Spring Classics come to a crescendo this Sunday at Paris-Roubaix in northern France.

Run over roughly cobbled farm-tracks, the race wreaks havoc on riders’ bodies and bikes like no other race on the calendar. The stones batter the riders. They wrap their bars with extra-tape and run lower pressures in special tires on special bikes but nothing really lessens the blows. It is a race of attrition. Before every section of cobbles, there is a fight for position. Every rider wants to be at the front. Behind, it is chaos. On the stones, in the scrum, riders often crash or puncture while gaps open up that are costly to close. In front, it is easier to hold a good line, to avoid crashes, to maintain momentum, and to be ready to respond to attacks. So they fight and  for six or so hours, the battle goes on. Those that remain at the front are the strongest, smartest, and bravest. Usually, they have the best teams. There is no room for error; one small mistake can set a contender back for the remainder of the race.

In the rain, the stones are especially treacherous; if it is dry, everyone is choked by the dust. The wind is always a factor.

In the finale, we see cycling in its purest, most combative form. There is nowhere to hide. The race is decided by tactics and tiredness, as well as raw strength. Everything is on the line. For men of the classics, that cobblestone trophy is the pinnacle.

Of the contenders on Sunday, three have previously won the race: Tom Boonen, Fabian Cancellara and Johan Vansummeren. Vansummeren is coming off of a nasty crash in last weekend’s Ronde Van Vlaanderen in which a spectator was nearly killed. He is shaken but will take the start. Boonen and Cancellara each have a chance to write history. Boonen sits, tied with Roger de Vlaeminck, with four wins in his career, the most of any rider in the history of race. A win on Sunday would make him Paris-Roubaix’s greatest champion.

Cancellara has the chance to join Boonen and De Vlaeminck on the list of all time greats. He is looking for his fourth win at Paris-Roubaix and, after last Sunday’s win at De Ronde, is the favourite.

Other threats include Sep Vanmarcke, the only rider able to match Cancellara on the climbs in Flanders and Greg Van Avermaet, the most aggressive rider in last Sunday’s finale. Niki Terpstra, Zdeněk Štybar, Peter Sagan, John Degenkolb, and Alexander Kristoff are also possibilities. Former Tour de France winner, Bradley Wiggins will take the start as well.

Jürgen Roelandts, Matti Breschel, and Stijn Devolder, will all miss the race after incurring injuries in Flanders. Sylvain Chavanel is sick and won’t start.

The forecast is calling for clear skies with a strong headwind, which will discourage solo attacks.

Canada will be represented by Europcar’s Antoine Duchesne and Ag2r-La Mondiale’s Hugo Houle.