Sunday, April 10th will mark the 109th edition of Paris-Roubaix. The "Hell of the North" will once more test the toughest men in the pro peloton with 21 cobblestone sections totaling 51.5km of pain throughout the 258km parcours. In these ten images,
peloton offers but a modest glimpse at the magic and madness of Paris-Roubaix.
As with every monument on the cycling calendar, the winner of Paris-Roubaix is a deserved one. He is a winner who has escaped bad luck, probably had some good luck, and most of all has had the legs and the heart to fight to the bitter end. Whether in a sprint or on a lone escape, the final lap and a half of the Roubaix velodrome represent nirvana for the rider who emerges victorious in the most iconic of classics.
Allez, sur les pavés!