La Trouée d’Arenberg
 
Paris-Roubaix 2010
 
I went to see Paris-Roubaix Sunday. If the only bike race you know about is the Tour de France, this is the second one you should learn about. It’s one of the “spring classics” and was first run in 1896. This is one HUGE race for the Belgians. Belgian riders basically own it: 53 wins in 108 runnings, almost twice as many as second-place France. It helps that it takes place just a few miles across the border. It’s famous for the cobblestones: about one-fifth of the total distance is run on almost 30 cobbled sections. Cobblestones are absolute total crap to ride on (pardon my French), so of course everyone loves watching the pros ride down them at 55 kph.
 
A path runs from the "parking lot" (anywhere you can find a spot on the side of the road) through this park to the course.
The Trouée d'Arenberg - section 17 of the cobbles
2.4 km lined with fans the whole way
One of the cops whose job it was to keep the fans off the race course
And a colleague keeping people off the bridge
The flag of Flanders features prominently at any cycling event...and the canonization of Father Damian.
Team car
An Argentine fan
The crowd was huge.
For some reason only one side of the route was barricaded.
Jersey pockets: Not just for energy bars in Belgium
The Tom Boonen fans beside me.
Les pavés - the cobbles
In Belgium we say, "You can't make a bike race without breaking open beers."
The riders are getting closer, but not from the direction these guys are looking.
Paris-Roubaix is murder on wheels.
So much so that there’s a special, neutral wheel car, sponsored by the Mavic wheel people of course
Generic crowd shot
The outriders use motocross bikes rather than the usual road bikes.
Or ride standing up
See?
Or both
The race leaders-- a breakaway group
A French or Belgian spectator remarked on this helmetless rider: "He's nuts!"
They learn it from the cradle.
It ain't over till the fat lady rides by. Off the road, buddy!
And then everybody troops home.
Back through the woods
It was a very pretty walk and a lovely day.
The hill is mine tailings.
It will eventually be just a hill.
There were deep, water-filled ditches on either side of the path, and a sign somewhat redundantly warned you not to leave the path.
This used to be big coal country.