First run in 1896, Paris–Roubaix is one of cycling's oldest races. It is well known for the many 'cobbled sectors' over which it runs, being considered, along with the Ronde van Vlaanderen and Gent-Wevelgem to be one of the cobbled classics.
Since 1977, the winner of Paris–Roubaix has received a sett (cobble stone) as part of his prize. In recent years, the terrain over which Paris–Roubaix runs has led to specialized bikes, with unique frames and wheels, being used. Punctures and other mechanical problems are extremely common because of this terrain, and often play a part in who is able to ultimately make it to Roubaix with momentum.
2010 Paris-Roubaix News
Photo Special: Paris-Roubaix 2010: Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank) underlined his peerless form on the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix, launching a lone attack and rapidly opening up a chasm of time between his frantically chasing rivals. Cycling photographer Graham Watson was there to record the occasion, and we present a selection of his best shots from the day as it unfurled.
Link: Photo Special: Paris-Roubaix 2010 | Latest News | Cycling Weekly
Cervélo surprises with stars missing: Despite an inauspicious Classics campaign thus far, Cervélo TestTeam surprised in yesterday's Paris-Roubaix, with Thor Hushovd and Roger Hammond taking second and fourth respectively.
Link: Cervélo Surprises With Stars Missing | Cyclingnews.com
Devolder's unlucky run continues at Roubaix: While Quick Step's Tom Boonen missed out on a much hoped for fourth victory at Paris-Roubaix on Sunday, his team-mate Stijn Devolder was forced to contend with yet another day of bad luck at the 2010 Classics.
Link: Devolder's Unlucky Run Continues At Roubaix | Cyclingnews.com
Hoste's love-hate relationship with Roubaix continues: Leif Hoste (Omega Pharma-Lotto) continued his love-hate relationship with Paris-Roubaix in France on Sunday. The Belgian tends to get the best out of himself during 'the Queen of the Classics', but often bad luck has kept him from a podium spot or even victory.
link: Hoste's Love-hate Relationship With Roubaix Continues | Cyclingnews.com
Fab doubles up title wins: Fabian Cancellara won the Paris-Roubaix for a second time - his second one-day classic victory in eight days.
He won by two minutes, dominating a field including three-time winner Tom Boonen of Belgium. The Swiss rider also won the Tour of Flanders last week.
link: Fab doubles up title wins - mirror.co.uk
Cancellara conquers the cobblestones - again! : Repeating his incredible show of strength from Flanders last week, the colossus that is Fabian Cancellara (Team Saxo Bank) attacked 48 km out, riding everyone off his wheel, to add another cobblestone to his ever-growing collection.
Link:Cycling: Cancellara conquers the cobblestones - again! | OTHER SPORTS News
Top 10 finish for Roulston in France: Hayden Roulston performed strongly to finish 10th in the gruelling Paris-Roubaix road race in France today to highlight a mixed day for New Zealand cyclists.
The Olympic track silver medallist led the Team HTC-Columbia challenge to finish almost seven minutes behind the winner, Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara, who was in a class of his own in the 259km race.
link: Top 10 finish for Roulston in France | Stuff.co.nz
Garmin-Transitions' Roubaix wrecked by crashes: Tyler Farrar's Garmin-Transitions team was one of the first teams to depart Roubaix on Sunday and head back to the hotel in Belgium that they call home during the cobbled Classics.
Link: Garmin-Transitions' Roubaix Wrecked By Crashes | Cyclingnews.com
Knaven rides into the record books at Roubaix: Servais Knaven (Milram) created history on Sunday at Paris-Roubaix as he equalled the record set by Belgian Raymond Impanis by completing his sixteenth edition of the famous cobbled Classic.
link: Knaven Rides Into The Record Books At Roubaix | Cyclingnews.com
Cancellara powers to Paris Roubaix glory: Swiss star Fabian Cancellara rode clear of the leading group to win the Paris Roubaix cycling classic on Sunday and complete a rare double having claimed the Tour of Flanders earlier this spring.
The 'Hell of the North' is traditionally an event for the strongmen of the sport who have to negotiate 27 sections of cobblestones and the reigning Olympic time trial champion perfectly fits the bill.
Link: Cancellara powers to Paris Roubaix glory - CNN.com
Flecha secures Sky's spot on the Roubaix podium: Everyone from Team Sky, including special guest James Murdoch, cheered Juan Antonio Flecha as he entered the velodrome with Thor Hushovd (Cervélo TestTeam) to fight for the places on the podium. For a few moments they hoped he could perhaps take second behind Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank), but in the final metres of the final lap of the circuit Hushovd dived down the banking and snatched it from him in the sprint.
link: Flecha Secures Sky's Spot On The Roubaix Podium | Cyclingnews.com
Cancellara Wins Second Paris-Roubaix: Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland won the Paris-Roubaix race in France, capturing the event for a second time and claiming his second victory in a one-day classic in eight days. He won by two minutes a week after his victory in the Tour of Flanders.
link: Sports Briefing - Cycling - Cancellara Wins Second Paris-Roubaix - NYTimes.com
Paris-Roubaix 2010: Fabian Cancellara blows away rivals to win second successive Classic: Cancellara, who won last week's Tour of Flanders after dropping Tom Boonen on the penultimate climb, once again, turned to his brilliant time-trialling skills as the world champion destroyed an impressive field that were simply unable to challenge the 29 year-old.
Link: Paris-Roubaix 2010: Fabian Cancellara blows away rivals to win second successive Classic - Telegraph
Fabian Cancellara cruises to Paris-Roubaix victory: The 29-year-old Swiss backed up his Tour of Flanders victory with a solo success in the cobbled classic known as "The Hell of the North".
In a performance reminiscent of his win seven days ago, Cancellara, of Team Saxo Bank, burst away with little more than 40 of the 259-km race remaining and no one could compete with him as he won the race for a second time, finishing with a lap of honour in the Roubaix velodrome.
Link: Fabian Cancellara cruises to Paris-Roubaix victory | Sport | guardian.co.uk
Hushovd satisfied with second place at Paris-Roubaix: After a Classics campaign hampered by illness, Thor Hushovd (Cervélo TestTeam) was pleased with his runner-up spot in Paris-Roubaix on Sunday. It capped a good day for Cervélo, which has struggled to emulate its success in the Classics 12 months ago.
Link: Hushovd Satisfied With Second Place At Paris-Roubaix | Cyclingnews.com
Boonen rues lapse in concentration at Roubaix: The 108th edition of Paris-Roubaix had been presented as a duel between Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank) and Tom Boonen (Quick Step). Cancellara was in a position to crack the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix double, while a fourth win in Roubaix for Boonen would have put him level with record holder Roger De Vlaeminck.
link: Boonen Rues Lapse In Concentration At Roubaix | Cyclingnews.com
Cancellara cracks his rivals on the road to Roubaix: When Fabian Cancellara attacks and opens a gap, he has the physical ability to leave the best of the peloton behind, but after winning the second Paris-Roubaix title of his career on Sunday the 29-year-old now also knows he can defeat them on a psychological level too.
Link: Cancellara Cracks His Rivals On The Road To Roubaix | Cyclingnews.com
Paris- Roubaix - Liquigas-Doimo: Liquigas-Doimo has chosen seven riders to face Paris-Roubaix, planned on Sunday 11th April. Directeur sportif Stefano Zanatta, in charge to lead the team will have at his disposal a young and tough line-up lead by two experience riders, Manuel Quinziato and Frederik Willems.
"We believe in the abilities of our talented young riders," explained Zanatta, "and we want give them the opportunity to compete in an important race such as Paris-Roubaix".
Link: Daily Peloton - Pro Cycling News
Team BMC Racing Tackles 2010 Paris-Roubaix on BMC SLR01 Bikes: It is not by chance that George Hincapie, Marcus Burghardt and their teammates rely on the properties and qualities of the SLR01 to tackle the 27 cobblestone sections of the Paris-Roubaix 2010. Thanks to the Tuned Compliance Concept (TCC) the teammachine is the perfect weapon for the BMC Racing Teams to challenge the Hell of the North.
Link: Team BMC Racing Tackles 2010 Paris-Roubaix on BMC SLR01 Bikes - Cycling Product Reviews and Tech - Roadcycling.com
Boom and Posthuma lead Rabobank: Last year Rabobank had Juan Antonio Flecha but with his departure to Sky the team doesn't have a true, single leader. However in Joost Posthuma and Lars Boom, Rabobank has two dangerous cards to play in Paris-Roubaix. Time trial specialist Posthuma usually has a go in the long breakaway but former cyclo-cross world champion Lars Boom could go well after making a strong impression during last week's Tour of Flanders.
Link: Boom And Posthuma Lead Rabobank | Cyclingnews.com
All eyes on Fabian Cancellara as riders gear up for Paris-Roubaix: The sporting world at large might always acclaim the annual Tour de France winner as the world's best cyclist, but those within the sport, viewing the entire spectrum of achievement across a 10 month season, are more discerning and most commentators would currently afford that accolade to Switzerland's Fabian Cancellara.
Link: All eyes on Fabian Cancellara as riders gear up for Paris-Roubaix - Telegraph
Paris-Roubaix: Boonen readies for Sunday's battle: Yesterday the Quick Step team completed their traditional reconnaissance of the Paris-Roubaix route. The riders who are taking part in the race rode 85 kilometres of the parcours starting with the 17th sector of cobbles, the Troueé d’Arenberg, and finishing at the 6th sector, the Cysoing à Bourghelles.
Link: Paris-Roubaix: Boonen readies for Sunday's battle | VeloNation Cycling News and Reference
Stuart O'Grady geared for tough ride from Paris to Roubaix: STUART O'Grady says there is nowhere for a rider to hide on the cobblestone roads to Roubaix.
Seasoned professionals will tell you to be first across the finish line in the race they call, among other things, the Hell of the North takes character, guts and determination -- qualities O'Grady, 36, has in truckloads.
Link: Stuart O'Grady geared for tough ride from Paris to Roubaix | The Australian
Paris-Roubaix toughness is not cobblers: If you thought the Tour of Flanders was tough on the peloton, think again. They don’t call Paris-Roubaix the “Hell of the North’’ without good reason. The 260km one day classic is tough on both rider and machine with no less than 28 different sections run over the famed French cobblestones. And there’s no shortage of Australians in the field led by 2007 winner Stuart O’Grady from Saxo Bank.
Link: Paris-Roubaix toughness is not cobblers | The Australian
O'Grady does it again - succumbs, recovers, stars: STUART O'GRADY was savouring his best performance in a bike race for months when his teammates suddenly reminded him that his best victories came every three years and just after a career - or sometimes life-threatening injury or illness.
Link: Rupert Guinness
McEwen to make rare Roubaix appearance: Australian cycling star Robbie McEwen will have a rare start at Sunday's famed Paris-Roubaix classic to help his team. McEwen is steadily regaining form after his injury problems last year and on Wednesday night finished second at the Scheldeprijs one-day race in Belgium. He revealed on Twitter that his upcoming schedule will feature Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Romandie ahead of the May Giro d'Italia.
Link: ABC Sport - McEwen to make rare Roubaix appearance
Millar hopes to continue with Classics breakthrough: For David Millar last Sunday’s Tour of Flanders represented a breakthrough. The Garmin-Transitions rider was a late attacker, and at one stage a challenger for the podium, but, six days on and on the eve of Paris-Roubaix, he finds himself looking back rather wistfully, with a mixture of satisfaction and regret.
Link: Millar Hopes To Continue With Classics Breakthrough | Cyclingnews.com
Farrar Prepares for Paris-Roubaix: Though some are mentioning American Tyler Farrar, who rides for Garmin-Transitions, as a podium threat for Paris-Roubaix, in an interview two days before the race he said the team goal is not about him but instead to concentrating on putting one of four racers on the podium. And, says Farrar, despite the strong form that saw him finish fifth in the Tour of Flanders, he anticipates playing supporter instead of star.
Link: Tyler Farrar Prepares for Paris-Roubaix 2010 - bicycling.com
Winless Boonen in one of his best Classics campaigns: Tom Boonen was relaxed after reconnaissance of the Paris-Roubaix course on Friday, despite the threat posed to a record equaling fourth victory at French spring Classic by the Saxo Bank squad. Victory on Sunday would put the Quick Step rider on par with fellow Belgian Roger De Vlaeminck, but the 29-year-old seems satisfied to focus on individual wins rather than records.
Link: Winless Boonen In One Of His Best Classics Campaigns | Cyclingnews.com
Fans favour Cancellara for Roubaix victory: Saxo Bank’s Fabian Cancellara is favoured to win tomorrow’s Paris-Roubaix spring classic, with Cyclingnews fans voting heavily in favour of the Swiss rider’s squad in its first Facebook poll. A victory by Cancellara’s team got more than 70 percent of the fans votes, while just 29 percent believe another team can get over the top of Bjarne Riis’ squad.
Link: Fans Favour Cancellara For Roubaix Victory | Cyclingnews.com
Boasson Hagen misses Paris-Roubaix through injury: Young Norwegian Edvald Boasson Hagen has withdrawn from Team Sky's squad for Sunday's Paris-Roubaix race with an Achilles injury.
The 22-year-old will now work with team medics, aiming to be fully fit for the Tour de France in July.
Link: BBC Sport - Boasson Hagen misses Paris-Roubaix through injury
Devolder hopeful of dry day in northern hell: Quick Step’s Stijn Devolder is looking for dry conditions at Sunday’s Paris-Roubaix, having never contested the event in wet conditions previously. Devolder joined his team on a reconnaissance of the Paris-Roubaix route on Friday in preparation for team-mate Tom Boonen’s bid for a third consecutive title.
Link: Devolder Hopeful Of Dry Day In Northern Hell | Cyclingnews.com
Cancellara looking for Flanders and Roubaix double: Fabian Cancellara is the favourite for Paris-Roubaix but he insists the pressure is on his rivals' shoulders and believes that could help him take a rare Flanders and Roubaix double.
Link: Cancellara Looking For Flanders And Roubaix Double | Cyclingnews.com
Brailsford returns to Sky at Paris-Roubaix after track worlds focus: avid Brailsford joined the Team Sky camp on the eve of Paris-Roubaix, in Belgium today. The team manager had spent the last few months focussing on the Track World Championships in Denmark with Team GB but ahead of Roubaix called on his team to perform to their best ability in the squad's first ever 'Hell of the North'.
Link: Brailsford Returns To Sky At Paris-Roubaix After Track Worlds Focus | Cyclingnews.com
Millar on form for Paris-Roubaix: For David Millar last Sunday's Tour of Flanders represented a breakthrough. The Garmin-Transitions rider was a late attacker, and at one stage a challenger for the podium, but, five days on and on the eve of Paris Roubaix, he finds himself looking back rather wistfully, with a mixture of satisfaction and regret.
Link: Millar On Form For Paris-Roubaix | Cyclingnews.com
2010 Paris-Roubaix Start List
Acqua e Sapone
Luca Paolini (Ita)
Giuseppe Palumbo (Ita)
Andrea Masciarelli (Ita)
Reiner Honig (Ned)
Alessandro Fantini (Ita)
Alessandro Donati (Ita)
Francesco Di Paolo (Ita)
Dario Andriotto (Ita)
AG2R La Mondiale
Gatis Smukulis (Lat)
Nicolas Rousseau (Fra)
Anthony Ravard (Fra)
Lloyd Mondory (Fra)
Sébastien Hinault (Fra)
Kristof Goddaert (Bel)
Ben Gastauer (Lux)
Julien Berard (Fra)
Androni Giocattoli
Cameron Wurf (Aus)
Fabio Taborre (Ita)
Luca Solari (Ita)
Fabrice Piemontesi (Ita)
Damiano Margutti (Ita)
Alberto Loddo (Ita)
Thomas Bertolini (Ita)
Rubens Bertogliati (Swi)
BBox Bouygues Telecom
Sébastien Turgot (Fra)
Alexandre Pichot (Fra)
Saïd Haddou (Fra)
Yohann Gene (Fra)
Damien Gaudin (Fra)
Mathieu Claude (Fra)
Steve Chainel (Fra)
William Bonnet (Fra)
BMC Racing Team
Danilo Wyss (Swi)
Jackson Stewart (USA)
Michael Schär (Swi)
John Murphy (USA)
Martin Kohler (Swi)
George Hincapie (USA)
Marcus Burghardt (Ger)
Alessandro Ballan (Ita)
Caisse d'Epargne
Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spa)
Luis Pasamontes (Spa)
Vasil Kiryienka (Blr)
José Ivan Gutierrez (Spa)
Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa (Por)
Imanol Erviti (Spa)
Mathieu Drujon (Fra)
Arnaud Coyot (Fra)
Cervélo TestTeam
Dominique Rollin (Can)
Gabriel Rasch (Nor)
Brett Daniel Lancaster (Aus)
Andreas Klier (Ger)
Thor Hushovd (Nor)
Jérémy Hunt (GBr)
Roger Hammond (GBr)
Théo Bos (Ned)
Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
Romain Zingle (Bel)
Tristan Valentin (Fra)
Nico Sijmens (Bel)
Sébastien Minard (Fra)
Jens Keukeleire (Bel)
Kevin Ista (Bel)
Julien Fouchard (Fra)
Guillaume Blot (Fra)
Euskaltel - Euskadi
Pablo Urtasun Perez (Spa)
Romain Sicard (Fra)
Gorka Izagirre Insausti (Spa)
Inaki Isasi (Spa)
Aitor Galdos Alonso (Spa)
Koldo Fernandez De Larrea (Spa)
Sergio De Lis (Spa)
Javier Aramendia (Spa)
Française Des Jeux
Arthur Vichot (Fra)
Yoann Offredo (Fra)
Matthieu Ladagnous (Fra)
Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr)
Frédéric Guesdon (Fra)
Mickael Cherel (Fra)
Sébastien Chavanel (Fra)
Olivier Bonnaire (Fra)
Garmin - Transitions
Mat Wilson (GBr)
Johan Van Summeren (Bel)
Svein Tuft (Can)
David Millar (GBr)
Martijn Maaskant (Ned)
Robert Hunter (RSA)
Tyler Farrar (USA)
Steven Cozza (USA)
Team Katusha
Styn Vandenbergh (Bel)
Nicolaï Trussov (Rus)
Filippo Pozzato (Ita)
Mikhaylo Khalilov (Ukr)
Serguei Ivanov (Rus)
Denis Galimzyanov (Rus)
Laszlo Bodrogi (Fra)
Marco Bandiera (Ita)
Lampre-Farnese Vini
Marcin Sapa (Pol)
Mirco Lorenzetto (Ita)
Danilo Hondo (Ger)
Andrea Gremdeme (Ita)
Mauro Da Dalto (Ita)
Vitaliy Buts (Ukr)
Lorenzo Bernucci (Ita)
Alfredo Balloni (Ita)
Liquigas-Doimo
Frederik Willems (Bel)
Peter Sagan (Svk)
Fabio Sabatini (Ita)
Manuel Quinziato (Ita)
Daniel Oss (Ita)
Aleksandr Kuchynski (Blr)
Kristjan Koren (Slo)
Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita)
Omega Pharma-Lotto
Greg Van Avermaet (Bel)
Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel)
Jürgen Roelandts (Bel)
Sebastian Lang (Ger)
Leif Hoste (Bel)
Michiel Elijzen (Ned)
Glenn D'Hollander (Bel)
Wilfried Cretskens (Bel)
Quick Step
Wouter Weylandt (Bel)
Kévin Van Impe (Bel)
Matteo Tosatto (Ita)
Nikolas Maes (Bel)
Kevin Hulsmans (Bel)
Stijn Devolder (Bel)
Sylvain Chavanel (Fra)
Tom Boonen (Bel)
Rabobank
Jos Van Emden (Ned)
Maarten Tjallingii (Ned)
Tom Stamsnijder (Ned)
Joost Posthuma (Ned)
Tom Leezer (Ned)
Sebastian Langeveld (Ned)
Rick Flens (Ned)
Lars Boom (Ned)
Saur - Sojasun
Stéphane Poulhies (Fra)
Romain Matheou (Fra)
Rony Martias (Fra)
Cyril Lemoine (Fra)
Fabrice Jeandesboz (Fra)
Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra)
Cédric Coutouly (Fra)
Jimmy Casper (Fra)
Skil - Shimano
Robert Wagner (Ger)
Tom Veelers (Ned)
Steve Houanard (Fra)
Floris Goesinnen (Ned)
Mitchell Docker (Aus)
Koen De Kort (Ned)
Roy Curvers (Ned)
Robin Chaigneau (Ned)
Team Saxo Bank
Alex Rasmussen (Den)
Stuart O'Grady (Aus)
Gustav Larsson (Swe)
Kasper Klostergaard (Den)
Frank Hoj (Den)
Baden Cooke (Aus)
Fabian Cancellara (Swi)
Matti Breschel (Den)
Team HTC - Columbia
Martin Velits (Svk)
Marcel Sieberg (Ger)
Hayden Roulston (NZl)
Vicente Reynes Mimo (Spa)
Adam Hansen (Aus)
Matthew Harley Goss (Aus)
Bernhard Eisel (Aut)
Lars Bak (Den)
Team Milram
Peter Wrolich (Aut)
Paul Voss (Ger)
Niki Terpstra (Ned)
Roy Sentjens (Bel)
Servais Knaven (Ned)
Roger Kluge (Ger)
Markus Eichler (Ger)
Wim De Vocht (Bel)
Team Radioshack
Tomas Vaitkus (Ltu)
Sébastien Rosseler (Bel)
Gregory Rast (Swi)
Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr)
Geoffroy Lequatre (Fra)
Markel Irizar (Spa)
Daryl Impey (RSA)
Fumiyuki Beppu (Jpn)
Sky Professional Cycling Team
Geraint Thomas (GBr)
Christopher Sutton (Aus)
Ian Stannard (GBr)
Mathew Hayman (Aus)
Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa)
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor)
Michaël Barry (Can)
Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor)
Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team
Lieuwe Westra (Ned)
Bobbie Traksel (Ned)
Matthé Pronk (Ned)
Jens Mouris (Ned)
Martin Mortensen (Den)
Wouter Mol (Ned)
Bjorn Leukemans (Bel)
Gorik Gardeyn (Bel)
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Cobblestone in northern France
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Trouee d'Arenberg
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Secteur pavé de Warlaing à Brillon
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Finish on vélodrome in Roubaix
Invited Teams 2010 Paris-Roubaix
Belgium: Omega Pharma-Lotto, Quick Step
Denmark: Saxo Bank
France : AG2R, Bbox Bouygues Telecom, Cofidis, FDJ, Saur-Sojasun
Germany: Milram
Great Britain: Team Sky
Italy: Acqua e Sapone, Androni, Lampre-Farnese Vini, Liquigas-Doimo
Netherlands: Rabobank, Skil-Shimano, Vacansoleil
Russia: Katusha
Spain : Caisse d'Epargne, Euskaltel-Euskadi
Switzerland: Cervélo TestTeam
USA: BMC Racing, Garmin-Transitions, HTC-Columbia, RadioShack