La Reine or Queen of the Classics, the Hell of the North or l’enfer du nord,
How to watch the Paris-Roubaix
In person. Really there is no better way, but for those of us located 1/4 to 1/2 way around the road from northern France, we'll have to resort to traditional methods - online. Remember how last week I recommended waking up early to watch the Tour of Flanders, well this Sunday plan to wake even earlier.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIt7gy_zMKIkyLHHF3Shet17NU8sHPOUC2AWeqcKPiQ1FOtjBBYj8nKTWeye0Rb9NqCJbnLNW3ysZV_RPLp-9jcMPhNPzAf5WnA1nEBVC6_leH_21OP9FM8PgkJJHV1zSSvEt7UXYLXSQt/s1600/Paris+Roubaix+L'Abre.jpg) |
Carrefour de l'arbre Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer® |
When it comes to the
Paris-Roubaix you can count on crashes, and riders who woke up fully intending to finish the race and instead find themselves left behind in the dust of a cobbled path in France. All this happens well before the sleepy-heads in America wake up. So don't miss out - wake up early and check the usual suspects for links:
Where to watch the race:
You can also pay via Cycling.TV, but I usually watch the free links. I like to juggle between two open browsers and play ping-pong x'ing out the ads so I don't miss any coverage during commercial breaks. I also read text updates for breakaway time gaps and placement of riders. I don't read Twitter anymore, annoys the heck out of me with the same people tweeting the same news, I would much rather watch the scenery and real race action.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGCeiIKySqpx5k7E_LfbdipQ85ig6yTZQkriSv6dSK8e3mzeAuc8UIrzsZbs3LS9zFeIlHIIqbACsbeuJ5Z9anIXZ75g1E60b-bJqh1KKAZ74QzM5N-GC5fE6cqeX48NhocS2N_OjYqe8_/s1600/2014+Paris-Roubaix+Route.jpg) |
Parcours of 2014 Paris-Roubaix |
When to watch the race:
-
Start time: Sunday April 13 10:15 CET (2:15:00 AM MDT)
- Earliest live video: 12:50 CET (4:50:00 AM MDT)
- Approximate finish: 16:50 CET (8:50:00 AM MDT)
Race Facts:
- April 13, 2014, (1 week before Easter Sunday this year)
- 112th edition
- 25 teams, 8 riders each, 200 riders
- Compeigne to Roubaix in France
- 257 kilometers
- 5,886,720 cobblestones
- The 3rd of 5 monuments in the classics season
Race details:
- Paris-Roubaix map, timetable, profile, cobble secteurs
- The leaders should be on the secteur pavé de la Trouée d'Arenberg at 14h15 CEST (08:15 EDT, 06:15 MDT)
- The race leaders should Entrée du vélodrome at 16h31 CEST (10:31 EDT, 08:31 MDT)
- Rider Startlist & teams at ProCycling Stats
Race Previews Paris-Roubaix 2014:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin1lcUtcdAv_4LuxEoP87AFVMhmxhOc52Oo_fqu9bwrEQ9_O5serRDGlXEdkcEsXT3KPGFjVyAspZujWHhFhyphenhyphen7esIgjM-jcWSqcKYIc-LJKA9_eJ369HqaJqNkaVuiD8fhHptj0N3ojdgV/s1600/Pave+Paris+Roubaix+marker.jpg) |
Route marker Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer® |
Podium in 2013:
Fabian Cancellara (SUI) RLT
Sep Vanmarcke (BEL) BLA
Niki Terpstra (NED) OPQ
Previous Winners:
2013 Fabian CANCELLARA
2012 Tom BOONEN
2011 Johan VANSUMMEREN
2010 Fabian CANCELLARA
2009 Tom BOONEN
2008 Tom BOONEN
2007 Stuart O’GRADY
2006 Fabian CANCELLARA
2005 Tom BOONEN
Interest:
Teams reconned the course on Thursday (video: French, 03:13)
Best Of Paris-Roubaix 2013 (video: English, 03:02)
Organizers rate 28 cobbled sectors of Paris-Roubaix, By VeloNews
How to pronounce Compeigne
Pronunciation
Bikes:
Bike Modifications for Paris-Roubaix, By Cycling Tips
Interview: Scott Sunderland on Roubaix tech of the past decade, By Bike Radar
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_CGTAeTUZCWlPecidwHOGAQJjbvru2tWaMAVJ9uOBLgiBVykawDSnyRkfXV66g2I16G20mZHoKBnx2XRgG9ja5W0cauMasKT-ylovVb0CC6VQgRamCwHiMtwzKx0bcr4uv54K5j_WY-o5/s1600/DSC04797.1.jpg) |
Walking into the Arenberg Forest on race day. Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer® |
This race is guaranteed excitement!
Time to revisit my post from 2012 (story and photos) when I took a long anticipated trip to see the Paris-Roubaix in person:
I was a fan at the Paris-Roubaix (including driving instructions on how to get to the Arenberg Forest and Carrefour de l'Abre). It is times like this that I am so happy I write a blog so that I can go back and read what happened that day, strange how memories fade overtime. It sure sounds like I had a blast being a fan in the Arenberg forest and Le Carrefour de l'Arbre, more at:
Stories from Belgium. Also see:
I went to Belgium and took pictures of cobbles (photos from Le Carefour de l'Abre). Or
A Brief History of the Paris-Roubaix
This year I thought I would share photos from the day I visited the
Roubaix Velodrome:
All photos below by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6KTmK_nnz3IVnT5TFAhwS1xc9xP4ChhsInGxcFfvB6crThye3tLVeOBlblDaZdTiABwBIYOWJ-JM_gFA4KnNuvZF2hWcPh3VW0FW4-8gIvpuIZ-BnQxfkKXAzO2MSSB4d_e1RT3UZerDj/s1600/Paris+Roubaix+signs.jpg) |
When you know you are on the route of the Paris-Roubaix |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2rr4KBQNitZzf3JyuUFYB8zuGvNDoHHaeTFCI5YhH9K6eXMjKxHSWvUc9IrvukBohO22AVJnHYaI_M_CFrdbUND6jH1Dfd-sohgJ9eE7TGEJ4fa8axDRQe43MHAZ5tHvjkPqzdJikvO-t/s1600/Final+sector+of+pave+before+Roubaix+Velodrome.jpg) |
This is the final sector of pave before the Roubaix Velodrome. I can't imagine the thrill for the first rider hitting this section. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnyat_vaYmn7v7aV3_Ew-ou-dVKWesLjQnGra34tkXZDkaNa0bf-UfSvJSw9_tdIQ9BJFLNmEoNPBIWbVEno_k8MRt1UHi0oTV6PD73MHUlx7v6QC5nKmiCe6qUWjZxrr-rW3QTWPuC82/s1600/Sean+Kelly+stone+in+Roubaix.jpg) |
As you walk along the cobbles, commemorative pave stones to past victors have been inserted |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyCR7q_VP6pEH2M7rsm_aSNNHX55OF401uoSk-OBz6-PqtjTp64ebCC-a34XBAoQ9yGyeSez2yIKi0KB1sCyWsBa_Yy_H-cLPvdXX6Pa-LTewJvo32rtmveOoZAmB5D1IlkdBu9jSjx2NE/s1600/Eddy+Merckx+stone+in+Roubaix.jpg) |
The inserted stones are a virtual walk of fame |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7Tjqt5W6i1hIDEYoEQt7Dq4dl0ygvvuwXKyKHz6oUbJTM52LhmtADix1Y2TahtnJga0j6BgyfMkh3E8Ukc2g-x5T018MrcNwIuUwBX3tedhX9qDHAOOoCV30808rV3422gyhmlu_MBbN/s1600/Tom+Boonens+stone+in+Roubaix.jpg) |
I hope the year '2012' has been added to Tom's stone by now |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGHJTR1ti5u0zCwqcIEL0-j0xhJoySU25mMt5mUuSbgYpCG_-3-3a92vMlR1BkHWCPgpoh8TzXc_EaVlMcQ3hyPQbcg-sOpj_dzbC1I2nZ0nKHn3LVlMhjzVi00bTws5S0V0QyVYq4aIg/s1600/pavement+before+entering+the+velodrome.jpg) |
After the last cobbled sector, the riders take a sharp right onto this last paved section leading into the velodrome ahead. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5lbiU8rKhLU6iO4yZz7wzIMEvrFSkJuscul5Dee8BvktwaUPwfVv6z2rcnv360SZZ5FJ1ztDk-dbQaOR2KtcMI8IJPlbbyU3LywV4rqNTkTOESayr4fR7P0KkXM4RNtWCqNJy0uMj7gr4/s1600/Roubaix+Velodrome+Club+House.jpg) |
They race past this sign on the left to the famed Velodrome Club House |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMRojoLq1szuhjS6ABfa6F-fs5hYEGWBl6I1UQjzolBJ7tscAKn-rkACaLJ24FmdTrdV6qs3428_CccvMDGprDwKRI3zMq8cY651PjC1UyoWd2DgpQgtKZvTUzzyZABBnN3ehaRNWLYu1/s1600/Club+House+Roubaix.jpg) |
Leaving the Club House behind and all it's occupants at the bar |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNVuVjhYLe5sKp3jaTPMAfVo6jdfMGr25yDl_AkNmb7BNrXL1eAiVj0vtoK4tdtGI8zAh7e_6h6KXynnWFxXh1IGEH6OKtvrKYkO00tlMWE6CznAFvIEIDVqF8Q70_8kbfPDcic39x3-TQ/s1600/Entrance+into+the+Roubaix+Velodrome.jpg) |
This is what every rider has dreamed of seeing first (without the car and rider of course). This is the entrance to the Roubaix Velodrome. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxe7LAx-oIkcOmfSrIUg7LRQmT4X_zZ6ohWZ_34S8Z_rlKR1cwtUKHSlWc0k4qi5EI_0Rj7XQwxENp6SlrMUJWtsk-74Jfm0HcGZl0XRfxbN3FV4yOEAv2PD5hxwdBAB2aGWMs0Uh9mVl/s1600/Right+corner+into+Roubaix+Velodrome.jpg) |
The roar of the crowd is now deafening as they make the right sweeping corner into the Roubaix Velodrome |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5nmXf7e3UfPScGCnqjnD5g1nXAULFIRezLcQDGzZVDNzneK5lmv_34X7QmWeXdl4G6RD7ZjMcktucTi6nPQgFqLKV5v1cEgrKJvHOj7_J2nwFPxZXWv1ghw1TjkglvPF_sle_Scuip9zk/s1600/Velodrom+track+ion+Roubaix.jpg) |
Around the track they go |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdXR2-NYqvKKygzMGD6fPnE8S6MvyvCqrbIrYWqoaEzrBXlHl8yIiNFUL4QJF2DusSK2vK_jmDSUvgK9zm0Uye3Ppc3Sb7IquE54PFu8hF8fzMez5bopqoez9v5Dp01-s5xtUzxwrSjlb/s1600/surface+of+Roubaix+Velodrome.jpg) |
Making history on this surface |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpZzpR6Bx9pIHK50TTNtfVKqBx42BrpCYNkiBcMgWrU5I37TUSzs2CNicynwlkVLcoQjb5NZICcXXNErILzo5IDxlRga3BcsDy_pe8-Xzuoef_WyEpjLjMa1e3NbIFN8lujGCjVcWSTA-6/s1600/Loop+around+Velodrome.jpg) |
Using everything they have |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65G8lmMThd0eHuVJ5jkPNEWb-xIP6tQXaIXO2yKVJvBBprxOnOn5NBPFu-iLLlEY1dArNYfdlOZspc9_sn6f9UQ4KaFrsw90hXzGob055bHiVeq3RILbre5pAzkUQlyiKh8nv5hhd9yvE/s1600/Around+to+the+bleachers+and+the+finish+line.jpg) |
Towards the bleachers and beyond |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vjFMQRJlQ8a7hZ4wU4cd-p3kjQNsONylQWW-QIesG7WOyBME0dFrYdepdBd98mZ4-XXlgPpAHcCgOS3i-FcJklL4Og3hzBZC2zfpSKuZ_XkL9aqW2BR4ErDScgbfIkGKy5aGrIickEW9/s1600/Across+the+new+coat+of+paint.jpg) |
Across the new coat of paint and the fans standing on the hillside |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhty7J8Mt87fDYL-G8hpGF1wFqtf6sQqmPDpIwUinqlgKjKTPmXRv9J8QQSJyJ0RXhoXFDHcG1oKtyMmefUH_7pKxWdeQAf9aZ9smp8L6RpQiI4sxCgo6rVfeGG9GegxE2q5-5rU1olx75S/s1600/Aroudn+Velodrome+in+Roubaix.jpg) |
It seems huge and yet so small |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFmMA6ugqUgK3DaSMNI7ABvlE8ZbhZIubgkC5WOPMNFwLExn9zGzfLNgFD_COsEaZqe0LwXszvU7tYoF0vhZB7hT1jt68nN7xs2qW7cDutd403CZ8qCJWbUxFLgkatH8sPSPNrsV21ODf/s1600/Looping+around+the+green+grass+of+the+Velodrome.jpg) |
Looping around the green grass of the outdoor velodrome |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYE1WhCTK2YLQsBqn1zpU2h-zB5EaeQgjd-J2MrbQlNHIT8EkQI3acMg4gxUXAPKmdURy_wRhcqr4XUUjzw2SiRWOwzgAaEp1aBVvWC-AJLNcDe0qONqx9Sheq6ix7ZcHc46cgPKt6fJdC/s1600/Paris+Roubaix+finish.jpg) |
The goal is that line, in front of all the fans |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrpEU5m2QPtstjw4_Fdy2FnVIuiOayoatSmtQKBfruIDLySbQ2n7rbSFJbBlY4Q3RmOxlo3kRcfRhELy0VVRuzY302ISaafXUpyN37ifPD3ewlBW1RL-cXrpZVKSdNZFwlB4F3u8adHdwg/s1600/Finish+line+of+Paris-Roubaix.jpg) |
This line; where dreams are realized. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8WNywR9vsFa-6hh4S774ELHZI_UgXiwXBgIoniAq2zDBOuj0IXeDXCRTSluOU53k6NNdzjB3GCClvW-Yw0Xtz4Im4fMEuVNusiPtdmR8vU-hY53z4K_K8wlVhweALvKWkrJ6c0PTtVdqN/s1600/Names+in+Club+House+at+Roubaix.jpg) |
Then they will get their name on the wall above the bar in the Club House de Roubaix (and one of those nice paving stones with their name on it) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJTPFSP6Kf8BslDS5R8M37btGSMHf9iN_ejhTSYs-kvBKZxu8E1yJ23yRO1NoNyksRZETRhtohAi7ZMzW92pVhiFcEW0I3BlKB5lUsrydDV7gI5YWeDjczx4WqVs_VT5LRjsaWL5IZLUaU/s1600/Stone+in+Roubaix.jpg) |
They will get a smaller version of this as a trophy. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_T0cfrNZyDEV9xq3GyYUzlmEEKu4von84lC6oEv1a4SrXqwYIzTqljBG6prBn9FWUkSh2f5kJb9vtvHu1zg6TOFBAjCbynjM8yRFa1d2_p6ILWG9LsSSBsJDcKVobAqz5c5r2ooiaUTbZ/s1600/Shower+building+in+Roubaix+Velodrome.jpg) |
And a well-deserved shower. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3BQNmJaTnovLrQh5WeZLsEmibefj88FpaLeExAmtKafTlKpsZi_jSnldgWHCInyjI_-RBea4CvLdjOXF7QG-E3l5oRDsnBQkfLDYi2cOExzkt85BZ5_we9TplVlXR-0CTEpVXYfc8IvP/s1600/Beer+in+club+house.jpg) |
And their friends will buy their beer for the rest of their life (this one is inside the Club House) |
See more of my photos from
I was a fan at the Paris-Roubaix in the Arenberg forest. More info on the Pedal Dancer Page:
SPRING CLASSICS
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg0dZBaOm0RIaOrjgY4BfOd3Q9Just_OeC8uNsQH73HRzOEfh9f3fGGhX6pETFXxNN6XpBKk1rJ6xB-dWo0jCQXV1I4A9LrBuHQnD6_ZE97uuv8v6lxkLfUYn2qM3RMoZoOG3vrhOMaGnw/s1600/Karen+at+the+Velodrom.jpg) |
I was there! |
If you go to a bike race in France in spring - be sure to bring a flag. I love this photo I found on Cycling Tips from 2012. This is the mood of the Paris-Roubaix:
And this one presented by Cycling Tips in a collection of photos:
Paris-Roubaix: Moments in History
Sunday's race should be dry without rain and mud, which means dust!