REPORTING. Paris-Roubaix 2024: "It could have been worse, we escaped the mud"… We tested the legendary cobblestones of Northern Hell for you

Breathless, his features drawn, a man blurts out to his wife: “It was hell, but it was too short. I already want to go back.” The scene takes place on the Roubaix velodrome, a few meters after the line, Saturday April 6. At the time of writing these lines, several hours later, we have not found a better formula to summarize the crazy experience offered by the Paris-Roubaix Challenge. For thirteen years, ahead of professional cyclists, several thousand amateurs have come to challenge the Hell of the North, for fun. After taking their wheel, franceinfo:sport better understand why.

Whether you opt for 70 km (including 8 paved sectors), 145 km (19 paved sectors) or 170 km (29 paved sectors), the race starts the day before the start. While forklifts are still rolling instead of cyclists on the velodrome, and little hands are taking care of the last details, the Roubaix sports park is seeing a crowd of anonymous people come to collect their bibs. Between two purchases of derivative products and receiving the famous local trophy (a cobblestone, obviously), some share the lessons of their recognition. The mud and the wind will haunt the night of more than one participant.

For the distance “discovery” (70 km), the start is given from the Roubaix velodrome. The race takes place on an open road, the thousands of candidates leave in waves, between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., for security reasons. If a few groups of friends immortalize the moment with a smile, the atmosphere is quite tense: each participant knows that they are setting off on a race like no other, where an incident quickly happens. As for the novices, they simply wonder if they have the legs to go to the end. Some parents come to reassure their older child in this way, unless it is the opposite.

Microphone in hand, a speaker tries to lighten the mood. “A group of friends are looking for little Jo, who has apparently chickened out, claiming a mechanical breakdown”, he says. A friend of Jo responds: “It’s his mind that’s broken.” However, the speakers spit out great rock classics – from Sultans of Swing has Hell’s BellsPassing by Seven Nation Army – perfect for reboosting as you approach departure.

• For more: Elrisala website and for social networking, you can follow us on Facebook
• Source of information and images “svoboda“