Beyond hard-core!
Sometimes called a Sunday in hell!
About 160 miles, and many sections on cobblestones!
The American television channel CBS covered Paris–Roubaix in the 1980s. Theo de Rooij, a Dutchman, had been in a promising position to win the 1985 race but had then crashed, losing his chance of winning. Covered in mud, he offered his thoughts on the race to CBS’ John Tesh after the race:
“It’s a bollocks, this race!” said de Rooij. “You’re working like an animal, you don’t have time to piss, you wet your pants. You’re riding in mud like this, you’re slipping ... it’s a pile of shit.”
When then asked if he would start the race again, de Rooij replied:
“Sure, it’s the most beautiful race in the world!”
I have a spring bucket list trip planned for France and Belgium. It includes riding the cyclosportive events the day before the pro races. One of them is the Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders). Now I find out that there is one for the Paris Roubaix.