L'Enfer du Nord

Today was, without a doubt, the hardest but best day's cycling imaginable. 

It was Saturday but still hellish

The best summing up of Paris Roubaix is a quote from Dutch rider Theo de Rooy whilst being interviewed post race - de Rooy: “It’s b******* this race! You’re working like an animal, you don’t have time to p***, you wet your pants. You’re riding in mud like this, you’re slipping, it’s a piece of s***…”
Tesh: “Will you ever ride it again?”
de Rooy, not hesitating for a second: “Sure, it’s the most beautiful race in the world!”

Also, in Bernard Hinault's words, 'Paris-Roubaix est une connerie' and in Chris Boadman's, who never did the race, 'Paris Roubaix is a circus and I don't want to be one of the clowns'.

As it happened, I was somewhere between Hinault and Boardman, not the winner like Hinault but apart from sector 2 and the Arenberg, I managed not to be clownlike.

The day started at 4am as I needed to get to Roubaix by 5am for the coach to the start in Busigny. Despite Google maps sending me via a motorway (again), I made the coach in time and struck up conversation with Seth a v cool, laid back anethesist from sunny San Diego. Unfortunately, the weather was nowhere near Californian as it started raining just as we got to Busingny.

Yep, the forecast is still saying rain

Seth's shoes were fine for California

The smile hid the apprehension

It was an apprehensive start but we joined a 100 strong peleton that flew over the first 15km to the first pave sector at Troisville. Unfortunately, I managed to drop Seth during the 2.2km of 3 star pave and headed on to sector 2, another 3 star affair. However, this one was downhill, very wet and therefore a completely different (worse ) proposition. 

After much braking and being overtaken by numerous Belgian and Dutch riders, it was onto the longest sector, Quievy a Saint-Python. Luckily, I managed to get my act together and pretty much held my position and after a few more sectors, it was the first food stop with much chat about how hard the pave is, honourary mentions to Lee from London and big Dave from Huddlesfield.

By now, I started to follow the faster riders on the pave and before long, we were at the infamous Trouee d'Arengerg', the first 5 star section and the most feared 2km in cycling.

2.4km of the worst bit of hell

The start isn't too bad

At this point, I was still confident

I knew it was going to be tough, but nothing prepared me for the horror that followed. Riders were crashing all over the place and it seemed virtually impossible to keep the wheels from slipping on the wet and muddy cobbles. About half the riders sought the safety of the pathway to the side and I joined them for a section in the middle before I told myself to get a grip and got back on the pave.

The second food stop followed shortly after where I saw Dave who looked a little worse for wear as he'd crashed twice on the Arenberg within a few hundred metres and did the rest on the path.

The next sectors were a mix of 3 and 4 star sectors and after the Arenberg, seemed tame in comparison and I did a few sectors overtaking 20+ riders on each one.

I was making suprisingly good time and my best sector came on the second 5 star sector, Mons-en-Pevele, as its uphill nature played to my climbers build.

Whilst the rain had stopped there was now a 20kph side/headwind, but I managed to strike up conversation with some serious looking Dutch riders and an echelon was formed - it was almost like real life racing. 

The last 5 star sector, the Carrefour de l'Arbre came next and inspired by Cancellara's winning move in 2013 when 2 Omega Pharma Quickstep riders got taken out by spectators, and the fact that it was one of the timed sections, I dug deep and put in what seemed like a decent time. 

When I finished the sector, it sunk in that I had nearly done Paris Roubaix and with only 2 short 2 star sectors to go, I raced to the finish at the Veledrome and went clear of about 30 riders to take a solo finish, which was lucky as it had started raining again and the concrete track was like an ice rink.

I finished in 7 hours which included 4 stops so I covered the 163km including 52.5km of pave in just over 6 hours of riding which I was v pleased with.

After drying out in the bar, I then cycled back to Lille with Andy from Edingburgh with us both reminiscing on an eventful day's riding.

Other honourable mentions go to a French guy on a 1980's steel bike , a guy from Brighton Mitre and numerous other people I rode with.

After a long, long shower at the hotel, it was into town for some Belgium beer - standing at a high table as sitting down is not good!

Tomorrow, it's the pros turn to suffer. Here's hoping for a Wiggo victory.