Northern Industrial towns have many things in common, mining, textiles, grit, hardiness and a history of cycling. This implies to whatever country, continent or hemisphere you visit, it must be something to do with being “northern”.
BRC Members made the pilgrimage last weekend to Northern France to embrace the cobbles, dust and grit of the Queen of the Classics, Paris - Roubaix. In 1919 Paris - Roubaix starred to gain another name, which is synonymous with the region's historical events and the nature of the parcour, The Hell of the North. Click the LINK to read more.
Three BRC Members took up the challenge to experience the hell of the cobbles, and embrace the biblical ordeal presented by the parcour. Jacob Dickinson, Chris Francis and Chris Smart tackled the setts to cheers of “Come on Barnsley” and “Go on Tarn” from the roadside.
The region is synonymous with The Classics and our sports Monuments. Being so close to the Belgium boarder, a visit to some of the cobbled bergs of De Ronde was a must. Chris S and Jacob D hit out to sample the Paterberg and Oude Kwaremont, before sampling a bottle of Tieburg, in the ultimate cycling café on earth, at the foot of the Oude Kwaremont.
Then it was off to see how it should be done, watching the male Pros race the famous cobbles. Carrefour de l'arbre was chosen to see MVP and his fellow Pros fly over the cobbles at an average of over 48kph to record the fastest Roubaix of all time, with the top 29 gladiatorial riders recording a faster time then the previous fastest race time.
Chapeau Roubaix, you were unreal!!!