Stone-by-Stone: Checking Out Paris-Roubaix
by Chris Fontecchio on Apr 7, 2011 10:27 AM EDT
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Here ya go -- Paris-Roubaix, secteur-by-secteur. Apart from the most famous stretches the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix aren't as well-known as the hellingen of Flanders... if only because we see them once a year, maybe twice. So let's take a look at each one. And I do mean look, where possible. I thought it would be fun to actually see some of the cobbled secteurs and get a feel for how they are unique (or not). Thanks to Les Amis, there are a number of pictures out there available for use showing the cobbles in various key locations. And if you look at them side-by-side, you can start to notice some of the finer points as to what those stars mean. [And if you didn't know, ASO scores the difficulty of each secteur with one (easy) to five (hell) stars.
[Update] Carrefour de l'Arbe picture fixed. Check it out, it's so nasty.
27. Troisvilles (km 98 - 2200 m) ***
Downhill on the cobbles... this is a good way to get out your early terrors. Said to be in good shape.
26. Viesly (km 104.5 to 1800 m) ***
Straight and generally lacking in surprises.
25. Quievy (km 107 to 3700 m) ****
They're not big bruisers. On the other hand, 3700 meters is forever, and there's a long, slow uphill drag. Also, I bet these stones get pretty slick on a wet day:
24. Saint-Python (km 115.5 to 1500 m) **
Unless the internet is lying to me, there is no actual St. Python. Too bad; I was never all that inspired by the stories of the saints. Maybe if one of them had been named after a deadly snake or a troupe of British comedy geniuses, I would have paid more attention. Anyway, these 1500 meters are still just preamble.
23. Vertain (km 119.5 to 2300 m) ***
No doubt the distance is the issue. Also, at this point the cobbled secteurs are starting to feel a bit relentless, you'd think. This secteur makes it 9.3km of stones from km 104 to 121.
22. Capelle-sur-Ecaillon - Le Buat (km 126.5 to 1700 m) ***
Interesting section, it starts with a 4% descent and then a long 7% uphill, the steepest of the cobbled secteurs. It was only unearthed from a farmer's field in time for the 2005 race. The dust will be flying here:
[Wikimedia commons: Les Amis de Paris-Roubaix]
21. Aulnoy-lez-Valenciennes - Famars (km 142.5 to 2600 m) *****
The first of two consecutive sectors which are being returned to the race after an absence of... here the info gets a little murky. I'm also a little short on details as to why they rate five stars. But this is probably the first big moment of the race. Still 120km from the velodrome, this secteur kicks off a brutal stretch of four secteurs in quick succession, 8km of stones in 12km of riding.
20. Famars - Quérénaing (km 146 - 1200 m) **
The other returning/mystery secteur.
19. Quérénaing - Maing (km 149 - 2500 m) ***
Up and down a bit. In good condition.
18. Monchaux-sur-Ecaillon (km 152 to 1600 m) ***
Apparently there are some big holes early on, but after that it's more of the same:
[Wikimedia Commons: Les Amis de Paris-Roubaix]
17. Haveluy (km 164 to 2500 m) ****
The "Secteur Bernard Hinault," named after the famous Bretagne who hated this race. Maybe the Haveluiennes named it after him following a night of drunken revelry. Anyway, Pete and I rode it, it's one of the classic dug-out-of-a-field secteur, with a high crown in the middle and cobbles on the perimeter in varying stages of fading back into "field" status. Actually, even the crown is grassy. Anyway, this is where Garmin came a-cropper last year, and between that and our recon I can tell you that the stones are OK but there's plenty of treachery lurking.
16. Arenberg Trench (km 172 to 2400 m) *****
Any questions? Truly one of the greatest scenes in cycling.
Also, the race is most certainly on at this stage. The stones are pretty difficult to deal with; the crown comes and goes; and there are plenty of holes to add a layer of treachery. Whatever riders say about Arenberg (not considered the worst), it does hurt. Of that 2400 meters probably 1500 is slightly uphill on bad stones which keep you on high alert.
15. Millonfosse - Bousiginies (km 178.5 to 1400 m) ***
First time! No pictures seem to exist on the web [Update! They do now], but this secteur could have a deep impact on the race. In past years, the next secteur didn't start until 10km after Arenberg, but this time around riders will have less than 4km to recover before hitting Millonfosse, then another 3.5km before the next double-whammy sector. We make much of this cobble or that sector, but the cumulative effect is what separates out most of the chaff.
14. Brillon a Tilloy-lez-Marchiennes (km 183.5 to 1100 m) ** Tilloy - Sars-et-Rosieres (km 186 to 2400 m) ***
Good god, another 3.5km? By this point in the race the riders might not care about anything less than the four-star, seriously bumpy stuff, which this isn't. You can see some pics here and a video of the second portion here.
13. Beuvry-la-Foret - Orchies (km 192.5 - 1400) ***
The "Secteur Marc Madiot," it consists of 700 meters of unearthed cobbledy madness and 700 meters of new stones, laid down for the race prior to the 2007 edition. You can see a little slideshow of the secteur here.
12. Orchies (km 197.5 to 1700 m) ***
Not banging, but muddy (or dusty) and irregular. Kind of a messy stretch. though no big crown in the middle:
[Wikimedia commons: Les Amis de Paris-Roubaix]
11. Auchy-lez-Orchies - Bersée (km 203.5 to 2600 m) ***
Recent repairs get this secteur a modest rating, but it looks like more dust and pounding the pave. Strategic importance is very high, since it precedes the Mons-en-Pevele secteur by just a few km.
10. Mons-en-Pévèle (km 209 to 3000 m) *****
On the podium of famous secteurs, along with Arenberg and Carrefour de l'Arbe.
[Wikimedia Commons: Les Amis de Paris-Roubaix]
9. Mérignies - Avelin (km 215 to 700 m) **
A mere trifle.
8. Pont-Thibaut (km 218.5 to 1400 m) ***
Dirty, big crown, lots of grass for slippage. Crikey:
7. Templeuve l'Epinette (km 224 to 200 m) * Le Moulin de Vertain (km 224.5 to 500 m) **
More classic Paris-Roubaix cobbles, unearthed for the 2002 race and now a fixture in the race. Not bruisers but narrow and slick. Also, the crown is a tad pronounced, making it easy to slide sideways if you're not in position. The good news is that at this point in the race there won't be any peloton to speak of.
6. Cysoing - Bourghelles (km 231 to 1300 m) **** Bourghelles - Wannehain (km 233.5 to 1100 m) ***
The Secteur Duclos-LaSalle, it's got a nasty stretch with some holes on the side, but mostly it's comparatively regular and manageable. The crown is pretty mellow, at least.
5. Camphin en Pévèle (km 238 to 1800 m) ****
Same old... the last 300 meters get bad.
4. Carrefour de l'Arbre (km 241 to 2100 m) *****
This really has to be the worst of it, right? Cobbles are irregular, the crown is a mess, there's mud or dust a-plenty, and the strategic importance is through the roof. Also, check out the puddle to the right. That's a race-ending pothole right there. Maybe even a collarbone if you hit it just right.
3. Gruson (km 243 to 1100 m) **
After what's just gone down, this is child's play.
2. Hem (km 250 - 1400 m) **
Least of anyone's problems by now.
1. Roubaix (km 258 to 300 m) *
Some of the coolest cobbles in the world:
But they aren't hard.
Photos by Chris Fontecchio except where otherwise indicated
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Simply fabulous
Love the pictures of all the different stones/secteurs. And this is why I keep coming back here.
Interesting and good to point out the difference in the crowns of the sectors. I’ve never thought about how much those would also affect how you tackle them, etc.
My fruit bowl is full of sex wax--gavia
Yeah
well, they narrow the space for you to ride. If there’s a high crown, you’d better be on it. Otherwise you have the gutter or the side where the stones are falling away a bit. Easy place to slip.
If cobble delusions are wrong, who wants to be right? -JFS PGH
by Chris Fontecchio on Apr 7, 2011 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions
A new five star!
I just hope there’s television coverage at that point.
seems to be getting better every year
I’m sure the feed will be on by then
Arenberg is later, so the race will hot up well before then this year presumablyt
Thanks Chris, great piece.
The Haveluy section was a lot of fun (put it in a big gear and try and float over the tops). The Forrest was an adventure, but hardly what I would call enjoyable. I still want to ride it again though, only with cross tires.
"It's crazy. In Belgium they would have stopped the train"
-Peter Van Petegem, April 2006-
This race has Cav written all over it. (haha)
I am glad he is finally getting his wish to ride. Cool that he wants to ride it so bad.
"It's a lovely thing, feeling that momentum. If you're lucky, it's also about grace." Tim Winton
That was Orchies
not Ouchies, right?
"It's a lovely thing, feeling that momentum. If you're lucky, it's also about grace." Tim Winton
depends on how good you are at riding them.
"Ants don’t worry, they operate like a fantastic team, they accept obstacles and deal with them in a positive manner, they don’t complain and remain positive. An ant doesn’t work on emotion, is proactive and always chooses the ant role."
Interestingly
orchis is the Greek word for testicle
That's an odd bit of trivia there unless you are Greek.
"It's a lovely thing, feeling that momentum. If you're lucky, it's also about grace." Tim Winton
not if you've been following the bonds trial
orchidometers were talked about.
"Ants don’t worry, they operate like a fantastic team, they accept obstacles and deal with them in a positive manner, they don’t complain and remain positive. An ant doesn’t work on emotion, is proactive and always chooses the ant role."
I'm not going to ask what orchidometers do.
"It's a lovely thing, feeling that momentum. If you're lucky, it's also about grace." Tim Winton
Do you need to?
C’mon you’re a smart dude. Does it help to tell you that they involve beads in varying sizes? Also, maybe use safe search for images. Just trying to help.
Safe search doesn't help all that much :-/
My fruit bowl is full of sex wax--gavia
by Douglas Ansel on Apr 7, 2011 9:58 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm hoping the new secteurs blow up the race even earlier than usual
After Arenberg, the race always seemed to come back together. Now, with only 4ks, it could be lethal to have a bad forest run
I picked Riccardo Ricco for my 2011 VDS team, and submitted said team well before the submission deadline. I fully understand the error of my ways, and plead with the VDS Gods to allow me to resubmit my team.
Yep, I think so too
Instead of watching each other to see what happened in the Arenberg, they might want to push on to get to the next sector.
Badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger...
by TheFigurehead on Apr 7, 2011 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions
I wonder if these sectors change how the favorites
respond to the early break?
Or, could it play out that the favorites want to begin the race early, make the selection through Arenberg, and then survive for the final?
Yes/no
The new sector after Arenberg is just 1.4 km and they out took two longer sections of post-Arenberg 3 and 4-star cobbles from last year’s Roubaix to get it in there. The two removed sections were also in the Tour last year. I’m not expecting this change to shake up strategy too much.
I’m wondering more what the new five-star section does.
by Mr 60 Percent on Apr 7, 2011 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions
man, i would love to be one of those people watching at arenberg.
looking resplendent in my awesome podium cafe t-shirt.
"Ants don’t worry, they operate like a fantastic team, they accept obstacles and deal with them in a positive manner, they don’t complain and remain positive. An ant doesn’t work on emotion, is proactive and always chooses the ant role."
btw, the t-shirt pot has been sweetened.
see post for details.
"Ants don’t worry, they operate like a fantastic team, they accept obstacles and deal with them in a positive manner, they don’t complain and remain positive. An ant doesn’t work on emotion, is proactive and always chooses the ant role."
Wow, didn't realize
there’s now a 5-star before Arenberg.
FWIW, it hasn’t rained since Tuesday (at least in Holland, where I’m at, so it may not have rained in northern France even then) and no rain is forecast between now and Sunday, so it’s looking like another dry race. In fact it’s supposed to be, like, 22 degrees (72 f) on Sunday in Lille, which seems rather warm for P-R to me, but maybe I’m overly influenced by the pictures of mud-caked riders under gray skies…
Dusty
Seem to be the Word of the Day among the riders doing P-R recon.
Badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger...
by TheFigurehead on Apr 7, 2011 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Restated
When I say dusty, I mean #roubaix dusty http://yfrog.com/h4ci3abj
Badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger...
by TheFigurehead on Apr 7, 2011 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions
whoa, that's warm!
I like the cold, muddy versions myself. Like, Paris-Roubaix, it shouldn’t look like Cali.
Cali-Roubaix?
If cobble delusions are wrong, who wants to be right? -JFS PGH
by Chris Fontecchio on Apr 7, 2011 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Global warming is killing PR. Save the planet you people, we want a muddy race!!!
pounding along in three ratios like a sonata
like a Ritter with pommelled scrotum atra cura on the step
Botticelli from the fork down pestling the transmission
tires bleeding voiding zeep the highway
by fmk on Apr 8, 2011 6:17 AM EDT up reply actions
The new five-star
Bringing back Aulnoy-Farmars means in sectors 21-18 the riders traverse 8 km of cobbles out of 11, with the first 2.6 of them at five stars.
A big crash early in that gauntlet and we could be looking at a really small group entering Arenberg. Even with the 2007 Stuart O’Grady weather.
by Mr 60 Percent on Apr 7, 2011 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Cool
Love the pictures. And now I’m going to have “Driver 8” stuck in my head all day.
"It's really who can just push the biggest gear the fastest and the hardest, and I want to be that guy" - GHH
Whats the weather like for Sunday?
As usual you are a writing star Chris.
look, if it's hurting me, the other one is going to be about to die now - Jens!
Warm and sunny
"It's really who can just push the biggest gear the fastest and the hardest, and I want to be that guy" - GHH
Nice article.
However, I should point out that the picture for Camphin-en-Pevele is the same as the one for the Carrefour de l’Arbre.
Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
Never use a long word where a short one will do.
If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
Never use the passive where you can use the active.
Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.
-Orwell, Politics and the English Language
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Good catch!!
Fixed now. [Refresh]
This is a big screwup for me because the actual Carrefour picture really makes my point.
If cobble delusions are wrong, who wants to be right? -JFS PGH
by Chris Fontecchio on Apr 7, 2011 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Holy crap.... I knew the Carrefour was bad but jeez...
I hear the blue stones are like ice when wet too.
"It's crazy. In Belgium they would have stopped the train"
-Peter Van Petegem, April 2006-
I went to take a look today
since I don’t have my bike, I can’t speak authoritatively, but the carrefour def looks worse to me than the trouee.
dont think it’ll be wet, though
Millonfosse
Inner Ring has a pic of the Millonfosse sector in this post. Also:
…race directeur Jean-François Pescheux says this stretch will be crucial to the race, especially as there’s no room to ride on the side of the road, you have to take the cobbles.
Badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger...
OMG !!!!!! what a race
Im Pumped amazing read…….. ive never road on cobbles but it just looks like hell….. but WOW I Love em ………….. im racing the Baw Baw classic in North east Victoria, Australia on sunday 103km race last 16km avg 11%………. anyway doing that then our whole team is having a few beers and staying up to watch this amazing cobbled classic…. we have even taken monday off !!!!! BRING IT ON
Do or Do not there is no try..... master yoda !!!! (star wars)
Some photos of Wallers and other sectors
Wallers seems especially bad http://www.nieuwsblad.be/article/photobox.aspx?articleid=G7C38I5KJ
(including a few duplicates)
I will be watching my first Paris-Roubaix, this is the first year for me and the classic races.Very excited and loving all the info. and pictures here.Thank you for all the postings everyone. Seeing those roads it amazes me what can be ridden on road tires! And here I am panicking when my tires leave the pavement for a second! I can mountain bike but the skinnies still leave me nervous!
In road cycling tires
25mm is the new 22mm.
If cobble delusions are wrong, who wants to be right? -JFS PGH
by Chris Fontecchio on Apr 7, 2011 7:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Nice line.
I wish I had said it…
"In road cycling tires 25mm is the new 22mm"
-Chris Fontecchio, PdC April 2011-
They make one. The Competition.
A buddy of mine is selling me a pair of FMB 25’s for short money. They wouldn’t fit in his frame so he has to part with them. I feel for him, but am pretty stoked about them.
"In road cycling tires 25mm is the new 22mm"
-Chris Fontecchio, PdC April 2011-
that's what I mean:
convince them to make sprinter gatorskins in 25 . . .
Write up your experiences with the fmb’s—I’m interested.
+1
and I know some tech guys up here who’d agree. It’ll happen soon I think.
If cobble delusions are wrong, who wants to be right? -JFS PGH
by Chris Fontecchio on Apr 7, 2011 11:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Pretty pretty please
I’ll add my name to the list
My fruit bowl is full of sex wax--gavia
by Douglas Ansel on Apr 8, 2011 12:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Check out this piece of Carrefour de l'Arbre awesomeness
Here
Fly over the complete sector, zoom in, watch the cobbles and look 360° around! How cool is that!
(Chris, you can import this in html too if you like)
You discovered Google Maps? :)
You are right, awesome views of the cobbles. From your starting position, you need to turn around first to see the actual Carrefour de l’Arbre and the café/restaurant. You already crossed the D90. It all starts here. Click somewhere on the Streetview area to let it have focus (but not where there’s a circle or square under the mouse arrow or you’ll move/zoom) or click the fullscreen button (pictured below), then use arrow keys to move around.
Amazing stuff, innit?
Srsly, I still enjoy Streetview almost daily. Great picture blog with odd screenshots: http://9-eyes.com/
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