Whoever gets to hold the Sett above his head in the Roubaix velodrome, is going to have to do something special when during the 2013 Paris-Roubaix. We’ll have live updates from 9.00pm AEST.
Not that winning a race like Paris-Roubaix isn’t special enough, after-all it’s the classic of the Classics, but because on current form they’ll have beaten two-time winner Fabian Cancellara.
Defending Champion Tom Boonen is one rider who could do exactly that and win a record fifth Roubaix, but he’s had a horrible year and a nasty crash in the Tour of Flanders finally ended his chances.
So it’s Cancellara’s race to lose. But if there’s one race where the best rider doesn’t always win, it’s the 254km Paris-Roubaix.
Twenty-seven sectors of bone-rattling mud-encrusted cobblestones, covering 52.5km, guarantees you need more than strength on the day, you need luck.
Luck, to not crash, too much. Luck, to not puncture, too much. Luck, to not be held up by others who crash, too much.
Easier said than done when most of the time, riding the cobbles is like racing on ice, and riders are so caked in dirt that they’re almost unrecognisable.
As always the 2.284km section of pave through the Trouee d’Arenberg (forest of Arenberg) promises to be decisive.
But there are two other five-star sectors (five stars represents the most difficult) the peloton must conquer after d’Arenberg before the suffering ends.
First raced in 1896, Stuart O’Grady (2007) is the only Aussie to have hoisted the Sett. Those who saw it will never forget. This is a race where legends are born.
The weather is always a factor in Paris-Roubaix, but it hasn’t been too bad in the past few years. Given the weather in Europe so far this season though, we could be set for another epic day of cycling.
Nine Australians are racing tonight’s 2013 Paris-Roubaix:
| NAME | TEAM | BIB No. |
| Mathew Hayman | Sky Procycling | 43 |
| Stuart O’Grady | Orica-GreenEDGE | 111 |
| Baden Cooke | Orica-GreenEDGE | 113 |
| Mitch Docker | Orica-GreenEDGE | 114 |
| Luke Durbridge | Orica-GreenEDGE | 115 |
| Jonathon Cantwell | Team Saxo-Tinkoff | 143 |
| Heinrich Haussler | IAM Cycling | 151 |
| Will Clarke | Team Argos-Shimano | 162 |
|
Zak Dempster
|
Team NetApp – Endura
|
213
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[roar_cat_gal]
Lee Rodgers
Expert
Fantastic! And the race was pretty good too ;-)
John Thompson-Mills
Expert
That's it for the live blog from The Roar for Paris-Roubaix. Thanks for your company. What a race it was, even if it didn't rain. Keep checking our site for all the latest news from the cycling world. See you next time.
John Thompson-Mills
Expert
So Cancellara does the Flanders Roubaix double and collapses to the ground afterwards. He has to be helped to his feet. If Vanmarcke was just able to kick a little more he would have won but Spartacus was too strong. Terpstra claimed third, van Avermaet was fourth and well done to Sebastian Langeveld from Orica Green Edge who finished 7th.
John Thompson-Mills
Expert
Fabian comes from behind and over the top to win his third Paris-Roubaix . What a win!!
John Thompson-Mills
Expert
it's a track duel. slow now
John Thompson-Mills
Expert
the bell is ringing. 500m to go.
John Thompson-Mills
Expert
they are on the velodrome.
John Thompson-Mills
Expert
1km to ride. what a shame someone has to lose.
John Thompson-Mills
Expert
2km to race. Cancellara is giving a ride here. His opponent looks more tired but Vanmarcke isn't letting go.
John Thompson-Mills
Expert
3km to race. Vanmarcke keeps getting out of his saddle whereas Cancellara remains seated.
John Thompson-Mills
Expert
3.5km to race. Vanmarcke is a better sprinter as Cancellara has probably sussed given he can't shake him with these attacks.
John Thompson-Mills
Expert
4km. The two leaders are side by side as Cancellara attacks again.
John Thompson-Mills
Expert
5km to race. Only 300m of pave left to race which is just before the Velodrome. So this looks like it will come down to a race inside the historic velodome. Wow!
John Thompson-Mills
Expert
6.5km to race. Cancellara looks like he is struggling to stay on Vanmarcke's wheel, What a win this could be for Blanco...might even get them a sponsor.
John Thompson-Mills
Expert
7.7km to race. Cancellara sitting in second position.
John Thompson-Mills
Expert
8.2km, Sector 2 is here just 1.4km long.
John Thompson-Mills
Expert
8.5km to race. Stybar is out of it at 47 secs so it's a race in two.
John Thompson-Mills
Expert
Just 10k's to race incliding 1700m of pave over two sectors. Again, Cancellara cannot shake Vanmarcke.
John Thompson-Mills
Expert
11 km to race. Cancellara is into time trial mode but Vanmarcke is going nowhere and is in fact doing turns with Spartacus.
John Thompson-Mills
Expert
13km to race and the lead duo has a lead of 19 secs.