Paris-Roubaix: A Journey Through Hell

by Philippe Bouvet, Pierre Callewaert, Jean-Luc Gatellier

Paris-Roubaix, aka "The Hell of the North," has enough cobbles to shake bikes and bones to bits, and enough bad weather to make it treacherous even for the best professional cyclists. Held every April since 1896, the race follows a 270-kilometer course between the suburbs of the French capital and the northern industrial city of Roubaix, and its long history and location have made it pivotal in attracting cycling's superstars and testing their reputations. This lavish, large-format book recounts the history and excitement of Paris-Roubaix. With authoritative text from the top sportswriters at France's "L'Equipe," the book presents the inside story of the race, its great riders, its traditions, and its secrets. Arranged chronologically, "Paris-Roubaix" includes an exclusive, behind-the-scenes chapter to bring readers directly into the action. Hundreds of spectacular color and black-and-white photos, many of them never before collected in book form, round out this memorable portrait of one of cycling's greatest events.

Genres: Cycling, Sports

223 pages, Hardcover

First published May 3, 2006

Reviews

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the ultimate telling of the Paris-Roubaix story. L'enfer du Nord as it is know in France, is one of the most grueling and notorious one-day races held every spring for last 100+ years. Most famous is the stretch of cobblestone pave that makes for the toughest section of the race. If it is too dry, dust occludes everything, and if it is wet the cobbles are dangerously slippery and muddy. In either case it is a bone jarring ride and no sane place to have a bike race.

The book is excellently laid out with a history of the race, profiles on the key winners and special sections on some of the features that make this race unique. For example there is a chapter dedicated to describing the feel and the mood of the showers in the velodrome at the end of the race. Unlike any locker room in any other sport, these showers are a unique character of the race in their own right. It is where the warriors relive, consul, try to forget, and most importantly remove the caked on mud from the day.

The best feature is the 100 years of photographs that capture the pain, glory, and muddy mess that makes up this unique event.

This is a must own for any cycling fan.

[Marty Nicholas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Photos are great...text is a stilted, flowery translation. Bought it for the photos.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An essential overview of the queen of the classics, along with the Jorgen Leth documentary "A Sunday in Hell". As with Fife's Great Road Climbs, this deserves a place on your coffee table, pulling you through the winter months and building anticipation for April.

[Cyclingart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hell never looked better!