Paris-Roubaix: cycling enthusiasts there

The hell of the North. This Sunday, the day after the victory of Belgian Lotte Kopecky, it is the men’s turn to take on the legendary cobblestones of Paris-Roubaix, one of the most difficult cycling races of the year. And, throughout the weekend, hundreds of fans and amateur runners came to test this famous route. For the occasion, Europe 1 went to the legendary tree crossroads in Camphin-en-Pévèle in the North.

“Much respect”

Cycling enthusiasts from Spain, Italy and England on the edge of the cobblestones… All came to encourage the amateur and professional riders. With the Belgian flag on his back, Simon comes every year to attend Paris-Roubaix. “It’s one of the best weekends of the year. It’s the atmosphere, but if you know a little about cycling, it’s a monument. When you ride a bike at least a little, you know “riding on cobblestones is complicated. They cover a lot of kilometers. It’s a lot of respect for the riders who will pass in front of us,” he rejoices.

Because faces are changing, he adds. The features are drawn and the arms tremble. Damien, who is taking part in the Queen of Classics for the first time, suffers on his bike. “A kid’s dream. Strangely, it’s not the legs that are tired, it’s the arms, the jerks, the back, the hands, the wrists. It’s them that take the strain, not the legs,” admits he. And all these cycling fans are impatiently waiting for the riders this afternoon. They will also carefully observe the passage of the famous chicane, installed at the entrance to the Trouée d’Arenberg to slow down the peloton.