On Sunday 18 April 2010 scores of serial spinners, hybrid hustlers, mountain bike mushers and culinary fosterers of bananas will gather once again at Rue de Sharpless 814 in Saint Jean le Hockessín sur Argile Rouge for the third running of Paris Roubaix de Délaware. The annual deboucle will begin promptly at 8:00 a.m. with the customary truncated playing of La Marseilles and a looping audio track of Bernard Hinault’s glorious final five kilometers in his fateful 1981 victory in the Roubaix velodrome.
After an in-depth review of the course, riders will buck off the early spring chill with a brisk pedal over 27.6 kilometers and 335 vertical meters. Le Col du Way, Cote du Centerville, a hardscrabble descent of le Cote du Cossart and the infamous Bête de Twaddel will stand between riders and glory at the summit of Le Alpe du Sharpless. The pace will, as ever, be intensely laid back.
Afterwards an authentic bounty of Belgo-Francan fare will fortify the weary wheelers and prepare them for the fog that accompanies conspicuous consumption before noon.
Civilians, spectators, soigners, family members and certified members of the press are welcome as are their offspring as long as they don’t whine too much or inquire loudly as to why Rich and Sharon are wearing those silly berets. Non pedaling attendees will be needed to staff the commissary, make waffles, roll crêpes, cut fruit, uncork Bordeaux, squeeze oranges and chill the Kronenbourg.
RSVP to parisroubaix@houseind.com by April 13.
Cliquez ici pour une image agrandie
Total distance: 27.6 km, 17.2 miles
1100 Vertical Feet, 17.5 Miles
Date Change! April 19, 2009.
On 8 April 2008, Belgian cycling superstar Tom Boonen threw down the gauntlet to the professional peloton.
“I have shown that I am once again at the top of the list of the favourites. I am good enough to do a number in Hell. I don’t have to rely on my sprint on Sunday; I can do it with power.”
In an incomparable display of gumption, grace and glory, Tom made good on his bold statement by dominating the 106th edition of the Paris Roubaix cycling classic four days later.
As he was planning his decisive move on the treacherous pavé of northern France, another hearty band of athletes gathered on the opposite side of the Atlantic to commemorate this monumental affair with a short loop of the rolling countryside followed by a long tour of their capacity for drinking and eating.
Those who did not attend last year’s event will find comfort in knowing that any benefit that may have been derived from a brisk pedal in the early morning spring mist was quickly offset with an expertly-prepared brunch and free-flowing libations. So, without further adieu, I will crib last year’s copy to formally invite you all to our second annual Paris Roubaix party:
On Sunday 19 April 2009, we will commemorate the 107th running of Paris-Roubaix with a rollout at 8:00 a.m. from Place du Sharpless 814 in Hockessin ville. All matter of pedaled-based propulsion is welcome. Le Col du Way, Cote du Centerville and famous hardscrabble descent of le Cote du Cossart will be featured on the 27.6 km loop. The pace will be intensely laid back.
Afterwards waffles will be served in honor of the many Belgian champions who have dominated the race. If we can pick up the web feed from cycling.tv, the actual race will be projected on the wall. An encore presentation of “Sunday in Hell”, a famous cycling film that chronicles the 1976 Paris Roubaix will be shown in the absence of the live feed.
Non-pedaling civilians, spouses, and those with enough common sense to not participate in the ride will be needed to staff the commissary to make waffles, cut fruit, uncork Bordeaux, squeeze oranges and chill the Kronenbourg. Children are welcome and will be enslaved as deemed appropriate.
RSVP to parisroubaix@houseind.com by April 13.
Photos from last year:
http://www.parisroubaix.net/index.php?id=22
Rain date info:
http://www.parisroubaix.net/index.php?id=21
