It is this time of year that my favorite bicycle races usually occur, the Spring Classics, or Monuments, these are some of the best that cycling has to offer. I know that the Tour de France is the most renowned and coveted, and the Giro d’Italia, my preference over Le Tour, is another major prize to claim; but nothing compares to the one day classics.
It would be about now that Paris-Roubaix would be held. This one day classic starts outside of Paris following a 260km route and finishes in the velodrome in Roubaix on the border of Belgium. It has been held every year since 1896, with exceptions for the years surrounding the two World Wars. Generally speaking, this would not be that exciting except that early April in the north of France it means that the weather is unpredictable, often cold, raining, and even snowing. Oh, and then there are the roads; the route includes 50km of cobblestone roads, actually “road” is not an accurate term these cobblestone sections are actually farm paths. The approximately two dozen sections of cobblestone are remnants of pre-war France and are maintained by a volunteer organization, with rain they become a mud covered ice patch.
So when you combine the weather with the cobblestone sections you can begin to understand why the race has the nick name “The Hell of the North” or “A Sunday in Hell”.
There have been countless memorable moments in this race, so don’t get me started, but 2016 is especially memorable. I will start with a spoiler, the race was won by Mathew Haymen. Mat rode professionally from 2000 - 2019 during which time his role was mainly as a domestique, or supporter of the team leader. He was well respected for his role in helping others win, and the 2016 Paris-Roubaix was only his 8th professional victory. But by all conventional thinking this race was not his to win, or even ride.
On February 27 of that year Mat crashed in another race shattering the radius bone in his right arm. The cobbles of Paris-Roubaix are jarring to even a healthy body, a broken arm would be impossible. But within a day of breaking his arm Mat had set up his bike on an indoor trainer, and using computer simulations began training in his garage with his arm propped up on a ladder.
The best way for a cyclist to get fit is to race. The second best way to get fit is to log road miles. Mat could do neither so his even making it to the starting line of Paris-Roubaix was not expected. So Mat did the only thing he could do, alone in his garage, twice a day he rode hard, logging more than 1,000km on his virtual trainer.
When he arrived at Paris-Roubaix no one, including himself, expected that he would do anything other than support his team leader. But there he was in the early break away. And late in the race he was with the 5 leaders taking an early lead as they arrived in the velodrome in Roubaix. Holding off the sprinters coming in fast behind him Mat won his 15th Paris-Roubaix.
Not able to go outside and ride on the road Mat won this prestigious race by training alone in his garage with his arm propped on a ladder. It is pretty amazing to see what can happen while stuck at home.
God be with you until we meet again.
Fr. Henry+
