In the mythology of Paris-Roubaix, images of runners soaked to the bone, covered head to toe in mud and shaken on miles of cobbled roads are familiar images. Images with which fans of “tough times” should reconnect with a joy tinged with apprehension this Sunday. For the 118th edition of the classic, which is held unusually in October due to a postponement due to the Covid, the Paris-Roubaix route should be affected by sustained rains which should significantly complicate the task of the runners.
The rain, the wind and … the beetroot crops
A situation that had not happened since 2002. “It was complicated,” recalls François Doulcier, president of the Friends of Paris-Roubaix association. But in 2001 it was worse, the conditions were really dire. »20 years of“ dry ”editions which should therefore come to an end, while Météo-France has placed Hauts-de-France on yellow alert for rains and violent wind, and forecasts rain over the entire region in the night from Saturday to Sunday and in the morning of Sunday, with clearings expected during the day.
Additional difficulty: October is the start of the beet harvest, with fields adjoining part of the paved sections of the race route. However, the agricultural machines which have started their work carry earth, and therefore potentially mud in the event of rain, on the cobblestones. “The course was not bad when we recognized it on Monday, there was nothing catastrophic, tempers François Doulcier. We have started picking beets in some places, but not all. Also, the weather was dry when it was picked up, so it’s less of a problem as it makes less dirt on the cobblestones. “
“A little rain to spice up, it’s ideal”
This Saturday, the very first women’s edition of the race has already given a foretaste of what we could see on Sunday, with light rains which have already caused slips and stunts. “Sunday, we expect heavy rains on the course. Compared to other editions, it will take skill. Racers specializing in cyclo-cross will have an advantage: it will be necessary to master the slides, the trajectories, to catch up with his bike when necessary… ”
A situation that is not necessarily to displease lovers of the race, who necessarily expect an edition rich in action. “Ideally, there would be a little rain to spice up. For the spectators, it will be much more spectacular: no more slips, falls, rebounds, punctures … Afterwards, we must also put ourselves in the shoes of the organizers and the runners. For them, it is very complicated. “
In addition to the expected rain which will make the pavement slippery and mud, some observers have also noted the poor condition of certain cobblestones on the course, especially on the Trouée d’Arenberg, one of the three cobbled sections classified with five stars. 903 days after the last Paris-Roubaix, the return of the runners to “the hell of the North” promises blood, sweat and raindrops.
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