Press releases

Issy-les-Moulineaux, the 10^th of April 2007

The science of prognosis is rarely precise. For a race like Paris-Roubaix it's even more random. At the start in Compiègne on April the 15^th, one would be wiser to go for a group of survivors still able to capture the win, then to name a clear favourite.

In 2006, despite the signs of good health that he had shown at the beginning of the Belgian campaign, Tom Boonen had failed to manage a double that many thought he would achieve. Nothing garantees that Fabian Cancellara, impressive during his first triumph in Roubaix will be in the same winning form. The last two winners will however have a role to play in the final explanation for victory. They will probably have to keep an eye on Alessandro Ballan, recent winner of the Tour of Flanders and of the Three Days of De Panne.

Several other riders will do their best to remain among the leading bunch in the famous Tranchée d'Arenberg, where selection is traditionally severe.

In the Belgian contingent, Peter Van Petegem will have a new status as a Quick Step team mate, but the men from the Flanders area will be strorngly represented with the likes of Leif Hoste, back in the Predictor-Lotto team and Stijn Devolder, leader of the Discovery Channel team due to the absence of Hincapie.

Juan-Antonio Flecha, who still hopes to become the first Spaniard to win the Queen of Classics will try to make the best of the possible confusion within the front group, exactly like Filipo Pozzato or Lars Michaelsen, who has decided to bid farewell to elite cycling on the Roubaix Velodrome.

THE MAIN CONTENDERS OF THE 24 TEAMS

Germany Gerolsteiner: Förster (ALL), Wrolich (AUT) Team Wiesenhof Felt: Pollack (ALL), Wesemann (SUI) T-Mobile Team: Burghardt (ALL), Eisel (AUT), Hammond (GBR) Belgium Chocolade Jacques - Topsport: Eeckhout (BEL) Predictor - Lotto: Hoste, Steels Vansevenant (BEL) Quick Step - Innergetic: Boonen, Steegmans, Van Petegem (BEL) Landbouwkrediet - Tonissteiner: Boucher (RFA), Meirhaeghe (BEL) Denmark Team CSC: Cancellara (SUI), Michaelsen (DAN), O'Grady (AUS) Spain Euskaltel - Euskadi: Aranaga (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne: Garcia Acosta (ESP), Brard (FRA) Saunier Duval - Prodir: Pagliarini (BRE), Ventoso (ESP) United States Discovery Channel Team: Devolder (BEL), Vaitkus (LTU)

France AG2R - Prevoyance: J-P. Nazon (FRA) Agritubel: Balciunas, Baranauskas (LTU) Bouygues Telecom: Clerc (SUI) Credit Agricole: Bodrogi (HON), Engoulvent (FRA), Hushovd (NOR) Cofidis Le crédit par téléphone: Nuyens (BEL) Française des Jeux: Gilbert (BEL), Guesdon, Mengin (FRA) Italy Lampre - Fondital: Ballan, Bennati, Franzoi (ITA) Team Milram: Cortinovis (ITA) Liquigas: Backstedt (SUE), Pozzato (ITA) Natherlands Rabobank: Flecha (ESP), Posthuma, Van Bon (HOL) Skil - Shimano: Tjallingii (HOL), Vierhouten (HOL) Switzerland Astana: Haselbacher (AUT)

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Issy-les-Moulineaux, the 9^th of April 2007

Based on the reconnaissance of the route, which took place on April 9 by Christian Prudhomme and Jean-François Pescheux, the organisers have attributed a degree of difficulty for each of the 28 paved sections of the race, evaluated in terms of length, the irregularity of the cobblestones and the overall condition of each section and its placement. After preliminary scouting carried out this past January by Thierry Gouvenou, a change was made concerning the Troisvilles sector: the necessary work was completed in the second half of the section; the sector will be run in its entirety by the field. However, the d'Auchy-les-Orchies to Bersée sector has been shortened, the serious degradation of the route necessitates addition repair work.

For the 105^th edition of Paris-Roubaix, the competitors will ride an unprecedented sector at km194: situated between Beuvry-la-forêt and d'Orchies, the 1400m long “Chemin du Moulin”, which was inaugurated this afternoon by Marc Madiot, the godfather of this new sector.

In addition, this reconnaissance day was also the occasion for a meeting organised in Orchies with vice-president for sport for the Nord-Pas Calais region, Wulfran Despitch. This year the region has become a major partner of the event. The start will be taken at Compiègne at 10am on April 15.

 

THE 28 PARIS-ROUBAIX COBBLESTONE SECTORS
28	Troisvilles	km 98 - 2 200 m		14	Tilloy - Sars-et-Rosières	km 187,5 - 2 400 m
27	Viesly	km 104,5 - 1 800 m		13	Beuvry-la-Forêt à Orchies	km 194 - 1 400 m
26	Quievy	km 107 - 3 700 m		12	Orchies	km 198,5 - 1 700 m
25	Saint-Python	km 112 - 1 500 m		11	Auchy-lez-Orchies - Bersée	km 205 - 1 200 m
24	Vertain	km 119,5 - 1 900 m		10	Mons-en-Pévèle	km 210,5 - 3 000 m
23	Capelle-sur-Ecaillon - Le Buat	km 126,5 - 1 700 m		9	Mérignies - Pont-à-Marcq	km 216,5 - 700 m
22	Verchain-Maugré - Quérénaing	km 138 - 1 600 m		8	Pont-Thibaut	km 219,5 - 1 400 m
21	Querenaing - Maing	km 141 - 2 500 m		7	Templeuve l’Epinette	km 225 - 200 m
					Le Moulin de Vertain	km 225,5 - 500 m
20	Monchaux-sur-Ecaillon	km 144 - 1 600 m		6	Cysoing - Bourghelles	km 232 - 1 300 m
					Bourghelles - Wannehain	km 234,5 - 1 100 m
19	Haveluy	km 155,5 - 2 500 m		5	Camphin-en-Pévèle	km 239 - 1 800 m
18	Trouée d'Arenberg	km 163,5 - 2 400 m		4	Le Carrefour de l’Arbre	km 242 - 2 100 m
17	Wallers - Hélesmes	km 170 - 1 600 m		3	Gruson	km 244 - 1 100 m
16	Hornaing - Wandignies	km 176,5 - 3 700 m		2	Hem	km 251 - 1 400 m
15	Warlaing - Brillon	km 184 - 2 400 m		1	Roubaix	km 257 - 300  m

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Issy-les-Moulineaux, the 23^rd of March 2007

24 teams will be participating in the 105^th edition of the renowned cycling race Paris-Roubaix which will start from Compiègne on Sunday April 15^th 2007. Here is the official list:

Germany Gerolsteiner Team Wiesenhof Felt T-Mobile Team Belgium Chocolade Jacques - Topsport Vlaanderen Landouwkrediet - Tonissteiner Quick Step - Innergetic Predictor-Lotto Denmark Team CSC Spain Caisse d'Epargne Euskaltel - Euskadi Saunier Duval - Prodir United States Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team

France Ag2r Prévoyance Agritubel Bouygues Telecom Cofidis, le Crédit Par Téléphone Crédit Agricole Française Des Jeux Italy Lampre-Fondital Liquigas Team Milram Netherlands Rabobank Skil-Shimano Switzerland Astana

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