07/04/2005 - The Picantin of Compiègne / Last race for Andrea Tafi
07/04/2005 - Boonen's turn?
04/04/2005 - 54,7 km of cobblestones: grades of difficulty
18/03/2005 - A.S.O. and the town of Roubaix extend their collaboration
04/03/2005 - A brand new uphill cobbled section
12/01/2005 - The 2005 edition of the Paris-Roubaix will not include the Tranchée d'Arenberg
Issy-les-Moulineaux, 8th of April 2005
The Picantin of Compiègne
Mascot of the city, the Picantin represents a soldier under the reign of King François Ist. Traditionally, it was given as an award to the best French rider of the race. It will now be given to the winner of the previous edition under the condition that the rider competes the following year. The Picantin of the city of Compiègne will therefore go to Magnus Backstedt, first Swedish rider to win the event in 2004. The award will be officially given on Saturday 9th of April in Compiègne, Place du Palais, between 14h30 and 16h30 during the presentation of the teams.
Last race for Andrea Tafi
Andrea Tafi of the Saunier Duval – Prodir team has decided to end his career after this year's Paris-Roubaix. He will therefore be honoured by the race organisers and the 'velo-club' of Roubaix after the race, in the press room. The Italian had won the event back in 1999.
>> Download the press release (.doc, 1 page, 84 ko)
Issy-les-Moulineaux, 7th of April 2005
Boonen's turn?
Revealed to the World of pro cycling during Paris-Roubaix 2002 when he claimed a very promising third spot at only 21 years of age, Tom Boonen will start the 103rd edition of the race as the clear favourite. The Quick Step team leader who had started the season with two stage wins on the Tour of Qatar and two others during Paris-Nice has already impressed in the Classics. Winner of the GP E3-Harelbeke after a two-man breakaway with Klier of Germany, Boonen triumphed a few days later on the cobbled-stones of Belgium by winning the Tour of Flanders last Sunday.
To make the decisive move on the cobbled sections of northern France, the rider that many consider as being the successor of three-time winner Johan Museeuw will have to keep an eye on quite a few former winners: Van Petegem seems to be the strongest of them all but title-holder Magnus Backstedt is also a title contender alongside Servais Knaven and Andrea Tafi, who will be riding his last Paris-Roubaix on Sunday. Often well placed, American George Hincapie should be battling in front but will also have to work things out with his young team mate Stijn Devolder, recent winner of the Three days of La Panne.
Concerning the French contingent, the main chances will lie on the shoulders of another former winner, Frédéric Guesdon, but a bunched sprint finish could favour the likes of Jean-Patrick Nazon, winner of the Wasquehal stage during the 2004 Tour de France covering some of the same cobbled sections as on Sunday. French National champion, Thomas Voeckler, who will be competing on his very first Paris-Roubaix, will certainly give everything he has to conquer a good final position.
Favourites of the 25 teams
| Germany |
| Gerolsteiner (GER) |
Hoj (DAN), Rich (ALL) |
| T-Mobile Team (TMO) |
Wesemann, Zabel (ALL) |
| |
| Belgium |
| Quick Step |
Boonen (BEL), Knaven (HOL), Zanini (ITA) |
| Landbouwkrediet – Colnago (LAN) |
Capelle (BEL), Dierckxsens (BEL) |
| Davitamon – Lotto (DVL) |
Van Petegem, Steels (BEL), Van Bon (HOL) |
| MrBookmaker.com – Sports Tech (MRB) |
Gardeyn (BEL), Hunt (GBR) |
| |
| Danemark |
| Team CSC (CSC) |
Gusev (RUS), Michaelsen (DAN) |
| |
| Spain |
| Fundacion Ciclista Euskadi (EUS) |
Flores (ESP) |
| Illes Balears (IBA) |
Garcia Acosta (ESP) |
| Liberty Seguros Team (LSW) |
Hruska (RTC) |
| Saunier Duval – Prodir (SDV) |
Bertogliati (SUI), Tafi (ITA) |
| |
| United States |
| Discovery Channel Team (DSC) |
Devolder (BEL), Hammond (GBR), Hincapie (EU) |
| |
| France |
| Bouygues Telecom (BTL) |
Geslin, Voeckler (FRA) |
| Credit Agricole (C.A) |
Hushovd (NOR), Kirsipuu (EST), D.Nazon (FRA) |
| Cofidis crédit par téléphone (COF) |
Casper (FRA), O'Grady (AUS) |
| FDJeux.com (FDJ) |
Guesdon, Mengin (FRA), Cooke (AUS) |
| AG2R Prevoyance (A2R) |
Portal, JP.Nazon (FRA) |
| Agritubel (AGR) |
Balciunas (LIT), Brard (FRA) |
| RAGT-Semences (RAG) |
Seigneur (FRA) |
| |
| Italy |
| Domina Vacanze (DOM) |
Ludewig (ALL) |
| Fassa Bortolo (FAS) |
Cancellara (SUI), Flecha (ESP) |
| Liquigas – Bianchi (LIQ) |
Backstedt, Ljungqvist (SUE) |
| Lampre-Caffita (LAM) |
Ballan, Bortolami (ITA) |
| |
| Netherlands |
| Rabobank (RAB) |
Wauters (BEL), Horillo (ESP) |
| |
| Switzerland |
| Phonak Hearing Systems (PHO) |
Clerc (SUI) |
>> Download the press release (.doc, 1 page, 85 ko)
Issy-les-Moulineaux, 4th of April 2005
54,7 km of cobblestones: grades of difficulty
Following reconnaissance of the course of the race undertaken on the 4th of April by Jean-François Pescheux and his team, the organisers have awarded a grade of difficulty to each of the 26 cobblestone sections of the race, according to the length, the irregularity of the cobblestones, the general condition of the cobbled section and its location. In bad condition for the past few years, the Wallers-Arenberg forest stretch cannot be taken this year. Therefore the itinerary will be directed towards the South of Valenciennes, where the riders will discover a brand new cobblestone section, in Aulnoy-lez-Valenciennes, with an uphill climb of 1600 m. The total length of the cobbled sections this year is 54,7 km (51,1 km in 2004).
| Les 26 secteurs pavés de Paris-Roubaix |
26. Troisvilles
(km 97,5 - 2200 m) |
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13. Warlaing - Vrillon
(km 186 - 2400 m) |
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25. Viesly
(km 103,8 - 1800 m) |
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13. Tilloy - Sars-et-Rosières
(189,5 - 2400 m) |
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24. Quievy
(km 106,4 - 3700 m) |
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12. Orchies
(km 200,4 - 1700 m) |
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23. Quievy – Saint-Python
(km 111,1 - 1500 m) |
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11. Auchy-lez-Orchies
(km 206,5 - 2600 m) |
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22. Escarmain
(km 122,7 - 1500 m) |
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10. . Mons-en-Pévèle
(km 212 - 3000 m) |
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21. Vertain
(km 126,9 - 1900 m) |
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9. Merignies
(km 218 - 700 m) |
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20. Du Buat
(km 133,6 - 1700 m) |
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8. Pont-Thibaut
(km 221,4 - 1400 m) |
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20. Preseau
(143,8 - 2000 m) |
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7. Templeuve l'Epinette
(km 226,7 - 200 m) |
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19. Aulnoy-lez-Valenciennes
(km 149,7 - 2600 m) |
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7. Le Moulin de Vertain
(km 227,3 - 500 m) |
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18. Famars
(km 153 - 1200 m) |
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6. Cysoing - Bourghelles
(km 233,6 - 1400 m) |
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17. Artres - Querenaing
(km 155,8 - 1400 m) |
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5. . Camphin-en-Pévèle
(km 239,9 - 1800 m) |
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17. Querenaing - Maing
(km 157 - 2500 m) |
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4. . Le Carrefour de l'Arbre
(km 242,6 - 2100 m) |
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16. . Monchaux-sur-Ecaillon
(km 160,9 - 1600 m) |
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3. Gruson
(km 244,8 - 1100 m) |
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15. Haveluy
(km 172,4 - 2400 m) |
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2. Hem
(km 251,4 - 1400 m) |
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14. Hornaing - Wandignies
(km 178,5 - 3700 m) |
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1. Roubaix
(km 257,6 - 300 m) |
|
>> Download the press release (format .doc, 1 page, 90 ko)
Issy-les-Moulineaux, the 18th of March 2005
A.S.O. and the town of Roubaix extend their collaboration
This morning, A.S.O. and the town of Roubaix signed an agreement continuing their partnership for the organisation of the next five editions of the Paris-Roubaix cycling race. Jean-Marie Leblanc, Deputy Director of A.S.O., accompanied by Cycling Director, Christian Prudhomme, and Competition Director, Jean-François Pescheux, officialised the agreement with the Mayor of Roubaix, René Vandierendonck.
“I am a happy Mayor as this has always been an exemplary collaboration and an evident one for the town of Roubaix. This alliance with A.S.O. goes hand in hand with a cultural collaboration, Paris-Roubaix being a major asset in the development of our regional heritage. This dimension is moreover widely recognised: this race, which remains the greatest of the cycling classics, is also the core of what we are”, declared the town's leading magistrate.
Jean-Marie Leblanc also underlined the importance of this alliance by specifying that “the race and the town are indissolubly linked, both as regards local participation in the maintenance of the region's cobblestone sections and the organisation of the finish in the Roubaix Velodrome. Moreover, the Paris-Roubaix is the last cycling race of importance in the world to host a final in a velodrome”.
Further to the signing of the agreement, Mr. Martineau, Regional Director of Cultural Affairs, unveiled a plaque officialising the classification of the Roubaix Velodrome as part of the regional heritage of the 20th Century.
>> Download the press release (format .doc, 1 page, 127 ko)
Issy-les-Moulineaux, the 4th of March 2005
A brand new uphill cobbled section
Yesterday, during the presentation of the A.S.O. cycling season for 2005, the organisers announced a new modification concerning the course of the 103rd edition of Paris-Roubaix (10th of April). Bad conditions in the past few years making the crossing of the Wallers-Arenberg forest dangerous forced the race direction to, first of all, use a new itinerary including the Avesnes-le-Sec cobbled section. However the Préfecture has advised to change the plans due to works on this zone.
Therefore, the course has again been changed: the peloton will indeed be directed towards the south of Valenciennes, where four new cobble-stone sections will be covered in Vertain, Aulnoy-lez-Valenciennes, Famars and Préseau.
Added to that, for the first time in the history of Paris-Roubaix, the riders will have to go through a cobbled section of 1700m, including 1100m going uphill. This brand new section, situated in the Hameau du Buat, was discovered and recommended to Sporting Director Jean-François Pescheux by former World champion Jean Stablinski. With this change of course, the cobbled sections will increase from 51km in 2004 to 54,7km.
>> Download the press release (format .doc, 1 page, 127 ko)
Issy-les-Moulineaux, the 12th of January 2005
The 2005 edition of the Paris-Roubaix will not include the Tranchée d'Arenberg
Following the most recent reconnaissance of the race route, the organisers have decided not to include in the race the 2400 metres of the Drève des Boules d'Hérin – the famous Trouée d'Arenberg – for safety reasons.
Indeed, the state of the road has greatly deteriorated over the last few years. There is hence a dangerous 200 metre passage, linked to mining subsidence, which has resulted in the “Mare à Goriaux” (Goriaux Pool). A slimy film due to continual damp collects on the cobblestones, transforming this portion of the road into a real trap for the riders.
However, this does not mean that the Trouée d'Arenberg is being excluded from the race route forever. The organisers have already contacted the local authorities in order to find solutions to this problem, which will allow the race to take this legendary cobblestone section once again.
The 2005 edition, which will take place on the 10th of April next, will cross 26 cobblestone stretches representing 53,2 kilometres i.e. 2 kilometres more than in 2004. Among the new stretches, that of Avesnes-le-Sec (2700 m) is to be particularly noted.
>> Download the press release (format .doc, 1 page, 144 ko)
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