New cobblestone sector for Paris-Roubaix

This year's Paris-Roubaix features a new 1400 metre stretch of cobblestones, which was officially inaugurated this week. The stretch is on le Chemin de Moulin, between Beuvry-la-Foret and Orchies. It is at kilometre 194 of the 259.9 kilometre race, and is the 13th of 28 cobbled sectors, giving the race a total of 52.7 kilometres of cobblestones.

The stretch was named for Marc Madiot, who won Paris-Roubaix in 1985 and 1991. Madiot, who is now Directeur Sportif at Française de Jeux, cut the ribbon to open the stretch of road, and said, "I had never thought that one day a section of cobblestones would carry my name," according to Het Laatste Nieuws.

Overall, the race organizers declared themselves satisfied with the condition of the course and particularly the cobblestone sections, which are dry because of a lack of rain recently.