How Paris-Roubaix began - Video
How did the 'Hell of the North' take shape?
April 12 would have been the 118th edition of Paris-Roubaix, but do you know how the cycling's majestic 'Hell of the North' Monument got started? The crew at inCycle looked into it and put together this short video to help explain.
The turn of the century saw Roubaix rise as a leader in both the wool and mining industries, and the labourers who fed those industries were meant to entertain themselves at the local velodrome every Sunday – their only day off.
To promote the velodrome, a race from Paris-Roubaix was created for professional riders and some amateurs. Learn more about the race, and about the first riders who helped build its place in cycling lore, in this video.
Video content created by inCycle. More videos at https://www.youtube.com/user/inCycleTV
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Cyclingnews is the world's leader in English-language coverage of professional cycling. Started in 1995 by University of Newcastle professor Bill Mitchell, the site was one of the first to provide breaking news and results over the internet in English. The site was purchased by Knapp Communications in 1999, and owner Gerard Knapp built it into the definitive voice of pro cycling. Since then, major publishing house Future PLC has owned the site and expanded it to include top features, news, results, photos and tech reporting. The site continues to be the most comprehensive and authoritative English voice in professional cycling.