Watch: Riders's brutal on-board footage takes you inside Paris-Roubaix 2019
Want to watch riders going over their handlebars on the cobbles up close? Of course you do
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for signing up to The Pick. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Everyone knows Paris-Roubaix is one of the toughest races of the season, it's part of the hyperbole surrounding the Monument. With 29 cobbled sectors, the dust and the dirt, not to mention that to win you usually have to ride someone off your wheel on a flat parcours, it's an impressive victory for any rider's palmarès.
Even watching on television, you feel every crash and effort each time one of the strong men reels back in a plucky escapee dreaming of victory inside the Roubaix velodrome.
Many of us will never experience what it is like riding the cobbles inside the professional peloton, but luckily riders' bike are often fitted with GoPros these days, so you can get the feeling of what it's like just by watching on your phone during your morning commute.
>>> Rider who was locked out of velodrome last year finishes top-10 in 2019 Paris-Roubaix
The video, uploaded by the Paris-Roubaix organisers, already has 20,000 views and features the intimate aftermath of Philippe Gilbert (Deceuninck – Quick-Step) celebrating with his team, the distraught and muddy faces of his competitors who finished second best on the day, as well as a wealth of race footage up close and personal inside the peloton.
The video shows a number of crashes, Slovenian national road race champion Matej Mohorič (Bahrain-Merida), Cofidis' Cyril Lemoine and Filippo Fortin, with Cyril Lemoine then getting a clumsy rear wheel change from a Mavic motorbike (with the video editor clearly getting bored of how long he's taking, cutting the clip before he finishes the job).
There are plenty of wonderfully juddery shots of the riders going across the cobbles, as well as sweeping, fan-packed corners with riders escaping on to a grassy verge for a couple of seconds of sweet relief from the pavé.
A number of riders are shown recovering from their efforts after 257km of the Hell of the North, with Frederik Backaert (Wanty-Gobert) looking especially knackered, and a Jumbo-Visma staff member putting an arm round a dejected-looking Wout Van Aert.
The video closes with a panning shot of Gilbert beating Nils Politt (Katusha-Alpecin) in the sprint finish inside the Roubaix velodrome, followed by his sport director Patrick Lefevere hugging him in the middle of a media scrum, the team celebrating Deceuninck – Quick-Step's 700th win, which has been achieved by over 100 riders.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Hi. I'm Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor. I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
-
Best long sleeved cycling jerseys 2023 for fall and spring riding, reviewed and rated
A long sleeved cycling jersey is a riding wardrobe staple, providing protection against cooler temperatures
By Hannah Bussey Published
-
‘Infectious positivity’ helped Jack Rootkin-Gray earn his first WorldTour ride with EF Education-EasyPost
Brit to make WorldTour debut in 2024 with Jonathan Vaughters managed American team
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Jumbo-Visma perfect until it really mattered: Five things we learned from the men's cobbled Classic season
Tadej Pogačar should be lining up a tilt at Paris-Roubaix, Mathieu van der Poel has won almost everything he can, and Ineos Grenadiers underwhelmed
By Adam Becket Published
-
‘It was just agony’: Inside the Paris-Roubaix debuts of four young Brits
Josh Tarling, Zoe Bäckstedt, Sam Watson and Alice Towers lived very different days at the Hell of the North
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Two days in hell: The best images from Paris-Roubaix and Paris-Roubaix Femmes
Take a look at our mega-gallery of some of the best photos from a weekend of brutal racing
By Adam Becket Published
-
'We raced like juniors from start to finish. It was crazy' - Mathieu van der Poel on his Paris-Roubaix victory
Dutchman reflects on a 'strange' day at Paris-Roubaix, the fastest edition in history
By Tom Davidson Published
-
CW Live: Live updates of men's Paris-Roubaix as Mathieu van der Poel wins; Jasper Philipsen second for Alpecin-Deceuninck 1-2; Wout van Aert third; Peter Sagan abandons in last-ever edition
Follow live updates of the men's Paris-Roubaix where Wout van Aert is among several cards that Jumbo-Visma have to play
By Chris Marshall-Bell Last updated
-
Filippo Ganna, Lorena Wiebes, or Matej Mohorič: Eight wildcards for Paris-Roubaix
Who could spring a surprise at the Hell of the North?
By Adam Becket Published
-
'All the pressure was on him': Philippe Gilbert impressed by Kasper Asgreen’s form ahead of Paris-Roubaix
Danish rider finished seventh for Soudal Quick-Step after Patrick Lefevere called for riders to ‘save team’s honour’
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Can anyone stop Lotte Kopecky and SD Worx? Six contenders for Paris-Roubaix Femmes
It's hard to look past the Dutch super-team, but Trek-Segafredo have been dominant in the Hell of the North
By Adam Becket Published