Monuments Links: en.wikipedia.org
By: kjfitz
Pavé Emblem of the Paris-Roubaix
Paris–Roubaix is a one-day professional bicycle road race in northern France near the Belgian frontier. Since its beginning in 1896 until 1967 it started in Paris and ended in Roubaix (hence the name); since 1968 the start city is Compiègne (about 60 kilometres (37 mi) north-east from Paris center), whilst the finish is still in Roubaix. Famous for rough terrain and cobblestones (setts), it is one of the 'Monuments' or Classics of the European calendar, and contributes points towards the UCI World Ranking. It has been called the The Hell of the North, A Sunday in Hell, (which is also the title of a film about the 1976 edition of the race) Queen of the Classics or La Pascale: the Easter race. The race is organised by the media group Amaury Sport Organisation annually in mid-April.
