It took 903 days. Since April 14, 2019 and the victory of the Belgian Philippe gilbert, Paris-Roubaix was at a standstill. Postponed three times due to the health crisis, the hell of the North is making a comeback this Sunday, October 3 after two and a half years of absence. A true regional heritage, the queen of classics has been missed by many lovers of cobblestones. Organizers, elected officials, cafetiers, historians or simple enthusiasts, They tell 20 minutes how they lived this long wait before finding a smile again on Sunday.
Françoise, patroness of the café “Chez Françoise” in Troisvilles
“Two and a half years without seeing each other is a long time. In addition, in addition to confinement, we had problems such as water damage in the café last March. My cellar collapsed and we’ve been working on it ever since. Fortunately, the pigeon season was able to take place, I was able to welcome the enthusiasts with their pigeons. But I missed Paris-Roubaix a lot. It’s full of memories, both good and bad. Jean-Marie Leblanc (ex-boss of the Tour) has always told me that I was the protector of the entrance to the cobblestones because Troisvilles is the first cobbled section of the race. People come here as one comes on a pilgrimage. “
Olivier Codron, teacher at the horticultural high school in Raismes, who repairs the cobblestones of the course every year with his students
“This wait of two and a half was very frustrating for the students who were looking forward to it. In 2020, there was no intervention, confinement required. It is a real lack because it is a key moment of the school year which takes place during the fifteen days preceding the race. Everyone learns to paving. It is an unforgettable experience for them and it stays in their heads for a long time. Suddenly, it’s a real relief to be able to come back to work on it. “
Pascal Sergent, historian of Paris-Roubaix
“This is the first time since World War II that Paris-Roubaix has stopped for two and a half years. We were weaned during this absence which was difficult for the Northerners who are very attached to this race. For my part, I had a very bad experience with this stop. In my head, I am scheduled each year for the second Sunday in April, the usual date of the race. And there, I found myself sheepish at home, like an idiot. I was lost all day because I didn’t know what to do. I was totally idle and did nothing all day. It must be said that I think of Paris-Roubaix every day. Every year on race day I am petrified. It’s a race that I live physically. Today, it is a great deliverance to find her. “
Thierry Gouvenou, director of Paris-Roubaix
“These 903 days without Paris-Roubaix were a real heartbreak. There was also a feeling of injustice because we saw the other races take place in Belgium but not Paris-Roubaix. It really hurt my heart. I understood the first cancellation in April 2020 because we were all confined. But the other two postponements were harder to accept. This race is so close to my heart. We like to have this spectacle, this intensity, this extraordinary race every year. And not to see it unfold, it was very difficult. Today, it’s a big relief to be able to offer an edition in 2021. “
Aymeric Robin, president of the agglomeration community of Porte du Hainaut where the Arenberg gap is located
“Paris-Roubaix is part of our heritage. It’s really identity. We are in a mining area that combines sport, nature and heritage. For two and a half years, there was frustration but also and above all a lot of misunderstanding. We did not understand the double standards by seeing the races of the territory go by the wayside which was not necessarily the case elsewhere. This incomprehension was heard from the State services. This reunion is a real happiness after the period that we have just gone through. It is a pleasure that we do not sulk. “
François Doulcier, president of the friends of Paris-Roubaix, an association of enthusiasts
“Before the Covid, we could never have imagined that. Two and a half years away is an eternity for enthusiasts like us. We always tried to believe it but it was very sad. During the first confinement, a TV team asked me to come to the Roubaix velodrome, the day the race should have taken place. I felt like I was on another planet, to be the only survivor after a nuclear cataclysm. I had tears in my eyes. I was sad, I didn’t want anything. With the association, during this long absence, we took the opportunity to sort, tidy up our archives and start a renovation plan for our Paris-Roubaix room. We took care of ourselves as best we could. Today, we are excited to relive this festive day. She is our queen of classics, we are in full communion with her, as if it were the Virgin. “
Archibald, 20 Minutes reader
“I am very happy to see the Queen of the Classics again, the event that inspires me every year, which for me is the link between modern cycling and the original races of the 19th century. An epic, heroic scent, a unique spectacle, which I missed, and that’s an understatement. It’s just a bike race, there are more serious things in the world, but this year I realized what the power of a passion is. You miss a race, and everything is depopulated. “