102nd Paris-Roubaix - CDM

France, April 11, 2004

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Photography

Race Day

Images by Chris Henry/Cyclingnews.com

Gianluca Bortolami (Lampre) has plenty of experience in this race
George Hincapie (USPS-Berry Floor) hopes that today will be the day
Saeco's Dario Pieri in the company of his teammates
Frank Vandenbroucke (Fassa Bortolo) wonders what's in store
Johan Museeuw (Quick.Step-Davitamon) in his last Paris-Roubaix
The riders get ready for the start in Compiegne

Images by Chris Henry/Cyclingnews.com

Mechanics spread themselves throughout the parcours with spare wheels, just in case
Lotto-Domo leads the peloton down the final metres of secteur pavé 23
Former mountain biker Floyd Landis (USPS) hangs tough at Saint-Python
Leon Van Bon leads the Lotto charge into the Arenberg Forest
The Arenberg forest is bad enough without having to battle the team cars
Trailing riders risk getting blocked by crashes and team car traffic jams
Fabian Cancellara leads the winning break into the Roubaix velodrome
George Hincapie (USPS) had to settle for 8th place in Roubaix
The sprint begins and it's anyone's guess
The main field sweeps through the Roubaix velodrome
Roger Hammond (Mr. Bookmaker) had to come to terms with a narrow miss in Roubaix
Frank Høj (Team CSC) is the only rider whose hair looked the same before and after the race
Another day in hell for the happy veteran Ludo Dierckxsens (Landbouwkrediet-Colnago)
Leif Hoste (Lotto-Domo) kept his Flanders form but was hit by bad luck and a spectator's flag
Former winner Frédéric Guesdon (FDJeux.com) rode with the leaders but couldn't repeat in Roubaix
Steffen Wesemann (T-Mobile) took over the World Cup lead
1999 Winner Andrea Tafi (Alessio-Bianchi) looks for his teammate Magnus Bäcksted at the finish
Dario Pieri (Saeco) wasn't able to repeat his podium performance of a year ago
The party's over… or is it?

Luc Claessen/Cyclingnews/www.actiefotos.be

Spectators wait in the Arenberg Forest
Leif Hoste (Lotto-Domo) at the front
George Hincapie (USPS) leads one of the first groups through Arenberg
Steffen Wesemann (T-Mobile) and Johan Museeuw looking relatively comfy in Arenberg
Fabio Baldato (Alessio-Bianchi) muscles his way along
Some chose the crash while others chose the middle of the cobbles
Geert Omloop (MrBookmaker) struggles through Arenberg
Paolo Bossoni's chain has almost made contact with the cobbles!
This FDJeux.com rider was a fair way back in Arenberg
Lilian Jegou (CA) in Arenberg
Laszlo Bodrogi (Quick.Step-Davitamon)
Peter Van Petegem (Lotto-Domo) cornering at Carrefour de l'arbre
The first group after Kirsipuu at Orchies
Kirsipuu (Ag2r) takes the lead after the Orchies cobbles
Ludovic Capelle (Landbouwkrediet) in the Arenberg forest
Dario Pieri (Saeco) never played a big role in the race
Gianluca Bortolami (Lampre) in the Arenberg Forest
Ludo Diercksxens (Landbouwkrediet-Colnago) does all he can to catch up with the leaders
Tom Boonen (Quick.Step-Davitamon) on the Arenberg cobbles
The lead group at Carrefour de l'arbre: Flanders winner Steffen Wesemann takes the lead
Johan Museeuw (Quick.Step-Davitamon) in the lead group
Dutch rider Tristan Hofmann (CSC) eventually took second place on the velodrome

Images by Olympia Photo

The peloton winds its way through Orchies
Magnus Backstedt (Alessio-Bianchi) beats Tristan Hoffman (CSC) and Roger Hammond (MrBookmaker.com) to win Paris-Roubaix
Magnus Backstedt (Alessio-Bianchi) hugged by Fabio Baldato after the finish
The podium (L to R): Tristan Hoffman (2nd), Magnus Backstedt (1st) and Roger Hammond (3rd)

Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

The head of the peloton at Troisvilles
Benoit Joachim (USPS-Berry Floor) trying to stay upright
Salvatore Commesso (Saeco) leads the early break
Lotto-Domo controlled the race well
George Hincapie (USPS) found himself without teammates with 100km to go
Hulsmans and Gussev in the lead group
Dario Pieri (Saeco) takes a heavy corner
Navigating the corners in the dirt is hard work
Museeuw, Van Petegem and Zanini looking good on the cobbles
Magnus Backstedt (Alessio-Bianchi) always concentrating
Dario Pieri (Saeco) wasn't there in the front group at the end
The lead group rides through Orchies in pursuit of Kirsipuu
Johan Museeuw (Quick.Step-Davitamon) looking focused on the cobbles
Steffen Wesemann (T-Mobile) sits comfortably
Johan Museeuw (Quick.Step-Davitamon) was very impressive in his final Roubaix
Steffen Wesemann (T-Mobile) looked great, but missed the final move
Fabian Cancellara (Fassa Bortolo) leading Museeuw, Hammond and Backstedt on the cobbles
Magnus Backstedt (Alessio-Bianchi) rides in the company of Hoffman (CSC)
Hammond leads Backstedt and Hoffman with one lap to go (Cancellara is out of shot)
Magnus Backstedt (Alessio-Bianchi) crosses the line in Roubaix ahead of Tristan Hoffman (CSC), Roger Hammond (MrBookmaker, L) and Fabian Cancellara (Fassa, C)
Magnus Backstedt (Alessio-Bianchi) gives a huge shout of triumph
Peter Van Petegem (Lotto) and Johan Museeuw (Quick.Step) cross the line in Roubaix with hands clasped, in Museeuw's last World Cup race
Peter Van Petegem (Lotto) and Johan Museeuw (Quick.Step) cross the line in Roubaix with hands clasped, in Museeuw's last World Cup race
Magnus Backstedt (Alessio-Bianchi) kisses the cobble
Magnus Backstedt (Alessio-Bianchi) holds his cobblestone trophy up high
The Paris-Roubaix podium (L to R): Tristan Hoffman (2nd), Magnus Backstedt (1st) and Roger Hammond (3rd)

Images by Daniel Schamps

Leif Hoste (Lotto-Domo) leads Hoffman and Cancellara through Arenberg
Marc Wauters (Rabobank) after his crash in the Arenberg Forest
Fabian Cancellara (Fassa Bortolo) on the Carrefour de l'Arbre
Salvatore Commesso (Saeco) leads Flickinger on L'Arbre. Scott Sunderland is in fourth wheel
Wilfried Cretskens (Quick.Step-Davitamon) leads Robert Hunter (Rabobank) on L'Arbre
Peter Van Petegem (Lotto-Domo) chasing back on after his puncture on the Carrefour de l'Arbre sector
Flemish flags were plentiful in the forest

Images by Mitch Clinton/www.clintonphoto.com

Victor Hugo Pena (USPS-Berry Floor) rolling out of Compiegne at the start
Laurent Jalabert getting ready to ride the cobbles...is his car.
Max Van Heeswijk concentrates on the next jolt in the Arenberg Forest.
Ludo Dierckxsens has his mind on his work in the Arenberg Forest
Bernhard Eisel is letting the Arenberg put him to sleep
Magnus Backstedt (Alessio-Bianchi) does his best to float over the cobbles
Leif Hoste (Lotto-Domo) leads his teammate in the Arenberg Forest
Fabian Cancellara (Fassa Bortolo) at the front near the finish of the Arenberg Forest
Van Petegem on the pavé in Hem (sector 2).
Museeuw and Van Petegem on the pavé in Hem (sector #2), both victims of flat tires, putting them out of contention

Images by www.velofotopro.fr.st

Benoit Joachim and Stijn Devolder (USPS-Berry Floor) look at their bicycles on Saturday
Museeuw congratulates Leif Hoste for his second place in the Tour of Flanders
Peter Van Petegem (Lotto-Domo)
The Spanish discuss their race plan at the beginning in Compiegne
Andrea Tafi (Alessio-Bianchi) on the wheel of Michel Van Haecke
Geoffroy Lequatre discovers Paris-Roubaix
The front group led by George Hincapie (USPS-Berry Floor) on the Wallers sector
Punctures were common, although Alessio-Bianchi only suffered one all day. Martin Hvastija (pictured) gave Andrea Tafi his wheel.
Lorenzo Bernucci (Landbouwkrediet-Colnago) on the pavé
Benoît Joachim (USPS-Berry Floor) on the pavé
Martin Den Bakker (Rabobank)
Thomas Voeckler and Unai Yus
Jeroen Blijlevens is cool before the start.

Saturday's team presentation

Images by Mitch Clinton/www.clintonphoto.com

Andrea Tafi (Alessio-Bianchi) is always a man for this race
Sean Kelly the one time King of Paris Roubaix signs autographs for fans
T-Mobile leaves the introduction stage
Saeco makes its way off the stage
Tom Boonen (Quick.Step-Davitamon) listens intently to questions from a reporter
So what does shit on ice look like?
The entrance to the Arenberg forest is quite a famous French landmark

Images by Chris Henry/Cyclingnews.com

Says Michele Bartoli, "Let me make this clear: this is my first Paris-Roubaix!"

Andrei Tchmil's 1994 win

Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

Andrei Tchmil (Lotto) in action during the legendary 1994 Paris-Roubaix
After an epic battle with Johan Museeuw, Andrei Tchmil eventually won in Roubaix ahead of ITalians Baldato and Ballerini

Riders preparing for the rigours of Roubaix

Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

The entrance to Arenberg Paris-Roubaix's most feared cobbled section
The Arenberg Forest - how's the serenity?
Tom Boonen and Johan Museeuw working out which is the smoothest path
Johan Museeuw (Quick.Step-Davitamon) navigates his way along the Arenberg forest sector
Blink and you'll miss 'em
The Saeco team bumps along
Saeco will be riding with front suspension, as Pieri shows
This ain't easy!
Tom Boonen (Quick.Step-Davitamon) concentrates on the Arenberg sector
This may be the view that most of the peloton see on Sunday
Dario Pieri (Saeco), second last year, about to ride the Arenberg sector

Images by AFP Photo

The cobbles of Wallers-Arenberg are not the most comfy things to ride on
Defending champion Peter Van Petegem rides on the Arenberg Forest section