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Product Description
Paris-Roubaix is the world's most famous one-day cycle race. Held in north eastern France it is aptly known as "The Hell of the North" - a name resulting from the long stretches of muddy farm roads, paved with rough-hewn "bone-shaking" cobblestones. The course is made more treacherous by notoriously fickle weather, often including rain, wind and snow.The race has been held annually, on the third Sunday in April, since 1896, and follows a 270km course between the suburbs of Paris and the city of Roubaix."Paris-Roubaix: A Journey Through Hell" recounts the history and excitement of the race in oversized format and with hundreds of spectacular colour and black and white photos. The authoritative text is put together by top sportswriters at France's L'Equipe magazine and gives the inside story of the race and its traditions, and the champion cyclists it has helped to confirm.Spectacular black and white and colour photography brings into stark contrast the harsh conditions of this race and the toll it takes on its riders - the "hard men" of cycling. The editors of L'Equipe, the premier cycling and sports publication in France, have compiled the content for this book from their comprehensive archives. A chronological sequence unveils the history of the race. The book includes profiles of the most colourful and dominant riders. It includes an exclusive, behind-the-scenes chapter, a perspective shared only by those who have travelled to witness Paris-Roubaix first hand.
About the Author
Phillippe Bouvet, Pierre Callewaert, Jean-Luc Gatellier and Serge Laget are among France's most accomplished cycling writers and historians. The book is translated by David Herlihy.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Superb book on the world's most excruciating one-day bike race; a French classic which unto this day continues to make a virtue out of the erstwhile necessity of some of the industrialized world's most appalling road surfaces.
Nowadays there's pretty much no reason for any even of the most minor French back-roads to be paved with cobbles ... except that there *is*, and the Paris-Roubaix is it! So deeply French, so embroiled in the culture of that country is this race, that nowadays local and even national government provides funds to restore and preserve, rather than pragmatically tarmac over, the lumpy cobbles of the traditional parcours. Some of the greatest bike riders in the world have won this event; others have fallen spectacularly by the wayside, as exemplified most recently by George Hincapie, whose handlebars simply gave way under the strain a few years back. Yet top-ranked elite cyclists still queue up to take part, just because of the kudos attached to winning - or even to finishing - this Queen of the Classics.
This is a beautiful and deeply French account of the history of the Paris-Roubaix, complete with hyperbolic language and sensual imagery rendered faithfully into English without regard for the not-entirely-coincident aesthetics of us Brits. However, had some barbarian attempted to 'anglicize' this volume, it would have emerged far the poorer. The French sensibiliity is essential to the full appreciation of this extreme sporting event; and I would suggest that if you can't deal with this, you choose to read something else. Paris-Roubaix is a bike race like no other, and this book is a wholly fitting and appropriate tribute.
And yes - the photographs are nothing short of fabulous. If you are at all a fan of bike racing, and of the Spring Classics in particular, you NEED this book.
Nowadays there's pretty much no reason for any even of the most minor French back-roads to be paved with cobbles ... except that there *is*, and the Paris-Roubaix is it! So deeply French, so embroiled in the culture of that country is this race, that nowadays local and even national government provides funds to restore and preserve, rather than pragmatically tarmac over, the lumpy cobbles of the traditional parcours. Some of the greatest bike riders in the world have won this event; others have fallen spectacularly by the wayside, as exemplified most recently by George Hincapie, whose handlebars simply gave way under the strain a few years back. Yet top-ranked elite cyclists still queue up to take part, just because of the kudos attached to winning - or even to finishing - this Queen of the Classics.
This is a beautiful and deeply French account of the history of the Paris-Roubaix, complete with hyperbolic language and sensual imagery rendered faithfully into English without regard for the not-entirely-coincident aesthetics of us Brits. However, had some barbarian attempted to 'anglicize' this volume, it would have emerged far the poorer. The French sensibiliity is essential to the full appreciation of this extreme sporting event; and I would suggest that if you can't deal with this, you choose to read something else. Paris-Roubaix is a bike race like no other, and this book is a wholly fitting and appropriate tribute.
And yes - the photographs are nothing short of fabulous. If you are at all a fan of bike racing, and of the Spring Classics in particular, you NEED this book.
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I was given this book for Christmas and have to say that it is a fantastic book. Great writing and great photography really bring the history of this race to life.
This is a great book and any cycling fan would love this for their collection or coffee table!
This is a great book and any cycling fan would love this for their collection or coffee table!
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Along with great photos this book actually gives an insightful view on the Classic Race. I wasn't expecting as much writing as there is but this only adds to the draw of this book. You can quite easily dip in and out of this book which you would probably expect to be able to do from such a large (photo driven) book.
On the whole I really enjoyed reading about the race, the riders that have dominated the race and the weird and wonderful things this race has thrown up.
I would definitely recommend this book and I don't find the price too much of a sticking point. Maybe one negative is the use of 'granny' in a couple of photo explanations which somehow devalues the quality of the book. Bit odd but that's probably the French humour (or me misunderstanding the French!).
In summary, superb photos and writing in a well produced classy book.
On the whole I really enjoyed reading about the race, the riders that have dominated the race and the weird and wonderful things this race has thrown up.
I would definitely recommend this book and I don't find the price too much of a sticking point. Maybe one negative is the use of 'granny' in a couple of photo explanations which somehow devalues the quality of the book. Bit odd but that's probably the French humour (or me misunderstanding the French!).
In summary, superb photos and writing in a well produced classy book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Paris-Roubaix, A Journey Through Hell
The book is written by authors who care a great deal about this, the Queen of all one day classics, and that can be seen through their collected writing. Read more
Published 9 months ago by denny
Excelent
If you love cycling, especially the Spring Classics, and literature, rather than simple writing, this is for you. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Gotte
Very nice book, but no route information
I like this book and it has been by the side of my settee for a few months; I dip into it regularly to enjoy the photographs. Read more
Published 19 months ago by J115
Good book, not great.
The Photos in this book are amazing, but quite often the writers go off into long-winded and whimsical tales (no explanation as to whether they are based on factual events) for the... Read more
Published on 22 Jan 2010 by Easy Rider
Fantastic Book
Awesome book. A must have for any cycling enthusiast. Photo's and history of the race are superb.
Published on 5 Sep 2009 by Isabella Thompson
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