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Paris Roubaix: The Hell of the North

By Fox News
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ROUBAIX, FRANCE - APRIL 06: Pre-race favorite Tom Boonen of Belgium and Quick Step Omega Pharma rides on the cobbles during training for the 2012 Paris - Roubaix Cycle Race on April 6, 2012 in Roubaix, France. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) (2012 Getty Images)

ROUBAIX, FRANCE - APRIL 10: The riders make their way over the cobbles during the 109th Paris Roubaix cycle race between Compiegne and Roubaix on April 10, 2011 in Roubaix, France. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) (2011 Getty Images)

Members of the BMC Racing team are seen during a training session on the cobblestone section ahead of Sunday's 110th edition of the Paris-Roubaix cycling classic, in Orchies , northern France, Thursday April 5, 2012. The 258 kilometer (160 mile) long race involves 51.5 kilometers (32 miles) of strenuous highly-feared cobblestone-paved roads. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler).

PARIS, FRANCE - APRIL 10: Johan Van Summeren of Belgium and Team Garmin-Cervelo rides around the Roubaix velodrome on his way to winning the 109th Paris-Roubaix cycle race between Compiegne and Roubaix on April 10, 2011 in Paris, France. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) (2011 Getty Images)

ROUBAIX, FRANCE - APRIL 10: L 10: The riders make their way over the cobbles during the 109th Paris Roubaix cycle race between Compiegne and Roubaix on April 10, 2011 in Roubaix, France. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) (2011 Getty Images)

ROUBAIX, FRANCE - APRIL 10: The riders make their way over the cobbles during the 109th Paris-Roubaix cycle race between Compiegne and Roubaix on April 10, 2011 in Roubaix, France. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) (2011 Getty Images)

ROUBAIX, FRANCE - APRIL 10: David Veilleux of Canada and Team Europcar rides over the cobbles during the 109th Paris-Roubaix cycle race between Compiegne and Roubaix on April 10, 2011 in Roubaix, France. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) (2011 Getty Images)

ROUBAIX, FRANCE - APRIL 10: Riders enter the velodrome on their way to finishing the 109th Paris Roubaix cycle race between Compiegne and Roubaix on April 10, 2011 in Roubaix France. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) (2011 Getty Images)

ROUBAIX, FRANCE - APRIL 10: Lars Bak of Denmark and HTC Highroad keeps an eye on Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland and Trek Leopard as they ride around the velodrome during the 109th Paris Roubaix cycle race between Compiegne and Roubaix on April 10, 2011 in Roubaix, France. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) (2011 Getty Images)

ROUBAIX, FRANCE - APRIL 10: The riders make their way over the cobbles during the 109th Paris Roubaix cycle race between Compiegne and Roubaix on April 10, 2011 in Roubaix, France. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) (2011 Getty Images)

ROUBAIX, FRANCE - APRIL 10: Belgian National Champion Stijn Devolder of Vacansoleil.dcm rides over the cobbles during the 109th Paris-Roubaix cycle race between Compiegne and Roubaix on April 10, 2011 in Roubaix, France. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) (2011 Getty Images)

Lars Bak of Denmark and HTC Highroad rides over the cobbles during the109th Paris-Roubaix cycle race between Compiegne and Roubaix on April 10, 2011 in Roubaix, France. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) (2011 Getty Images)

ROUBAIX, FRANCE - APRIL 10: Roger Hammond of Great Britain and Team Garmin-Cervelo rides over the cobbles during the 109th Paris Roubaix cycle race between Compiegne and Roubaix on April 10, 2011 in Roubaix, France. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) (2011 Getty Images)

ROUBAIX, FRANCE - APRIL 06: The Omega Pharma- Quick Step team rides on the cobbles during training for the 2012 Paris - Roubaix Cycle Race on April 6, 2012 in Roubaix, France. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) (2012 Getty Images)

WALLERS, FRANCE - APRIL 06: A general view of the cobbles of the Arenberg Forest during training for the 2012 Paris - Roubaix Cycle Race on April 6, 2012 in Wallers, France. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) (2012 Getty Images)

A cyclist steers his bike on a cobblestone-paved section ahead of Sunday's 110th edition of the Paris-Roubaix cycling classic, in Baisieux , northern France, Thursday April 5, 2012. The 258 kilometer (160 mile) long race involves 51.5 kilometers (32 miles) of strenuous highly-feared cobblestone-paved roads. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler).

Thor Hushovd of Norway, left, and George Hincapie of U.S.A, members of the BMC Racing team are seen during a training session on the cobblestone section ahead of Sunday's 110th edition of the Paris-Roubaix cycling classic, in Orchies , northern France, Thursday April 5, 2012. The 258 kilometer (160 mile) long race involves 51.5 kilometers (32 miles) of strenuous highly-feared cobblestone-paved roads. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler).

1966: Italian cyclist Felice Gimondi throws up his arms in celebration after crossing the line to win the Paris-Roubaix one day race. Mandatory Credit: Allsport Hulton/Archive

13 Apr 1997: Cyclists in action during the Paris-Roubaix race in France. Mandatory Credit: Alex Livesey /Allsport

13 Apr 1997: Cyclists in action during the Paris-Roubaix race in France. Mandatory Credit: Graham Chadwick /Allsport

Members of the BMC Racing team are seen during a training session on the cobblestone section ahead of Sunday's 110th edition of the Paris-Roubaix cycling classic, in Orchies , northern France, Thursday April 5, 2012. The 258 kilometer (160 mile) long race involves 51.5 kilometers (32 miles) of strenuous highly-feared cobblestone-paved roads. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler).

ROUBAIX, FRANCE - APRIL 10: The riders make their way over the cobbles during the 109th Paris-Roubaix cycle race between Compiegne and Roubaix on April 10, 2011 in Roubaix, France. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) (2011 Getty Images)

ROUBAIX, FRANCE - APRIL 10: Geraint Thomas of Great Britain and Team SKY rides over the cobbles during the 109th Paris-Roubaix cycle race between Compiegne and Roubaix on April 10, 2011 in Paris, France. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) (2011 Getty Images)

WALLERS, FRANCE - APRIL 06: The SKY Procycling team ride over the cobbles of the Arenberg Forest during training for the 2012 Paris - Roubaix Cycle Race on April 6, 2012 in Wallers, France. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) (2012 Getty Images)

ROUBAIX, FRANCE - APRIL 10: Johan Van Summeren of Belgium and Team Garmin-Cervelo celebrates as he crosses the finishline to win the 109th Paris-Roubaix cycle race between Compiegne and Roubaix on April 10, 2011 in Roubaix, France. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) (2011 Getty Images)