{"id":1597,"date":"2013-04-05T04:52:13","date_gmt":"2013-04-05T04:52:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/crankpunk.com\/?p=1597"},"modified":"2013-04-05T09:27:01","modified_gmt":"2013-04-05T09:27:01","slug":"paris-roubaix-leon-van-bon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/2013\/04\/05\/paris-roubaix-leon-van-bon\/","title":{"rendered":"Paris-Roubaix & Leon Van Bon"},"content":{"rendered":"

crankpunk was racing in the Tour of China a couple of years ago. upon arrival at the team hotel i got hold of the start list. one name immediately jumped out at me.<\/p>\n

Leon Van Bon. <\/a><\/p>\n

2 stage wins at the Tour de France, one in the Vuelta. 3rd in the ’97 Worlds on the road. 2nd at Gent-Wevelgem, 4th at Flanders, and several close finishes at Paris-Roubaix, that Race of Races, finishing as high as 4th in ’98.<\/p>\n

a legend.<\/p>\n

we became friends, partly due to the bike but also thanks to journalism, in which i was working in and he getting into.<\/p>\n

Leon’s journalism career went from strength to strength and he now has his own studio and works as a foto-journalist, offering images and text on all the major Euro races: check it here:<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.sportimpressie.nl\/home\/ <\/a><\/p>\n

as editor of a cycling website i asked him if he would write something about his favorite race.<\/p>\n

he did.<\/p>\n

and it was wonderful. and here it is, below, in full. [apologies for spacing, wordpress is being difficult…]<\/p>\n

\"the<\/a>
the very affable and rather handy cyclist\/journalist, Leon Van Bon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In Love With Hell<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

by Leon Van Bon<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
How can somebody be in love with Hell? \u00a0It’s a contradiction. Makes no sense. Most would call it madness…<\/div>\n
.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
In a religious context, Hell is a place of punishment in the afterlife, an endless realm of suffering for the transgressors, the evil. But not in cycling. In cycling Hell is a place for the brave and the heroes. Survive a day in the Hell of the North and you are a hero.<\/div>\n
.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Win or lose.<\/div>\n
.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
For me this is the biggest, most prestigious race on the calendar. It\u2019s made for heroes and only won by heroes. This is the race you have to have a passion for just to be able to finish, and to win it \u2013 well, you have to truly love it.<\/div>\n
.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Amidst so much suffering, such beauty. This is Hell. This is Paris \u2013 Roubaix.<\/div>\n
.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\"paris-roubaix-arenberg\"<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
.<\/div>\n
It\u2019s the only race that the bike manufacturers produce special bikes for. And that’s not all that\u2019s customized \u2013 the race cars are specially fortified with steel supports to protect the engine. On the bikes, double handlebar tape is standard, though it only creates the illusion that it’ll protect your wrists, elbows and shoulders from the impact of every single cobble on your body a little less, because nothing can. Special tires are used, just for this one day, thicker, wider, more resistant to punctures.<\/div>\n
.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Every year, there’s the same discussion about tire pressure. \u00a0A little less to be more comfortable on the cobbles? Or a little more to reduce the chance of a flat tire? Bikes with suspension and froglegs on the handlebars [brakes that sit on top of the handlebars]. And then the wheels. \u00a0Carbon? Most would say no, as carbon fibre wheels are not best friends with the cobbles. \u00a0But then Fabian Cancellara did win on them last year…<\/div>\n
.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
This race is the most unique race of the year.<\/div>\n
.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The Hell of the North leads you through World War 1 battlefields, creating an atmosphere which is humbling. It is countryside and farmland, nestling amidst the cruelest history. No time for fancy stuff or high heels. It\u2019s time for rough men with bodies of steel willing to suffer like they never did before.<\/div>\n
.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\"Sean<\/a>
Sean Kelly’s mum was not impressed when he brought his kit home…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The roads are bad. Real bad. Sometimes I wonder if they threw those cobbles out of a helicopter, letting them lie where they fell. Even farmers complain that their \u00a0tractors are not able to ride over the roads. Imagine that. But the riders don\u2019t complain because it is Paris Roubaix.<\/div>\n
.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
It\u2019s been a long time since we had a rainy one. 2001? So it could well be wet this year . But good or bad weather, come what may you need luck to win it. Or should I say, you need to be free of bad luck. Flat tires, crashes or even broken front forks – like George Hincapie had – all can end your ambition to win that day in a split second. One big reason for that is that at certain points in the race the \u00a0team cars can be minutes behind the first riders, unable to reach them in time if there is a problem.<\/div>\n
.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
In my opinion the race has three break points: the first cobbles, \u00a0the Forest of Wallers and Carrefour de l\u2019Abre.<\/div>\n
.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
At the first cobbles you weigh up the situation. Is there an early break? If I am in it, ok. \u00a0If not, how far ahead are they? You feel your legs on the cobbles the first time that day and you know if they’re good or not. Now the race is ready to start.<\/div>\n
.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The Forest of Wallers is where the finale begins, the business end of the race. Still 80 km to go. But the Forest starts far before the cobbles. Even on the section before it the riders find their position, waiting for it, preparing, fighting for even just one place in the bunch. And the last straight to it is just a madhouse. It\u2019s like a bunch sprint to the beginning of the section. And it\u2019s downhill. It\u2019s the scariest part of the race. But very very important. \u00a0First five is ideal. If you’re outside of the first ten, things aren’t great.<\/div>\n
.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The section starts with a bit of a downhill and you hit the first cobbles with a speed of 60k an hour. Imagine coming off a 20 meter wide road on to a 3 meter wide path, sprinting downhill. \u00a0Over cobbles. The first 200m you go too fast on the slippery stones but if you brake you know bad things will happen. So you’re hoping nobody else makes a mistake.<\/div>\n
.<\/div>\n
But all this has a logic.<\/div>\n
.<\/div>\n
The cobbles of the Forest are so bad and almost always wet and slippery. In front, the chances of a crash are minimal. You can choose your path and that makes the chance of a flat tire less. When it\u2019s really wet you feel like a tightrope walker, 100 feet above the ground, swaying in the wind with the thin, taught rope beneath your tires. Millimeters from disaster. When you crash, getting up on your bike is hard. It’s that slippery.<\/div>\n
.<\/div>\n
The last part is slightly uphill. The speed is lower but the legs are by now getting filled up with lactic acid. When you come off the cobbles you look around and see where you are and what\u2019s left of the big group. 20 people max I would guess. Decimated.<\/div>\n
.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
So full gas to the next section.<\/div>\n
.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The Carrefour de l\u2019Abre is the final, decisive point. After that it is only 15km left to the line and the coming sections are like highways in comparison with this one. It\u2019s a no-nonsense section. Long, with corners, \u00a0people line the route five, ten deep, going crazy. Frenzied. This is the place to show you are still strong. Then you can fly over the cobbles . Pure adrenaline takes over. Show them your strength. But if you have one bit of weakness in you, you’re done, your speed will drop so fast that it becomes the greatest struggle just to get to the end.<\/div>\n
.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
—————————————————–<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Leon’s results at Paris-Roubaix<\/div>\n
.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u201894 last -10 min after time limit<\/div>\n
\u201995 69<\/div>\n
\u201996 32<\/div>\n
\u201997 29<\/div>\n
\u201998 4 (behind 3 Mapei)<\/div>\n
\u201999 6<\/div>\n
\u201900 23<\/div>\n
\u201901 14<\/div>\n
\u201802 DNF<\/div>\n
\u201903 58<\/div>\n
\u201904 7<\/div>\n
\u201905 6<\/div>\n
\u201906 14<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\"winning\"<\/a>
winning, and podium chicitas<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

.<\/p>\n

if you’d like to get in touch with Leon with regards to his photo-journalism work, please contact either me or Leon directly via his website: http:\/\/www.sportimpressie.nl\/home\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

crankpunk was racing in the Tour of China a couple of years ago. upon arrival at the team hotel i got hold of the start list. one name immediately jumped out at me. Leon Van Bon. 2 stage wins at the Tour de France, one in the Vuelta. 3rd in the ’97 Worlds on the road. 2nd at Gent-Wevelgem, 4th at Flanders, and several close finishes at Paris-Roubaix, that Race of Races, finishing as high as 4th in ’98. a legend. we became friends, partly due to the bike but also thanks to journalism, in which i was working in and he getting into. Leon’s journalism career went from strength […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40955418,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","wpupg_custom_link":[],"wpupg_custom_link_behaviour":[],"wpupg_custom_link_nofollow":[],"wpupg_custom_image":[],"wpupg_custom_image_id":[],"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[125964055],"tags":[767233538,4221642,56291,448682],"class_list":["post-1597","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-crankpunk-racing","tag-classics","tag-leon-van-bon","tag-monuments","tag-paris-roubaix"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2OfoS-pL","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3960,"url":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/2014\/04\/10\/crankpunk-on-the-paris-roubaix-favorites\/","url_meta":{"origin":1597,"position":0},"title":"crankpunk on the Paris-Roubaix favorites","author":"Lee Rodgers","date":"4\u6708 10, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"yes. it is almost here. hot diggity damn. this article originally appeared on The Roar. \u00a0 _____________________________ \u00a0 \u201cHow can somebody be in love with Hell? \u00a0It\u2019s a contradiction. Makes no sense. Most would call it madness\u2026 \u00a0\u201cIn a religious context, Hell is a place of punishment in the afterlife,\u2026","rel":"","context":"boonen","block_context":{"text":"boonen","link":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/tag\/boonen\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/crankpunk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/cobbles1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/crankpunk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/cobbles1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/crankpunk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/cobbles1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/crankpunk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/cobbles1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/crankpunk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/cobbles1.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/crankpunk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/cobbles1.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4157,"url":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/2014\/05\/08\/the-classics-and-the-classics\/","url_meta":{"origin":1597,"position":1},"title":"The Classics and The Classics","author":"Lee Rodgers","date":"5\u6708 8, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"this article originally appeared in the April edition of Spin Magazine by Lee Rodgers \u00a0 \u201cTell how at the first gods and earth came to be, and rivers, and the boundless sea with its raging swell, and the gleaming stars, and the wide heaven above, and the gods who were\u2026","rel":"","context":"history of cycling","block_context":{"text":"history of cycling","link":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/category\/history-of-cycling\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/crankpunk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/p2090035.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/crankpunk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/p2090035.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/crankpunk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/p2090035.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/crankpunk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/p2090035.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/crankpunk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/p2090035.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/crankpunk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/p2090035.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1632,"url":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/2013\/04\/08\/crankpunk-paris-roubaix-pez\/","url_meta":{"origin":1597,"position":2},"title":"crankpunk, Paris-Roubaix & PEZ","author":"Lee Rodgers","date":"4\u6708 8, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"oof, flowery, this one!","rel":"","context":"crankpunk racing","block_context":{"text":"crankpunk racing","link":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/category\/crankpunk-racing\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/crankpunk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/58022_10151520557169291_1573584348_n.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":25082,"url":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/2026\/04\/29\/the-money-list-pogacar-leads-the-big-earners-in-2026\/","url_meta":{"origin":1597,"position":3},"title":"The Money List \/ Poga\u010dar Leads the Big Earners in 2026","author":"Lee Rodgers","date":"4\u6708 29, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"How much?!","rel":"","context":"world tour","block_context":{"text":"world tour","link":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/category\/cycling\/world-tour\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/crankpunk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Screenshot-2026-04-28-at-11.03.15-PM.png?fit=802%2C578&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/crankpunk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Screenshot-2026-04-28-at-11.03.15-PM.png?fit=802%2C578&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/crankpunk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Screenshot-2026-04-28-at-11.03.15-PM.png?fit=802%2C578&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/crankpunk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Screenshot-2026-04-28-at-11.03.15-PM.png?fit=802%2C578&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15053,"url":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/2023\/04\/10\/paris-roubaix-2023-mens-post-race-rider-reactions-and-interviews\/","url_meta":{"origin":1597,"position":4},"title":"PARIS-ROUBAIX 2023 MENS \/ POST-RACE RIDER REACTIONS AND INTERVIEWS","author":"Lee Rodgers","date":"4\u6708 10, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Well, what a race that was... 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Gone are the days when a pro would jump off the bike in October and take four weeks off, his trusty steed tucked away in the box room under the stairs or down in the old garden shed. The libations might flow, the\u2026","rel":"","context":"punkopinion","block_context":{"text":"punkopinion","link":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/category\/punkopinion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"Lee Rodgers","author_link":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/author\/crankpunk\/"},"rttpg_comment":4,"rttpg_category":"crankpunk racing<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"crankpunk was racing in the Tour of China a couple of years ago. upon arrival at the team hotel i got hold of the start list. one name immediately jumped out at me. Leon Van Bon. 2 stage wins at the Tour de France, one in the Vuelta. 3rd in the ’97 Worlds on the…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1597","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/40955418"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1597"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1597\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16785,"href":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1597\/revisions\/16785"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1597"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1597"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crankpunk.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1597"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}