Paris-Roubaix Sunday

Rough 'n' Tumble,

1979 Paris-Roubaix...

"From Compiegne to Roubaix, so many feats without consequence take place in the midst of a scrum that no one really sees and that you will never read about in a race report." L'Equipe journalist Noel Couedel.

Moser makes it twice...

Harrowing isn't it? Paris-Roubaix is anything but a regular race.

Francesco Moser said he was destined to win it. His first attempt was 1974, falling during the latter stages of the race Roger De Vlaeminck overtook him and won. The Italian came back in 1976 finishing second again. His love for the pave was just starting.

In 1978, wearing the rainbow jersey, he scored a solo heroic victory over a muddy pave course. Then, in 1979, on dry terrain he turned the bad luck of De Vlaeminck, Demeyer, and Kuiper into fortune. The three flatted with kilometres remaining and the Italian motored to another solo win.

He said, "At last! I knew it! I knew I would win it one day. It's my kind of race. I discovered that in 1974, when I first competed in Paris-Roubaix." His 1978 & 1979 wins were far from easy beating his arch rival Mr. Roubaix himself, Roger De Vlaeminck. In 1980, he was untouchable soloing to make the triple. The Italian three-peat... done with panache.

Francesco Moser's three victories are absolutely amazing. However in todays peloton, George Hincapie is still looking for that elusive win. The veteran has finished 2nd, twice been 4th, and twice 6th. One who's mentally and physically prepared said it well, "There's not so many guys left at the end: it's a race of attrition, a kind of survival race. Everybody has just a little fuel left in the tank. That's my style."