Last summer, I found myself sipping a rum punch, in Bangkok, talking about cycling with a friends and professional colleagues. While I was the only cyclist in the group, most of the people there were Flemish, and understood my obsession. One of them floated the idea of getting some of the group together, and going to Paris Roubaix. It sounded great, but that was nine months ago, and we weren't completely sober.
So, it was with some surprise, I must admit, when I got a call on Monday, inquiring if I wanted to come for a visit. With the last minute nature of the trip, I didn't do the research that I would have liked to. To be specific, I wasn't 100% sure where I wanted to be, and with no internet connection, I left the task of deciding to my friends. Had I realized how things were going to play out, I would have taken my best camera.
Herewith, the pics.
We left Dunkirk (about an hours drive from Lille at +/- 11:30). We knew we were getting close when we saw signs on the highway, notifying traffic to expect delays due to the race.
As it happens, one of my friends went to high school with someone who works with a pro tour team. He was advised by his friend to try and make our way to
Cafe l’Arbre, which was wedged between sectors 3 and 4 of the pavé.
My friends had heard that we might have a chance of getting lunch there, and on top of that, there was supposed to be screen, broadcasting the race. I was dubious, but hopeful.
Unsurprisingly, the GPS had some difficulty finding ancient roman roads, and when we found ourselves wondering which way to go in the village of Cysoing, we found a guy on a Look bicycle, and asked. Little did we know, we were 300 meters away from the end of
secteur 3.
We made our way past the Gendarmes, and this is what we saw -
We walked up the road, looking for the Arbre.
Even though it was only 12:30 in the afternoon, and things had yet to hit full swing, things were already swinging.
You name it, they had it:
The Tom Boonen fan club zone.
Feestbeesten.
Aussies.
Kiwis.
As we made our way through the
kermis-like atmosphere, we spotted the Arbe in the distance.
We got closer, and the circus got louder.
And louder.