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259.6 Km

Podium history of Paris-Roubaix

Results:

1. Tom Boonen (Quick Step), 6hr 27min 38sec

2. George Hincapie (Discovery), s.t.

3. Juan Antonio Flecha (Fassa Bortolo), s.t.

4. Magnus Backstedt (Liquigas-Bianchi) @1min 9sec

5. Lars Michaelsen (CSC) @2min 43sec

6. Leon Van Bon (Davitamon-Lotto) @3min 49sec

7. Florent Brard (Agritubel), s.t.

8. Fabian Cancellara (Fassa Bortolo), s.t.

9. Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole), s.t.

10. Arnaud Coyot (Cofidis), s.t.

11. Frederic Guesdon (FDJ) s.t.

12. Vladimir Gusev (CSC) s.t.

13. Erwin Thijs (Mr. Bookmaker) s.t.

14. Nico Mattan (Davitamon-Lotto) s.t.

15. Kevin Hulsmans (Quick Step) s.t.

16. Steffen Wesemann (T-Mobile) s.t.

17. Frank Hoj (Gerolsteiner) @ 4min 48sec

18. Stuart O'Grady (Cofidis) @ 4min 52sec

19. Pedro Horillo (Rabobank) s.t.

20. Jeremy Hunt (Mr. Bookmaker) s.t.

Boonen is the new King of the Classics, with Hincapie and Flecha just behind.
The winning break has flown the coop: Boonen, Backstedt, Michaelsen, Hincapie and Flecha. Both pictures by Fotoreporter Sirotti

Weather: The predicted rain has so far held off. The wind is about 8 mph from the north, partly cloudy and the temperature is in the low 50's.

The finish: At Pavé Sector 4 (Km 242) Flecha dropped the hammer and then it was just the three of the surviving 5 from the original 11-man break left to fight for the win. They came into the velodrome at Roubaix together. Boonen waited for the bell and easily won the sprint.

Km 206: The riders are on Pavé Sector 11. The break has been caught by a powerful chase group. It's raining. So now the lead group of 11 is: Tom Boonen (Quick Step), Magnus Backstedt (Liquigas), George Hincapie (Discovery Channel), Lars Michaelsen (CSC), Fabian Cancellara and Juan Antonio Flecha (both Fassa Bortolo), Stephane Berges (Agritubel), Erwin Thijs (Mr Bookmaker),Carlos Barredo (Liberty Seguros), Arnaud Coyot (Cofidis) and Florent Brard (Agritubel). Leon van Bon, Kevin Hulsmans and Stefen Wesemann are the nearest chasers at 35 seconds.

Km 150. A bad crash at Pavé Sector 21 delayed Steels, Van Petegem and others. The break still has over 5 minutes on the lead group. The peloton is starting to really come apart. The crash was too much. Van Petegem and Steels abandon.

Km 75. It is getting colder and cloudier. An 8-man break that had its start at about km 40 has a 12-minute lead. The breakaways are: Sebastian Lang (Gerolsteiner), Stephane Berges (Agritubel), David Herrero (Euskaltel), Erwin Thijs (Mr Bookmaker),Carlos Barredo (Liberty Seguros), Sebastien Chavanel (Bouygues Telecom), Arnaud Coyot (Cofidis) and Florent Brard (Agritubel). The average speed for the first two hours is 44.2 kph. The first cobbles are at km 97.5.

2005 Paris-Roubaix route with the cobble section highlighted., copyright Amaury Sport Organization.

There are 54.7 kilometers of cobbles in the 2005 edition of Paris-Roubaix divided into 26 sections. Although the famous Wallers-Arenberg section has not been included, riders previewing the course have been unanimous in saying that this is as tough as a race can get. The promoter has rated the pavé sections according to difficulty, 5 stars being toughest. The list below is in order as the riders approach Roubaix with the distance into the race and the length of the cobbles noted.

26. Troisvilles (km 97.5 - 2200 m)***

25. Viesly (km 103.8 - 1800 m) ***

24. Quievy (km 106.4 - 3700 m) ****

23. Quievy - Saint-Python (km 111.1 - 1500 m) **

22. Escarmain (km 122.7 - 1500 m) *

21. Vertain (km 126.9 - 1900 m) ***

20. Du Buat (km 133.6 - 1700 m) ***

Preseau (143.8 - 2000 m) *

19. Aulnoy-lez-Valenciennes (km 149.7 - 2600 m) *****

18. Famars (km 153 - 1200 m) ***

17. Artres - Querenaing (km 155.8 - 1400 m) ***

Querenaing - Maing (km 157 - 2500 m) ***

16. Monchaux-sur-Ecaillon (km 160.9 - 1600 m) ***

15. Haveluy (km 172.4 - 2400 m) ****

14. Hornaing - Wandignies (km 178.5 - 3700 m) ***

13. Warlaing - Vrillon (km 186 - 2400 m) ****

Tilloy - Sars-et-Rosières (189.5 - 2400 m) ***

12. Orchies (km 200.4 - 1700 m) ***

11. Auchy-lez-Orchies (km 206,5 - 2600 m) ***

10. Mons-en-Pévèle (km 212 - 3000 m) *****

9. Merignies (km 218 - 700 m) **

8. Pont-Thibaut (km 221.4 - 1400 m) ***

7. Templeuve l'Epinette (km 226.7 - 200 m) *

Le Moulin de Vertain (km 227.3 - 500 m) ***

6. Cysoing - Bourghelles (km 233.6 - 1400 m) ****

5. Camphin-en-Pévèle (km 239.9 - 1800 m) ****

4. Le Carrefour de l'Arbre (km 242.6 - 2100 m) *****

3. Gruson (km 244.8 - 1100 m) **

2. Hem (km 251.4 - 1400 m) *

1. Roubaix (km 257.6 - 300 m) *

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