Winning the Queen of the Classics is a lifelong dream for every ‘flandrien’, Belgian or not, as well as for every cycling champion who looks up to Paris-Roubaix Hauts-de-France and its prestige. Yet the legend of the Hell of the North is defined by more riders than the 95 victors (90 men, 5 women) in its palmarès. There is a long list of first-class cyclists who have tried to conquer this race time and again, only to fall short by a mere, untimely flat - or by a wrong pull of the brakes. What kept Adrie van der Poel away from winning at the Velodrome where his younger son has triumphed for three consecutive years? What was missing for Juan Antonio Flecha, the Latino who has excelled the most in this race, to score a historic victory? Why hasn’t Marianne Vos brought a cobble home, she who has collected trophies all over the world? Are podium memories a dream or a nightmare for Zdenek Stybar, Steve Bauer or Lorena Wiebes? These are fascinating questions, and you’ll find the answers in this new six-part interview series, from now until April 12.
