“A Paris-Roubaix without rain is not a true Paris-Roubaix. Throw in a little snow as well, it’s not serious.” — Sean Kelly

In just a few short hours, the 106th edition of Paris-Roubaix will depart the streets of Compiègne, heading north some 260 kilometers to the industrial town of Roubaix; along the way, encountering 28 sections of pavé (or cobblestones) covering about 53 kilometers of the overall course.

While the race itself is in France, Belgian riders have won 51 of the 105 editions run thus far; truly a race for the hard-men, the Flahutes.

Eddy Merckx won this race 3 times, as did Belgians Rik Van Looy and Johan Museeuw; and Roger de Vlaeminck won the race 4 times. Collectively, these 4 riders have accounted for fully one-quarter of Belgium’s wins in Roubaix.

Is it any wonder that the Vlaamse Leeuw flies as much along this course in France as it does the week before at the Ronde van Vlaanderen each year?

Oddly, to me anyway, the best quote I have ever heard about the race came not from a Belgian or a Frenchman, but from the Dutchman Theo de Rooy, after the 1985 edition:

“It’s a pile of shit, this race, it’s a whole pile of shit … you’re working like an animal, you don’t have the time to piss and you wet your pants … you’re riding in mud like this and you’re slipping and … it’s a pile of shit, you must clean yourself otherwise you will go mad …”

When asked by John Tesh, who was covering the race for ABC, if he’ll ever ride it again, de Rooy responds:

“Sure, it’s the most beautiful race in the world!”

Tesh, his crew and de Rooy then all burst out in laughter.

Thankfully, the forecast is for rain …

Dunno if Eurosport decided to lift the geo-restrictions on their video feeds, but I am watching De Ronde van Vlaanderen right now, for free, with English commentary by Sean Kelly and David Harmon.

I tuned in for what has always in the past just been live audio; but was surprised to get video!

If this continues, I won’t have to spring for Cycling.TV, nor will I have to wait for the edited versions on Versus later in the day (although I’ll still watch it, because I’m a junkie when it comes to the spring classics), which can always been frustrating when trying to avoid results … I gave up on that years ago. I don’t mind knowing the results, because I still enjoy watching it play out … but it’s even better when it’s live.

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And people think that only Paris-Roubaix has nasty cobbles … De Ronde van Vlaanderen has cobbles AND hills … and it’s in Belgium instead of France.

And this what it’s all about.

The type of rider who wins races where 125 riders start and one finishes—that’s a Flahute.

A Flahute thinks the Tour de France is just a bunch of long training rides. A real race is one where it’s pouring rain, it’s cold, the roads are treacherous, and the prize list is about the same as your 8-year-old neighbor’s allowance. When you’re a Flahute, that’s racing.

To put it another way, if your cycling spirit dampens at the sight of rain, you sure as shoot ain’t a Flahute.

Flahute racers focus on such classics as the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, those tough northern classics filled with some of the worst roads and weather imaginable in bike racing. The only thing tougher than the races themselves are the guys that win them. They are the real Flahutes.

Riders like Eddy Merckx, who won 5 Tours de France and 5 Giros d’Italia, in spite of being a Flahute. Riders like Roger de Vlaeminck, who won Paris-Roubaix on 4 separate occasions. Riders like Andrei Tchmil and Johan Museeuw and Peter van Petegem. Riders like Rik van Looy and Briek Schotte. Tom Boonen has the potential to be a Flahute. Frank Vandenbroucke will never be a Flahute. Jacques Anquetil knew better than to even try. Bernard Hinault was one of the rare Frenchman who could contemplate qualifying. Sean Kelly was the first (and only) Irish Flahute. Lance Armstrong doesn’t have the balls to be a Flahute (yes, pun intended).

Probably the best description of the Flahute that I’ve found is in Graham R. Jones’ article titled “Flahute and ‘The Lion of Flanders’”. Go read it, then report back here.

Update: 11/26/2005

Another great description, entitled simply “Flahute” … dig it!

Update: 11/13/2006

More great descriptions of what makes a Flahute; this time in a two-part article on Walter Godefroot. Read part one and part two.