The Paris-Roubaix road race is the
third race of what is known as the Monuments. This is part of the
Spring Classics, and alongside the Milan-San Remo, Tour of Flanders,
Liege-Bastogne-Liege and the Giro di Lombardia, takes a lot of
precedence for riders for being some of the most prestigious and
highly regarded races of the calendar year. The Paris-Roubaix in
France, is actually known as the Queen of the Classics and like the
other Classics, is a one-day race that has a tremendously long
history. It was first raced all the way back in 1896 and has
naturally undergone changes and growth along the way. It takes part
in early April every year, just a week after the gruelling Tour of
Flanders in Belgium, so riders don’t get a lot of rest. Heading
into the Hell of the North, or the Sunday in Hell as it is known,
takes a lot.
It is a very tough road race because of
the challenges of the surfaces. It part of the UCI World Rankings and
it goes over some extremely rough terrain including cobblestones. It
is one of cycling’s oldest cycling races in the world and riders
really are tested over the cobblestoned sections. Just as an
indication of what is involved, the winner actually receives a
cobblestone as part of his prize. Not only is this a test for riders,
but for equipment as well. It was Belgium’s Tom Boonen, who took
the win in the race last season, just a week after winning the Tour
of Flanders. With his win last year, he jointly holds the record for
the most wins of the race, at four. So naturally, he will take a lot
of heavy backing in this year’s race. You get established
experience with him, and he has points to make up after refusing to
take a restart at the first classic, the Milan-San Remo race, which
was stopped and shortened because of bad weather.
Boonen is a class act and one of the
great Classics rider, and Belgian riders have dominated the history
of this race, with French riders being the second most successful.
But it is Swiss star Fabian Cancellara who goes as favorite in 2013
Paris-Roubaix betting. Cancellara was third in the Milan-San Remo
race and has won this race twice before, in 2006 and in 2010. He
looks to be in good shape this season and should be a big threat in
the race. Cancellara could be involved in a tighter race in Belgium a
week before this one, than the Paris-Roubaix race, because he has the
style and stamina to really excel in France more so than the Flanders
race. He is a stronger option to win in France than Belgium and does
just edge Boonen at the top of the market.
French rider Sylvain Chavanel has been
riding well this season and looks as if he could have a good crack at
things this year. He put in a great fourth at the Milan-San Remo race
but perhaps will be a better shot in Flanders than here. A good
outside option will be Norwegian rider Thor Hushovd who has gone well
before in the race. He finished a disappointing eighth last season in
what was a Tour De France year for him, but finished 2nd in 2010 and
3rd in 2009. So has generally put up a performance in the race.
Outside shot though, with no great form in 2013 having been produced
yet. But for 2013 Paris-Roubaix cycling betting, it’s hard to look
past the fact that between them, Tom Boonen and Fabian Cancellara
have won six of the last eight editions.
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