by Justin Davis

PARIS, April 10, 2010 (AFP) – Britain’s David Millar will saddle up for a second tilt at the grueling Paris-Roubaix one-day classic Sunday knowing it’s going to “hurt like hell”.

But despite his reservations about racing over some of the most treacherous sections of dirt road and cobblestones used in professional bike racing, he is harboring a small shot at glory.

The last time the big Scot raced in the ‘Hell of the North’ was in 2000, when he fulfilled his role of leading a teammate to the first of the race’s 27 cobblestoned sections at Troisvilles, and then thankfully dropped out.

A decade later, and thanks to some newfound form in the tough one-day races, Millar has a different brief.

“I’m here to race and do well,” said Millar.

“I’ve had a good couple of weeks racing and after (the Tour of) Flanders, there’s no reason for me not to hope to actually be in the final (of Roubaix).”

A relative newcomer to the tough one-dayers that pepper the cycling calendar in March and April, Millar surprised many by winning the Three Days of La Panne race in Belgium last week.

Last Sunday, despite failing to check out the course beforehand, he showed further promise with a strong showing in the Tour of Flanders, until he eventually succumbed to fatigue.

“In 5km I went from feeling great to having nothing left,” he said.

A further test of his aptitude for the cobbles, of which there are 53km spread over 27 sections, awaits on Sunday when there will be no escape from the pain.

Since Paris-Roubaix’s debut in 1896, the world’s toughest one-day race has attracted as many plaudits as brickbats from some of the sport’s biggest champions.

However American cyclist Chris Horner’s description, although slightly exaggerated, could be among the best.

“They plowed a dirt road, flew over it with a helicopter, and then just dropped a bunch of rocks out of the helicopter! That’s Paris-Roubaix. It’s that bad – it’s ridiculous,” Horner said.

It’s no wonder Millar’s optimism is ringed with caution. This time, he did reconnoiter the course, and came away in shock.

“It’s going to be quite scary. I did the last 90km on Thursday and it was pretty shocking just how hardcore it is. There’s a few sections that are just brutal.

“It’s like nothing like I’ve ever done before, although I guess we’re going to be going over it faster, which will be better, but at the same time it’s going to hurt.”

So far no Briton has won the race, and on Sunday Belgium’s three-time winner Tom Boonen is expected to duel with 2006 champion Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland for the race’s famous, cobblestone trophy