Paris-Roubaix is with its 259 kilometres, of which 52.9 will be on uneven and slippery cobblestone divided into 27 sections, probably the most loved and still very much hated one-day race on the international cycling calendar. Loved because of its unpredictability and hated by some riders because of its relentlessly roughness in terms of distance, terrain and weather which because of the season often reveals its most wet and stormy side.

The race starts in Compiégne just north of Paris and winds its way along alternately asphalt, forest, field, and cobblestone roads to the velodrome in Roubaix near the Belgian border where the riders cross the finish line in bunches with bodies covered with mud and only their teeth from clenched jaws lit up.

The race was born in 1896 and in 2010 the organizers can celebrate its 108th anniversary. The course of the race is not set every year but certain sections are inevitable when the organizers are planning the route. The cobblestone section through the forest of Arenberg is a common feature of “A Spring Day in Hell” as Jorgen Leth in the most poetic style nicknamed the race in his film with the similar name from 1977.

Team Saxo Bank has won the race twice, in 2006 (Fabian Cancellara) and in 2007 (Stuart O’Grady). Both wins were secured after impressive solo performances by the two strong riders.

Both riders are in the line-up for this year’s edition of the race and after a reign of total dominance this Spring with wins in Dwars door Vlaanderen (Matti Breschel), E3 Prijs Vlaanderen – Harelbeke and Ronde van Vlaanderen (both Fabian Cancellara), Team Saxo Bank will be a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming war on the cobbles.

However, Tom Boonen (Quick Step) surely wants to take his first Spring Classic victory this year and he seems like the best alternative followed by Philppe Gilbert (Lotto) and Filippo Pozzato (Katusha).

Team Saxo Bank’s line-up: Fabian Cancellara, Matti Breschel, Stuart O’Grady, Kasper Klostergaard, Gustav Larsson, Dominic Klemme, Frank Høj and Baden Cooke.