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Begun in 1896, Paris- Roubaix, third of the ten UCI World Cup races , has become the most famous single-day bicycle road race. Paris-Roubaix is one of the Classics and carries the nickname Queen of Classics or La Pascale, the Easter race. Held annually in the mid-April rainy season, over the cobblestoned roads and hard rutted tracks of northern France's coal-mining region, La Pascale leaves riders caked from head to toe in mud and grit, earning this race the nickname, l'enfer du Nord, or the Hell of the North.

In 1968, on the guidance of Jean Stablinski, the starting location was changed from Paris to Compiègne, approximately 80 km to the north. Famous for rough terrain, the route of Paris-Roubaix is adjusted slightly from year to year as the older streets are resurfaced and the race organizers seek to replace them with other challenging cobbles, to maintain the character of the race. Since 1977 the course has been routed through the Wallers-Arenberg forest. The race culminates with 1km on the Roubaix velodrome.

Since 1964, the record average speed of 45.129 km/hour has been held by Dutch cyclist Peter Post . The record for the most victories in the race is held by the Belgian cycling legend Roger De Vlaeminck, who between 1972 and 1977 took first place four times (for which he was awarded a trophy in the form of a paving-stone). Octave Lapize (France), Gaston Rebry (Belgium), Rik Van Looy (Belgium), Eddy MerckxBiography Baron Eddy Merckx (born June 17, 1945 in Meensel-Kiezegem, Belgium) is considered by many to be the greatest cyclist of the 20th century. He is the five-time champion of the two most important races in professional cycling, the Tour de France an (Belgium), Francesco Moser (Italy), and Johan MuseeuwBelgian cyclist, born 13 October 1965. Started his professional career in 1988 with ADR. In 1989 he was part of the ADR team in which Greg LeMond won his second Tour de France. In 1990 Museeuw went to the Lotto team for which he won two stages in the Tour (Belgium) each have won three times. ItalianThe Italian Republic or Italy ( Italian: Italia is a country in the south of Europe, consisting mainly of a boot-shaped peninsula together with two large islands in the Mediterranean Sea: Sicily and Sardinia. To the north, where it borders France, Switzer legends Jules Rossi and Fausto CoppiFausto Coppi ( September 15, 1919 in Castellania ( Province of Alessandria), Italy, January 2, 1960 in Tortona, Italy) was an Italian bicycle racer. Nicknamed Il Campionissimo ("champions of the champions"), he was one of the most successful and most popu won in 1937Events January January 1 Anastasio Somoza becomes President of Nicaragua January 11 The first issue of Look magazine goes on sale in the United States. January 19 Howard Hughes sets a new air record by flying from Los Angeles to New York City in 7 hours, and 1950 respectively. The only German winner of Paris-Roubaix was Josef Fischer , who won the first year the race was held, 1896. Belgian cyclists have won 47 times, French cyclists 30. Meanwhile, in the U.S. hopes are placed on George Hincapie or Fred Rodriguez to be the first American to win l'enfer du Nord.