Podium history of Paris-Roubaix | 2004 edition | 2006 edition
Photos | As it happened | Course map and list of cobbled sectors

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Weather: The predicted rain has so far held off. The wind is about 8 mph from the north, partly cloudy and the temperature is in the low 50's.

The race:

The 2005 Paris-Roubaix was 259 kilometers long and raced at an average speed of 40.101 km/hr. The course had 26 sectors of cobbles.

There were 191 starters and 80 classified finishers.

It was at Carrefour de l’Arbre cobble sector (kilometer 242) that the leading break of five riders  became three when Juan Antonio Flecha attacked, putting Lars Michaelsen and Magnus Backstedt (2004 winner) out the back door.

The lead group was now down to Tom Boonen, George Hincapie and Flecha. The three worked together, not attacking each other and arrived at the Roubaix velodrome together.

Hincapie described what happened on the track: “Once in the velodrome, on the second circuit I saw Boonen come from a high line and I knew straight away that he'd won it."

Indeed he had. More than that, Boonen had won both the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix the same year, a rare and admirable double. As of this writing (February, 2022), this has been accomplished only twelve times. Only two riders have done this double twice, Boonen (2005 & 2012) & Fabian Cancellara (2010 & 2013).

Tom Boonen wins the 2005 Paris-Roubaix

Complete Results:

1. Tom Boonen (Quick Step), 6hr 27min 38sec

2. George Hincapie (Discovery), s.t.
3. Juan Antonio Flecha (Fassa Bortolo), s.t.
4. Magnus Backstedt (Liquigas-Bianchi) @1min 9sec
5. Lars Michaelsen (CSC) @2min 43sec
6. Leon Van Bon (Davitamon-Lotto) @3min 49sec
7. Florent Brard (Agritubel), s.t.
8. Fabian Cancellara (Fassa Bortolo), s.t.
9. Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole), s.t.
10. Arnaud Coyot (Cofidis), s.t.
11. Frédéric Guesdon (FDJ) s.t.
12. Vladimir Gusev (CSC) s.t.
13. Erwin Thijs (Mr. Bookmaker) s.t.
14. Nico Mattan (Davitamon-Lotto) s.t.
15. Kevin Hulsmans (Quick Step) s.t.
16. Steffen Wesemann (T-Mobile) s.t.
17. Frank Hoj (Gerolsteiner) @ 4min 48sec
18. Stuart O'Grady (Cofidis) @ 4min 52sec
19. Pedro Horillo (Rabobank) s.t.
20. Jeremy Hunt (Mr. Bookmaker) s.t.
21. Marcus Ljungqvist (Liquigas) s.t.
22. Jimmy Casper (Cofidis) s.t.
23. Henk Vogels (Davitamon-Lotto) s.t.
24. Koen De Kort (Liberty Seguros) s.t.
25. Heinrich Haussler (Gerolsteiner) s.t.
26. Roy Sentjens (Rabobank) s.t.
27. Nicolas Jalabert (Phonak) s.t.
28. Steven De Jongh (Rabobank) s.t.
29. Roberto Petito (Fassa Bortolo) s.t.
30. Enrico Franzoi (Lampre) s.t.
31. Alessandro Cortinovis (Domina Vacanze) s.t.
32. Johan Verstrepen (Landbouwkrediet) s.t.
33. Leif Hoste (Discovery) s.t.
34. Wim De Vocht (Davitamon-Lotto) s.t.
35. Allan Johansen (CSC) s.t.
36. Gianluca Bortolami (Lampre) s.t.
37. Bram Tankink (Quick Step) s.t.
38. Bert Grabsch (Phonak) s.t.
39. Servais Knaven (Quick Step) s.t.
40. Nick Nuyens (Quick Step) s.t.
41. Bert Roesems (Davitamon-Lotto) s.t.
42. Andrea Tafi (Saunier Duval) s.t.
43. Matthé Pronk (Mr. Bookmaker) @ 5min 0sec
44. Serguei Ivanov (T-Mobile) s.t.
45. Christophe Mengin (FDJ) @ 5min 1sec
46. Baden Cooke (FDJ) @ 5min 9sec
47. Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) @ 5min 10sec
48. Jimmy Engoulvent (Cofidis) @ 5min 38sec
49. Bernhard Eisel (FDJ) @ 6min 30sec
50. Rolf Aldag (T-Mobile) @ 8min 0sec
51. Stéphane Berges (Agritubel) s.t.
52. Carlos Barredo (Liberty Seguros) s.t.
53. Andy Flickinger (Ag2r) @ 10min 35sec
54. Uros Murn (Phonak) @ 10min 36sec
55. Jaan Kirsipuu (Credit Agricole) @ 10min 36sec
56. Nicolas Loda (Liquigas) s.t.
57. Gorik Gardeyn (Mr. Bookmaker) s.t.
58. Matti Breschel (CSC) s.t.
59. Luke Roberts (CSC) s.t.
60. Christopher Laurent (Agritubel) s.t.
61. Sébastien Minard (RAGT Semences) s.t.
62. Unai Yus (Bouygues Telecom) s.t.
63. Vicente Garcia Acosta (Illes Balears) s.t.
64. Peter Wrolich (Gerolsteiner) s.t.
65. Camille Bouquet (Mr. Bookmaker) s.t.
66. Angelo Furlan (Domina Vacanze) s.t.
67. Simone Cadamuro (Domina Vacanze) s.t.
68. Ludovic Auger (FDJ) s.t.
69. Salvatore Commesso (Lampre) s.t.
70. Eric Baumann (T-Mobile) @ 10min 41sec
71. Peter Farazijn (Cofidis) @ 10min 43sec
72. Grégory Rast (Phonak) @ 10min 45sec
73. Aart Vierhouten (Davitamon-Lotto) @ 10min 54sec
74. Viatcheslav Ekimov (Discovery) @ 13min 28sec
75. Marc Wouters (Rabobank) @ 14min 5sec
76. Erik Zabel (T-Mobile) s.t.
77. Matthew Wilson (FDJ) @ 15min 34sec
78. Mathew Hayman (Rabobank) s.t.
79. Bas Giling (T-Mobile) s.t.
80. Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom) @ 18min 16sec

Photos
Boonen is the new King of the Classics, with Hincapie and Flecha just behind. The gladiator: Andrea Tafi before the start. Panorama shot of riders on the cobbles Same place, different riders. Juan Antonio Flecha (using cantilever brakes) leads George Hincapie and Lars Michaelsen Bradley Wiggins on the cobbles The pack on the cobbles Thomas Voeckler in his French champion's jersey. Servais Knaven leads Bram Tankink
The winning break has flown the coop: Boonen, Backstedt, Michaelsen, Hincapie and Flecha. Both pictures by Fotoreporter Sirotti Tom Boonen leads Juan Antonio Flecha and George Hincapie Francesco Moser with Tom Boonen on the podium. Final 2005 Paris-Roubaix podium, from left: George Hincapie, Tom Boonen, Juan Antonio Flecha Heroes of Paris:Roubaix, from left: Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle, Bernard Hinault, Andrea and Mrs. Tafi, Francesco Moser

 

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As it happened:

The finish: At Pavé Sector 4 (Km 242) Flecha dropped the hammer and then it was just the three of the surviving 5 from the original 11-man break left to fight for the win. They came into the velodrome at Roubaix together. Boonen waited for the bell and easily won the sprint.

Km 206: The riders are on Pavé Sector 11. The break has been caught by a powerful chase group. It's raining. So now the lead group of 11 is: Tom Boonen (Quick Step), Magnus Backstedt (Liquigas), George Hincapie (Discovery Channel), Lars Michaelsen (CSC), Fabian Cancellara and Juan Antonio Flecha (both Fassa Bortolo), Stephane Berges (Agritubel), Erwin Thijs (Mr Bookmaker),Carlos Barredo (Liberty Seguros), Arnaud Coyot (Cofidis) and Florent Brard (Agritubel). Leon van Bon, Kevin Hulsmans and Stefen Wesemann are the nearest chasers at 35 seconds.

Km 150. A bad crash at Pavé Sector 21 delayed Steels, Van Petegem and others. The break still has over 5 minutes on the lead group. The peloton is starting to really come apart. The crash was too much. Van Petegem and Steels abandon.

Km 75. It is getting colder and cloudier. An 8-man break that had its start at about km 40 has a 12-minute lead. The breakaways are: Sebastian Lang (Gerolsteiner), Stephane Berges (Agritubel), David Herrero (Euskaltel), Erwin Thijs (Mr Bookmaker),Carlos Barredo (Liberty Seguros), Sebastien Chavanel (Bouygues Telecom), Arnaud Coyot (Cofidis) and Florent Brard (Agritubel). The average speed for the first two hours is 44.2 kph. The first cobbles are at km 97.5.

Route map and list of cobbles
2005 Paris-Roubaix route with the cobble section highlighted., copyright Amaury Sport Organization.

There are 54.7 kilometers of cobbles in the 2005 edition of Paris-Roubaix divided into 26 sections. Although the famous Wallers-Arenberg section has not been included, riders previewing the course have been unanimous in saying that this is as tough as a race can get. The promoter has rated the pavé sections according to difficulty, 5 stars being toughest. The list below is in order as the riders approach Roubaix with the distance into the race and the length of the cobbles noted.

26. Troisvilles (km 97.5 - 2200 m)***

25. Viesly (km 103.8 - 1800 m) ***

24. Quievy (km 106.4 - 3700 m) ****

23. Quievy - Saint-Python (km 111.1 - 1500 m) **

22. Escarmain (km 122.7 - 1500 m) *

21. Vertain (km 126.9 - 1900 m) ***

20. Du Buat (km 133.6 - 1700 m) ***

Preseau (143.8 - 2000 m) *

19. Aulnoy-lez-Valenciennes (km 149.7 - 2600 m) *****

18. Famars (km 153 - 1200 m) ***

17. Artres - Querenaing (km 155.8 - 1400 m) ***

Querenaing - Maing (km 157 - 2500 m) ***

16. Monchaux-sur-Ecaillon (km 160.9 - 1600 m) ***

15. Haveluy (km 172.4 - 2400 m) ****

14. Hornaing - Wandignies (km 178.5 - 3700 m) ***

13. Warlaing - Vrillon (km 186 - 2400 m) ****

Tilloy - Sars-et-Rosières (189.5 - 2400 m) ***

12. Orchies (km 200.4 - 1700 m) ***

11. Auchy-lez-Orchies (km 206,5 - 2600 m) ***

10. Mons-en-Pévèle (km 212 - 3000 m) *****

9. Merignies (km 218 - 700 m) **

8. Pont-Thibaut (km 221.4 - 1400 m) ***

7. Templeuve l'Epinette (km 226.7 - 200 m) *

Le Moulin de Vertain (km 227.3 - 500 m) ***

6. Cysoing - Bourghelles (km 233.6 - 1400 m) ****

5. Camphin-en-Pévèle (km 239.9 - 1800 m) ****

4. Le Carrefour de l'Arbre (km 242.6 - 2100 m) *****

3. Gruson (km 244.8 - 1100 m) **

2. Hem (km 251.4 - 1400 m) *

1. Roubaix (km 257.6 - 300 m) *