Paris-Roubaix podium history | 1997 edition | 1999 edition
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The race:
The 1998 Paris-Roubaix was 266.5 km long and raced at an average speed of 38.27 km/hr.
There are some sources (including the prestigious Memoire site) that put winner Ballerini's time at 5hr 55min 16sec rather than the 6hr 57min 49sec which we use. This latter time is the one released by the race organizer.
192 starters, 49 classified finishers. Another 17 riders finished outside time limit
With about 65 kilometers to go, 8 riders broke away and Franco Ballerini left that group another 15 kilometers later. He soloed into the Roubaix velodrome with more than 4 minutes in hand.
Franco Ballerini wins. Sirotti photo
Ballerini has made good his escape. Sirotti photo