2004 Paris-Roubaix
Encyclopedia
The 2004 edition of the Paris–Roubaix cycling classic took place on April 11, 2004. Among the participating favorites were 1996, 2000 and 2002 winner Johan Museeuw
and 2003 winner Peter Van Petegem
. The race was part of the UCI Road World Cup
.
After passing through famous Arenberg Forest sector, 21 riders were ahead of the peloton, including all pre-race favorites. Jaan Kirsipuu
was the first one trying to break away with 60 kilometres to go, advancing 30 seconds over the favourites group, followed by an important attack by Johan Museeuw
in Auchy-Lez-Orchies sector, forcing the pace and selecting the lead group. Kirsipuu and Museeuw were eventually captured, at which time Frank Hoj and Leon Van Bon
also tried to break away, being captured after some kilometers in the lead. With 30 kilometres to go Christophe Mengin
and Fabio Baldato
tried to escape without success but leading to an important move by Tom Boonen
, Juan Antonio Flecha
and George Hincapie
, with the late addition of Leif Hoste
. While they were being captured, 2003 winner Peter Van Petegem
suffered a puncture and effectively saw his chances of a repeat victory annulled.
In the famous cobblestone section Carrefour de l'Arbre (with 15 kilometres to Roubaix) Museeuw made a series of accelerations which selected the leading group to Museeuw himself, Magnus Backstedt
, Roger Hammond, Tristan Hoffman
, Fabian Cancellara
and George Hincape, who lost contact soon afterwards but who would hang-on to finish 8th. With 6 kilometres to the finish line, Johan Museeuw
suffered a puncture and was consigned to 5th. The four riders in front entered the velodrome with Cancellara leading the group, but it was Magnus Backstedt
who won the sprint ahead of Hoffman, Hammond and the Swiss. For the first time since 1994, no Belgian rider made it to the final podium.
This 2004 edition of Paris–Roubaix was the last to be ridden by three-time winner Johan Museeuw
, who crossed the finish line hand-in-hand with his compatriot and rival Peter Van Petegem
(the previous year's champion). The duo received a roaring ovation from the crowd.
Johan Museeuw
Johan Museeuw is a retired Belgian professional road bicycle racer. He was a professional from 1988 to 2004 and was particularly successful in the classic cycle races in the nineties....
and 2003 winner Peter Van Petegem
Peter van Petegem
Peter van Petegem is a former professional road racing cyclist. Van Petegem last rode for Quick Step-Innergetic, in 2007. He lived in Horebeke. He was a specialist in spring classics, one of ten riders to win the Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris–Roubaix in the same season...
. The race was part of the UCI Road World Cup
2004 UCI Road World Cup
The 2004 UCI Road World Cup was the sixteenth and last edition of the UCI Road World Cup. There was no change in the calendar from the 2003 edition, meaning the final seven editions had the same calendar....
.
After passing through famous Arenberg Forest sector, 21 riders were ahead of the peloton, including all pre-race favorites. Jaan Kirsipuu
Jaan Kirsipuu
Jaan Kirsipuu is an Estonian road bicycle racer, living in Estonia. Kirsipuu initially retired at the end of the 2006, but participated in the 2007 Estonian championship, becoming time trial champion for the sixth time. In 2008 he was the manager of Latvian UCI Continental cycling team Rietumu...
was the first one trying to break away with 60 kilometres to go, advancing 30 seconds over the favourites group, followed by an important attack by Johan Museeuw
Johan Museeuw
Johan Museeuw is a retired Belgian professional road bicycle racer. He was a professional from 1988 to 2004 and was particularly successful in the classic cycle races in the nineties....
in Auchy-Lez-Orchies sector, forcing the pace and selecting the lead group. Kirsipuu and Museeuw were eventually captured, at which time Frank Hoj and Leon Van Bon
Léon van Bon
Léon Hendrik Jan van Bon is a road racing cyclist from the Netherlands, who won the silver medal in the men's points race at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. He won his first major race at the professionals in 1998, winning the HEW Cyclassics...
also tried to break away, being captured after some kilometers in the lead. With 30 kilometres to go Christophe Mengin
Christophe Mengin
Christophe Mengin is a French racing cyclist and a former cyclo-cross racer. He became professional in 1995, signing to the Chazal team. His height is 1.73 m, and weight is 68 kg...
and Fabio Baldato
Fabio Baldato
Fabio Baldato is an Italian former racing cyclist. In 2008, he was the oldest rider in a ProTour team. His cycling career ended when he crashed heavily in the Eneco Tour.- Palmarès :* Österreich-Rundfahrt** 2 stages...
tried to escape without success but leading to an important move by Tom Boonen
Tom Boonen
Tom Boonen is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer who won the 2005 World Road Race Championship. He is a member of the team, and is considered a single-day road race specialist with a strong finishing sprint...
, Juan Antonio Flecha
Juan Antonio Flecha
Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni is an Argentine-born Spanish professional road bicycle racer for the UCI ProTour team .-Career:...
and George Hincapie
George Hincapie
George Hincapié Garcés is an American professional road bicycle racer currently riding for UCI ProTeam . Hincapie resides in Greenville, South Carolina...
, with the late addition of Leif Hoste
Leif Hoste
Leif Hoste is a Belgian professional road racing cyclist since 1998. He rides on the UCI ProTour for . His career highlights include winning two stages and the overall title at the 2006 Three Days of De Panne, the 2001 and 2006 Belgian national time trial championships, and a second place finish...
. While they were being captured, 2003 winner Peter Van Petegem
Peter van Petegem
Peter van Petegem is a former professional road racing cyclist. Van Petegem last rode for Quick Step-Innergetic, in 2007. He lived in Horebeke. He was a specialist in spring classics, one of ten riders to win the Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris–Roubaix in the same season...
suffered a puncture and effectively saw his chances of a repeat victory annulled.
In the famous cobblestone section Carrefour de l'Arbre (with 15 kilometres to Roubaix) Museeuw made a series of accelerations which selected the leading group to Museeuw himself, Magnus Backstedt
Magnus Bäckstedt
Magnus Bäckstedt is a Swedish professional road bicycle racer.He began as a skier, selected for the national team when he was 14. His greatest achievement in cycling is winning Paris–Roubaix in 2004. Bäckstedt is 1m 93 tall and weighs 94 kg...
, Roger Hammond, Tristan Hoffman
Tristan Hoffman
Tristan Henri Christiaan Hoffman is a former road racing cyclist from the Netherlands. Since early 2007 he is a directeur sportif for .-Major results:199119921993...
, Fabian Cancellara
Fabian Cancellara
Fabian Cancellara is a Swiss professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . A time trial specialist, he is a four-time World Time Trial Champion and is the current Olympic gold medalist...
and George Hincape, who lost contact soon afterwards but who would hang-on to finish 8th. With 6 kilometres to the finish line, Johan Museeuw
Johan Museeuw
Johan Museeuw is a retired Belgian professional road bicycle racer. He was a professional from 1988 to 2004 and was particularly successful in the classic cycle races in the nineties....
suffered a puncture and was consigned to 5th. The four riders in front entered the velodrome with Cancellara leading the group, but it was Magnus Backstedt
Magnus Bäckstedt
Magnus Bäckstedt is a Swedish professional road bicycle racer.He began as a skier, selected for the national team when he was 14. His greatest achievement in cycling is winning Paris–Roubaix in 2004. Bäckstedt is 1m 93 tall and weighs 94 kg...
who won the sprint ahead of Hoffman, Hammond and the Swiss. For the first time since 1994, no Belgian rider made it to the final podium.
This 2004 edition of Paris–Roubaix was the last to be ridden by three-time winner Johan Museeuw
Johan Museeuw
Johan Museeuw is a retired Belgian professional road bicycle racer. He was a professional from 1988 to 2004 and was particularly successful in the classic cycle races in the nineties....
, who crossed the finish line hand-in-hand with his compatriot and rival Peter Van Petegem
Peter van Petegem
Peter van Petegem is a former professional road racing cyclist. Van Petegem last rode for Quick Step-Innergetic, in 2007. He lived in Horebeke. He was a specialist in spring classics, one of ten riders to win the Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris–Roubaix in the same season...
(the previous year's champion). The duo received a roaring ovation from the crowd.
2004-04-11: Compiègne–Roubaix, 261 km.
| Cyclist | Team | Time | UCI Road World Cup 2004 UCI Road World Cup The 2004 UCI Road World Cup was the sixteenth and last edition of the UCI Road World Cup. There was no change in the calendar from the 2003 edition, meaning the final seven editions had the same calendar.... Points |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6h 40'26" | 100 | ||
| 2 | s.t. | 70 | ||
| 3 | MrBookmaker-Palmans Unibet.com Cycling Team Cycle Collstrop was a Swedish UCI Professional Continental cycling team. It was the successor to Unibet.com, which was mainly sponsored by the online gambling website Unibet.com and as a continuation of the MrBookmaker.com cycling team... |
s.t. | 50 | |
| 4 | s.t. | 40 | ||
| 5 | + 17" | 36 | ||
| 6 | s.t. | 32 | ||
| 7 | + 29" | 28 | ||
| 8 | s.t. | 24 | ||
| 9 | s.t. | 20 | ||
| 10 | s.t. | 16 |