2007 Paris-Roubaix
Encyclopedia
The 2007 edition of the Paris–Roubaix cycling classic took place on April 15, 2007. Among the participating favorites were 2006 champion Fabian Cancellara
and 2005 champion Tom Boonen
. While the race has a flat parcours, the often poor weather and long sections of cobblestone roads which are traditionally incorporated make for a difficult race, rarely featuring an en masse sprint finish. The race is part of the 2007 UCI ProTour.
Right from the start, several riders tried to be part of the traditional early breakaway, however the peloton looked to be letting no one go. It was only after 31 kilometres that a group of 34 riders got away, consisting of:
The lead of the group never grew very big but in the chasing peloton a lot of the favorites were looking at each other. In the end only a few of the favorites got away from the group: Tom Boonen
, Leif Hoste
, Marcus Burghardt
and Staf Scheirlinckx
. However they also did not cooperate very well and in the end a few of the survivors of the lead group were never to be seen again. Of those, Stuart O'Grady
in the end proved to be the strongest. O'Grady had actually dropped from the lead group because of a puncture but had managed to get back together with a few others, namely Juan Antonio Flecha
, Steffen Wesemann
and Björn Leukemans
. Still, of the original breakaway group, five riders managed to get into the top ten, which does not happen often in Paris–Roubaix.
It should be mentioned, however, that Leif Hoste
was shockingly knocked down by a motorbike on Carrefour de l'Arbre. Had he reached Tom Boonen
, the race could've ended otherwise.
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 2005 champion 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...
. While the race has a flat parcours, the often poor weather and long sections of cobblestone roads which are traditionally incorporated make for a difficult race, rarely featuring an en masse sprint finish. The race is part of the 2007 UCI ProTour.
Right from the start, several riders tried to be part of the traditional early breakaway, however the peloton looked to be letting no one go. It was only after 31 kilometres that a group of 34 riders got away, consisting of:
- for : Matti BreschelMatti BreschelMatti Breschel is a Danish professional road bicycle racer who currently rides for UCI ProTeam .-Career:He got his breakthrough with small Danish Team PH, finishing 6th at the U/23 Cycling World Championship in Verona in 2004 where he helped fellow Dane Mads Christensen finish 3rd...
, Stuart O'GradyStuart O'GradyStuart O'Grady OAM , nicknamed Stuey, is an Australian professional road bicycle racer on UCI ProTeam , who started as a track cyclist. He and Graeme Brown won a gold medal in Men's Madison at the 2004 Summer Olympics...
and Luke RobertsLuke RobertsLuke Roberts is an Australian racing cyclist specialising in both track cycling and road bicycle racing, on for road racing....
. - for : Bert GrabschBert GrabschBert Grabsch is a German road bicycle racer racing for UCI ProTour squad . He is the younger brother of fellow road racing cyclist Ralf Grabsch, and is a former UCI time trial world champion, having won the title in Varese, Italy on September 25, 2008.He competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games...
, Roger Hammond 
and Andreas KlierAndreas KlierAndreas Klier is a German professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam .-Palmares:1996200220032005-External links:...
. - for Skil-ShimanoSkil-ShimanoSkil-Shimano is a professional cycling team based in The Netherlands that participates in UCI Continental Circuits races and, when selected, in UCI ProTour events. The team is managed by Arend Scheppink, with assistance from directeur sportifs Akira Bandou, Hisafumi Imanishi, Iwan Spekenbrink,...
: Fabian Bacquet
, Clément LhotellerieClément LhotellerieClément Lhotellerie is a French road racing cyclist.-Career:Lhotellerie was an accomplished mountain-biker and cyclo-cross rider before switching to the road. He had won the French cyclo-cross championships in Juniors and U23 categories. He turned professional for Skil-Shimano cycling team in 2007...
and Floris Goesinnen 
. - for : Matteo TosattoMatteo TosattoMatteo Tosatto is an Italian road racing cyclist who rides for in the UCI ProTour.- Tour de France participations :*1997 - 132nd*2001 - 60th*2004 - 110th*2006 - 125th- Major achievements :...
and Kevin van ImpeKevin van ImpeKevin Van Impe is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer. He is the son of former cyclist Frank Van Impe. His uncle is the famous ex-cyclist Lucien Van Impe....
. - for : Tom SteelsTom SteelsTom Steels is a former Belgian professional road bicycle racer, specialising in sprint finishes and one-day races...
and Greg Van AvermaetGreg Van AvermaetGreg Van Avermaet is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer, currently riding for UCI ProTeam .- Palmarès :2006Greg Van Avermaet is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer, currently riding for UCI ProTeam .- Palmarès :2006Greg Van Avermaet is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer,...
. - for : Roberto PetitoRoberto PetitoRoberto Petito , is an Italian road bicycle racer.Petito was born in Civitavecchia. His most important win came in 1997, when he won the Tirreno–Adriatico. He has also finished in the top five in classics such as the Ronde van Vlaanderen or Paris–Roubaix, as well as the overall in the 2006...
and Frederik WillemsFrederik WillemsFrederik Willems is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . His greatest achievement to date is in winning the 2006 Étoile de Bessèges while riding for , with whom he began his career in 2003 and rode until the end of 2006.-Palmarès:20022006*...
. - for : Nicolas PortalNicolas PortalNicolas Portal is a French former professional road bicycle racer. In 2009, he missed much of the racing season with cardiac arrhythmia problems.- Palmares :* 2004 Criterium du Dauphiné Libéré - 1 stage* Tour de France...
and José Joaquín Rojas Gil 
. - for : David KoppDavid Kopp (cyclist)David Kopp is a German road racing cyclist. Kopp speciality is sprinting and the cobbled classics of Belgium.Kopp started his pro career with Team Telekom in 2001 before moving to smaller German teams for 2004 and 2005. In 2006, he returned to top level cycling with Gerolsteiner for years before...
and Tom StamsnijderTom StamsnijderTom Stamsnijder is a Dutch professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam , and son of former cyclo-cross world champion Hennie Stamsnijder.- Palmares :2000...
. - for : Julian DeanJulian DeanJulian Dean is a road racing cyclist who rides for . Dean rode in the 2008 Tour de France, 2007 Tour de France, 2006 Tour de France and the 2004 Tour de France, finishing all four times. In 2008, he finished 9th in the points classification...
and Jimmy EngoulventJimmy EngoulventJimmy Engoulvent is a French road racing cyclist who rides for Saur-Sojasun.-Palmares:20112010-External links:**...
. - for : Stéphane PoulhiesStéphane PoulhiesStéphane Poulhies is a French professional road bicycle racer for Saur-Sojasun. For four seasons he was a member of the UCI ProTeam Ag2r-La Mondiale.- Palmarès :200520072011- External links :*...
and Nicolas RousseauNicolas RousseauNicolas Rousseau is a French professional road bicycle racer for BigMat-Auber 93. He won stage 3 of the 2010 La Tropicale Amissa Bongo.- External links :*...
. - for Team Wiesenhof-Felt: Olaf PollackOlaf PollackOlaf Pollack is a professional road racing cyclist specializing in sprint races and competitions....
and Robert WagnerRobert Wagner (cyclist)Robert Wagner is a professional cyclist, who rides for the UCI ProTour team, .-Palmarès:2005* 1st, Stage 8, Thüringen Rundfahrt2006* 3rd, Ronde van Noord-Holland* 5th, Rund um Düren2007* 6th, Schaal Sels-Merksem2008* 1st, Ronde van Noord-Holland...
. - for : Enrico FranzoiEnrico FranzoiEnrico Franzoi is an Italian professional cyclo-cross and road bicycle racer, who rides for Powerplus BKCP, but was previously a member of UCI ProTeams Lampre and Liquigas. Franzoi has won the Italian Cyclo-cross Championships on four occasions – in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009.- Palmares...
. - for : Bram de GrootBram de GrootBram de Groot is a Dutch former professional road bicycle racer who last rode for UCI ProTour team .- Palmares :* Uniqa Classic - Overall * Delta Ronde van Midden-Zeeland * Volta a Catalunya - 1 stage...
. - for : Ludovic AugerLudovic AugerLudovic Auger is a French former professional road bicycle racer. In his 14 year career, he rode for BigMat-Auber 93 from 1994 until 2004 and then for UCI ProTeam Française des Jeux from 2005 to 2007.- Palmarès :...
. - for : Tristan ValentinTristan ValentinTristan Valentin is a French professional road bicycle racer. He tested positive for Heptaminol on 6 June 2006. The UCI summary of 'Decisions on Anti-Doping Rule Violations made in 2006' states "disqualification and ineligibility for 6 months".- Palmares :2005- External links :**...
. - for Team MilramTeam MILRAMTeam Milram was a German pro cycling team, participating at the UCI ProTour.The pro cycling team was founded in the beginning of 2006, taking over the UCI ProTeam license of Team Domina Vacanze. The main sponsor is the Milram brand of the Bremen based Nordmilch company...
: Ralf GrabschRalf GrabschRalf Grabsch is a German road racing cyclist. He is the older brother of fellow road racing cyclist Bert Grabsch.- Major victories :1994...
. - for : Erki PütsepErki PütsepErki Pütsep is an Estonian professional road bicycle racer who is currently a free agent. He is the three time national road race champion and won the E.O.S...
. - for : Volodymyr BilekaVolodymyr BilekaVolodymyr Bileka is a Ukrainian professional road bicycle racer. He rode for Discovery Channel between 2005 and 2007. As with fellow teammate and compatriot Yaroslav Popovych, he has shown promise by winning numerous races as a junior before turning professional...
. - for : Iban IriondoIban IriondoIban Iriondo Uranga is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer. He rode for UCI ProTeam Euskaltel-Euskadi between 2006 and 2007.- External links :*...
. - for : Gennady MikhaylovGennady MikhaylovGennady Mikhaylov , is a former professional road bicycle racer from Russia. He last rode for UCI ProTour . He was part of the successful team , in which he assisted Robbie McEwen to numerous sprint victories. He won his first professional race in 2002...
.
The lead of the group never grew very big but in the chasing peloton a lot of the favorites were looking at each other. In the end only a few of the favorites got away from the group: 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...
, 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...
, Marcus Burghardt
Marcus Burghardt
Marcus Burghardt is a German professional road bicycle racer, currently riding for UCI ProTeam .Burghardt turned pro in 2005, having already raced as an amateur in the U-23 Wiesenhof team, with which he had already tasted success in the shape of the overall win at the Bundesliga Gerlingen in 2004...
and Staf Scheirlinckx
Staf Scheirlinckx
Staf Scheirlinckx is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer for UCI Professional Continental team . One of the tallest riders in the pro peloton, Scheirlinckx is a domestique who helps his star teammates, particularly in the northern classic cycle races. His brother is Bert Scheirlinckx.-...
. However they also did not cooperate very well and in the end a few of the survivors of the lead group were never to be seen again. Of those, Stuart O'Grady
Stuart O'Grady
Stuart O'Grady OAM , nicknamed Stuey, is an Australian professional road bicycle racer on UCI ProTeam , who started as a track cyclist. He and Graeme Brown won a gold medal in Men's Madison at the 2004 Summer Olympics...
in the end proved to be the strongest. O'Grady had actually dropped from the lead group because of a puncture but had managed to get back together with a few others, namely 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:...
, Steffen Wesemann
Steffen Wesemann
Steffen Wesemann is a retired professional road racing cyclist. Wesemann most recently rode for the professional continental team Cycle Collstrop after riding a year with the Team Wiesenhof-Felt squad. He had previously spent the other years of his career at Telekom who later became Team T-Mobile...
and Björn Leukemans
Björn Leukemans
Björn Leukemans is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer. During 2008 Leukemans was suspended for doping with artificial testosterone. For 2009 he joined the .- Palmares :2011...
. Still, of the original breakaway group, five riders managed to get into the top ten, which does not happen often in Paris–Roubaix.
It should be mentioned, however, that 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...
was shockingly knocked down by a motorbike on Carrefour de l'Arbre. Had he reached 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...
, the race could've ended otherwise.
2007-04-15: Compiègne–Roubaix, 259 km.
| Cyclist | Team | Time | UCI ProTour 2007 UCI ProTour The 2007 UCI ProTour is the third year of the UCI ProTour system. Following a dispute and power struggle between the UCI and the organisers of the Grand Tours, ASO, RCS and Unipublic, a number of events were run as ProTour events, although without ProTour licences... Points |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6h 09' 07" | 50 | ||
| 2 | + 52" | 40 | ||
| 3 | Team Wiesenhof-Felt | + 52" | none | |
| 4 | + 53" | 30 | ||
| 5 | + 55" | 25 | ||
| 6 | + 55" | 20 | ||
| 7 | + 55" | 15 | ||
| 8 | + 56" | 10 | ||
| 9 | + 1' 24" | 5 | ||
| 10 | + 2' 27" | 2 |