The 2009 Paris-Roubaix on SBS
THE 2009 PARIS-ROUBAIX - LIVE ON SBS SUNDAY APRIL 12TH
Next to the Tour de France Paris Roubaix is the race all riders would love to win.
It's one of the world's most spectacular and unique sporting events and you can see it from the comfort of your lounge room LIVE on SBS.
The 260 kilometre race is the most prestigious single-day professional bicycle road race on the calendar, held in northern France and starting in Compiègne, the race finishes in Roubaix, near the Belgian border.
Raced over secteurs of pave, Roubaix rewards the hard, the opportunistic and the rider with the strongest legs on the day. Usually ridden in rain, snow and mud, recent years have seen hot and dusty conditions on race day.
Home grown interest in this great race grew after the 2007 win by Stuart O'Grady, the first by an Australian. O'Grady broke away in the late stages of the race to record an opportunistic and spectacular win.
2008 saw a return to traditional European dominance with classics specialist Tom Boonen of Belgium recording his second win in a close fought and dramatic race that was not decided until the riders entered the Velodrome.
Boonen outsprinted Alessandro Ballan and Fabian Cancellara, an effort that confirmed him as the brightest talent on the cobbles today.
Join SBS presenter Mike Tomalaris, former European-based professional David McKenzie and respected cycling journalist Rupert Guinness as Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen provide the expert commentary.
COVERAGE OF THE PARIS-ROUBAIX BEGINS AT 10.10pm EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 12TH -ONLY ON SBS!
