The 2004 Paris–Roubaix was the 102nd running of the

Paris–Roubaix Paris–Roubaix is a one-day professional bicycle road race in northern France, starting north of Paris and finishing in Roubaix, at the border with Belgium. It is one of cycling's oldest races, and is one of the 'Monuments' or classics of the ...

single-day cycling race, often known as the ''Hell of the North''. It was held on 11 April 2004 over a distance of . Among the participating favorites were 1996, 2000 and 2002 winner

Johan Museeuw Johan Museeuw (born 13 October 1965) is a retired Belgian professional road racing cyclist who was a professional from 1988 until 2004. Nicknamed ''The Lion of Flanders'', he was particularly successful in the cobbled classics of Flanders and No ...

and 2003 winner

Peter Van Petegem Peter van Petegem (born 18 January 1970 in Brakel, Belgium) 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 t ...

. The race was part of the

UCI Road World Cup The UCI Road World Cup was a season-long Road bicycle racing, road cycling competition held from 1989 until 2004 and comprising ten one-day events. History The competition was inaugurated in 1989, and replaced the Super Prestige Pernod Internati ...

. After passing through famous ''Arenberg Forest'' sector, 21 riders were ahead of the peloton, including all pre-race favorites.

Jaan Kirsipuu Jaan Kirsipuu (born 17 July 1969 in Tartu) is an Estonian former road bicycle racer, who currently works as a directeur sportif for UCI Continental team . He spent the majority of his career riding under the management of Vincent Lavenu, initial ...

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

in ''Auchy-Lez-Orchies'' sector, forcing the pace and selecting the lead group. Kirsipuu and Museeuw were eventually captured, at which time

Frank Høj Frank Høj (born 4 January 1973) is a retired Danish professional road bicycle racer. Høj started as a stagiaire for the Zetelhallen–Vosschemie team in 1994, and became professional in 1995 for . His first win as a professional came the year a ...

and

Léon van Bon Léon Hendrik Jan van Bon (born 28 January 1972) is a retired 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 profess ...

also tried to break away, being captured after some kilometers in the lead. With 30 kilometres to go

Christophe Mengin Christophe Mengin (born 3 September 1968 in Cornimont) is a retired French racing cyclist and a former cyclo-cross racer. He became professional in 1995, signing to the Chazal team, and retired after the 2008 season. His height is 1.73 m, and w ...

and

Fabio Baldato Fabio Baldato (born 13 June 1968) 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. He also competed at the 1988 Summer Olympics and the 19 ...

tried to escape without success but leading to an important move by

Tom Boonen Tom Boonen (; born 15 October 1980) is a Belgian former road bicycle racer, who competed as a professional between 2002 and 2017 for the and teams and a professional racing driver who currently competes in Belcar, having previously competed in ...

Juan Antonio Flecha Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (born 17 September 1977) is an Argentine-born Spanish former professional road bicycle racer, who competed as a professional between 2000 and 2013. Flecha had a reputation of being a Classics specialist and to ride ...

and

George Hincapie George Anthony Hincapie (born June 29, 1973) is an American former racing cyclist, who competed professionally between 1994 and 2012. Hincapie was a key domestique of Lance Armstrong. Hincapie was also a domestique for Alberto Contador in 2007 an ...

, with the late addition of

Leif Hoste Leif Hoste (born 17 July 1977) is a retired Belgian professional road racing cyclist, who last rode for UCI Professional Continental Team team . Born in Kortrijk, Hoste's career highlights included winning two stages and the overall title at the ...

. While they were being captured, 2003 winner

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 reduced the leading group to Museeuw himself,

Magnus Bäckstedt Magnus Bäckstedt (born 30 January 1975)L'Équipe, France, 12 April 2004. is a Swedish former professional road bicycle racer. His most notable achievement in cycling is winning Paris–Roubaix in 2004. Early life Born in Linköping, Östergöt ...

, Roger Hammond,

Tristan Hoffman Tristan Henri Christiaan Hoffman (born 1 January 1970 in Groenlo, Oost Gelre) is a Dutch former road racing cyclist. After his racing years he became a directeur sportif for Team CSC, and later for . He also competed in the men's individual road ...

Fabian Cancellara Fabian Cancellara (born 18 March 1981), nicknamed "Spartacus", is a Swiss cycling executive, businessman and former professional road racing cyclist who last rode for UCI ProTeam . He was born in Wohlen bei Bern, Switzerland. Cancellara began r ...

and

, who lost contact soon afterwards but who would hang-on to finish 8th. With 6 kilometres to the finish line,

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 Bäckstedt 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

, who crossed the finish line hand-in-hand with his compatriot and rival

(the previous year's champion). The duo received a roaring ovation from the crowd.

Results

2004-04-11: Compiègne–Roubaix, 261 km.

References

External links

Official site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Paris-Roubaix 2004

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 6 ...

2004 UCI Road World Cup 2004 in French sport 2004 in road cycling April 2004 sports events in France