Such demanding terrain is unknown territory for the majority of the peloton – who tend to be Grand Tour specialists or time-triallers and sprinters – and the potential for the race to be splintered asunder is right up there with a high mountain stages, which at this early juncture of the race is unusual indeed.
The cobbles themselves – 13.5km of them in five different sections – are difficult to ride at speed especially in the wet and we saw on Monday just how big a part the elements play in this part of the world. The forecast is for a dryish middling kind of day but surface conditions are bound to be at least dampish.
Full story: Tour de France 2010: peloton prepares for hellish day of racing on road to Roubaix – Telegraph