In Roubaix, at the heart of the “Stab”, the regional indoor velodrome named after JeanStablinski, Xavier Bertrand, president of the Hauts-de-France regional council, and Christian Prudhomme, director of cycling for Amaury Sport Organisation, celebrated the renewal for four more editions of the partnership that links the famous Paris-Roubaix cycling race with its host region. This partnership, which has entered its tenth year, is the symbol of this region’s attachment to the race and its cobbles. It pays witness to the loyalty of the elected representatives, proud of their “Queen of the Classics”, a legend that will be celebrating its 120 year anniversary in 2016!

A route ingrained in the new region

Starting from Compiègne, in Picardy, up to the finishing line in Roubaix, in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais, the route of Paris-Roubaix stretches from one end to the other of the new Hauts-de-France region which now combines these two great lands of cycling. At the heart of the JeanStablinski covered regional Velodrome in Roubaix, the link binding one of the finest cycling races in the world to its host region was prolonged for four more years. For the last ten years, A.S.O., the organiser of Paris-Roubaix, and the Hauts-de-France Region have worked together to offer an ideal playing field for the riders and an outstanding spectacle for cycling enthusiasts lining the road-sides or in front of their television screens. This year, for the first time, viewers in 145 countries, including France, will have the opportunity to watch the entire race, from the starting line in Compiègne to the finishing line in Roubaix.

A cycling-mad region and town

The Hauts-de-France region can be proud to boast a town like Roubaix, the finishing point of the Queen of the Classics, at its heart. Since 1896, the town has been the theatre to the outcome of one of the most legendary of cycling races and for all cycling enthusiasts, its velodrome is an emotional and mythical place. Today, the town is also an important centre for track cycling since the opening of the “Stab”, the indoor velodrome named in the memory of rider Jean Stablinski. Xavier Bertrand and Christian Prudhomme took advantage of their meeting to give starter’s orders, in the company of Roubaix’s Mayor Guillaume Delbar, for the regional track cycling championships, another sign that the long love story between Roubaix and cycling continues to be written.