HMC Art Print - Paris - Roubaix

Large (59..4cm X 42cm)

A series of brutal 'secteurs' of pavé, the rough, cobbled farm tracks that criss-cross northern France, which erode the field and batter riders and equipment alike. The names of the secteurs are fabled, but the most famous of them all is the feared Trouée d'Arenberg (Arenberg Trench), an arrow-straight length of road running through the Arenberg Forest. Hit at full speed, the decaying cobbles are dangerous and decisive. The race is never won here, but it can be lost in an instant.

In 1981 the great French rider Bernard Hinault won in Paris-Roubaix for the only time. He crashed seven times on the way to victory - the final crash took place when a dog ran into his path. In my artwork you can see Hinault's dog peeking through the trees waiting for the unsuspecting riders, and the decaying cobbles stretching relentlessly through the forest.