5 things you need to know

About surviving on the pavé

Don’t ride too big a gear

Most people will tell you to sit back in your seat and ride as big a gear as possible but I’d say that’s old school thinking.

These days it’s about having a high cadence/low gear so you can accelerate quickly and stay in control of the bike. That means you can spin the cranks faster and get yourself out of trouble.

Also, don’t grip the bars too tightly – you’ll be too rigid and your bike can start to drift when you’re in a lower gear. If you then try to steer it back to the right line too sharply, you’ll likely end up on your arse.

Read your racing line

It’s not about either picking the middle or the gutter – it’s about judging the smoothest line through any given sector of pavé.

If it’s crowded, you might have to take a third-choice line. Read the cobbles, pick a spot up to 40m ahead and make your way there without sudden movements. If you’re on the front, the centre of the road is usually the smoothest place but it’s also dangerous; if it’s damp, you run the risk of going down. It’s this kind of management versus speed that you need to be constantly equating.

Beef up your handlebars

I’d put some foam pipe insulation underneath my bar tape. Yes, it’s for extra cushioning and vibration damping but it’s as much to do with having a bigger grip. On a smaller grip, you close your fingers too much which makes them really sore. It’s really about stopping your joints being ripped to shreds.

In terms of tyre pressure, they vary according to conditions, the size of the rider and whether you’re on tubulars or clinchers. There’s no standard but it’s lower than normal. For me it was 5.7bar on the front, 6.1 at the rear.

Experiment with your equipment

Frame materials, tyre choices and pressures – during my career we looked at everything. The year I won Paris-Roubaix, I punctured four times on the last recce and so persuaded the mechanic to fit 27mm tyres. I had no more flats during the recce or the race. That was a battle with the team and tyre manufacturers because they thought I was completely bonkers. It just wasn’t the norm at that time. Typically it was between 23-25mm. These days, I don’t think a single rider would use anything less than 27mm.

Treat the cobbles with respect

I didn’t fear any cobbled sectors but you need to take them all seriously and have your wits about you.

The Forest of Arenberg of Paris-Roubaix was always tough because you’re coming at it so fast and the 4km leading into it are crazy. It’s easier to do most lead-outs than to get into the Forest in a good position. Then you have Carrefour de l’Arbre, which is the roughest sector. By that point of Paris-Roubaix, though there’s usually just 20 guys left so you can pick your lines without fighting for them.