Rocky Mountain Roubaix’s reward
Paris-Roubaix outdoes Boulder-Roubaix by all accounts from a cycling competition perspective. It’s more than double the length and 104 years older in running time; the cobbles span fewer kilometers than the Colorado counterpart dirt roads but their uneven surface spawns more fear than rural hardpack.
Finish Paris-Roubaix and a bike racer rightly deserve the distinction of uber tough.
However, Boulder-Roubaix offers each rider a free Boulder Beer after the race. Can Paris-Roubaix match that?
| Paris-Roubaix | Boulder-Roubaix | ||
| First run | 1896 | 1992 | |
| Distance | 257.5 km | 120.4 km | (Pro men, 1, 2) |
| Cobbles / dirt | 51.5 km | 68.6 km | |
| Approx Avg speed | 42 km/hr | 42 km/hr |
Robin Eckmann leads in break near end of lap 1 at 2012 Boulder-Roubaix
Head of the pack chasing break near end lap 1, Boulder-Roubaix
Boulder-Roubaix has crashes too, turn onto feedzone hill
Break heading to feedzone hill on lap 3, Boulder-Roubaix
Frank Pipp checks his lead before the finish at 2012 Boulder-Roubaix
Sprint for second, Sean Sullivan & Robin Eckmann (l to r)
2012 Boulder-Roubaix, women's podium, Kasey Clark 2nd, Alison Powers 1st, Anne Samplonius 3rd
2012 Boulder-Roubaix men's podium Robin Eckmann 2nd, Frank Pipp 1st, Sean Sullivan 3rd
Frank Pipp, Isabelle, and Stephanie Pipp after 2012 Boulder-Roubaix
ProVéloPassion 
Sounds like the next best thing if you can’t make it overseas to see Paris-Roubaix. Might have to put this on my bucket list! 🙂