"Straight into the grass" - Pavel Bittner on how Paris-Roubaix is like for the average rider

Paris-Roubaix is a brutal race and whilst in front the likes of Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel light it up on a yearly basis; for most riders it's a matter of survival. However it's a race that's far from just being about the legs, but more about the luck. Avoiding crashes and mechanicals is something that substantially helps in the pursuit of a strong result, but something few have. Pavel Bittner of Team Picnic PostNL recalls his own personal Hell of the North.

The sprinter went in as leader for the Dutch team but was unable to finish the race, whilst the team had John Degenkolb as their best finisher in 31st.

"We flew into the first couple of sections in decent positions and I was really happy because I was not expending any energy. I was always up there, I didn't have to chase any gaps." However, in an interview with Domestique, the Czech rider soon found himself in the true chaos of Roubaix.

"There were these banners from this sunglasses brand, straight into the grass. I rolled in, I was like, okay, I'm going to save it, I'm going to come back - and then it just took my front wheel." With fast leadout battles, narrow cobbled sectors and riders suffering mechanicals at all times, there are plenty obstacles on the road for the riders in the middle of the peloton.

Bittner found himself crashing and took the bike of a teammate right after. However, after losing ground to the peloton and then suffering a mistimed puncture, his race was figuratively over. Shortly after, it was literally over as he jumped into the 'broom wagon'.

In Roubaix, plenty riders find themselves off the back quickly due to the race's unpredictable nature. But as the team cars move forward behind their leaders, many riders are left behind without support when they need wheel changes, or a separate mishap.

The brutal nature of the race makes it logical for early withdrawals if one has no more purpose to the team. The broom wagon is in the back of the race and collects riders who wish to withdraw from the race.

"This year the van was actually full. It was like fallen soldiers. There were guys from all the teams, you kind of have a chat, it's kind of funny, you're not going to cry there," he recalls. “The team supports you, because they understand how it works. If the race doesn’t go perfectly and you crash, it is what it is. In the end I had a week off the bike afterwards to prepare for the second half of the season.”

This was Bittner's fourth Roubaix, but certainly not the last. “For sure. I want to have a race that goes how I want, where I leave everything out there and see what the result is. It’s a race I have to do every year.” It's truly a race that brings fear and tension into the riders, but at the same time is perhaps the most unique in the professional road calendar - specially at this level. As a rider who has the potential to do well, the Czech recalls the 'Hell of the North' fondly.

"Sometimes it feels like you hit those cobbles and you have some kind of mechanical, you're like, maybe cobbles is not for me, maybe I'll just stick to the bouncy brands. And then after the race you're like, maybe next year I'll try one more time," he jokes. "It's a funny one. I think it's good that the short-term memory is not the strongest one. Luckily you forget how much you were in pain."