A Sunday in Hell

It's the afternoon of Saturday, the 10th of April.

Roger De Vlaeminck arrives at the Brooklyn team's hotel

in Lamorlay, north of Paris.

His team-mates and the team personnel are already there

to meet him.

THEY SPEAK IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Roger De Vlaeminck is Brooklyn's star,

and he's one of the favourites in the classic Paris-Roubaix cycle race.

THEY SPEAK IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Eddy Merckx arrives at the Molteni team's hotel in Survilliers.

The mechanics meet him and are ready to go to work on his bicycles.

THEY SPEAK IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Eddy Merckx is the biggest name in professional cycling

and he has dominated the sport in an exceptional manner

for several years.

He is Roger De Vlaeminck's rival in Paris-Roubaix.

The legs are shaved for a massage -

one of the most important steps in preparing each individual rider.

The muscles must be softened in readiness for the torture ahead.

De Vlaeminck, like his rivals, is already in fine condition,

benefitting from some of the hard spring races in Italy and Belgium.

THEY SPEAK IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Eddy Merckx personally supervises the preparation of his machines.

THEY SPEAK IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE

He has the reputation of being a super perfectionist,

a maniac about mechanical details.

Something always needs to be adjusted,

especially the height of the saddle.

THEY SPEAK IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE

THEY SPEAK IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE

The Brooklyn team's doctor, Dr Modesti,

gives De Vlaeminck a check-up.

Blood pressure 120. Pulse 40.

Everything is in order.

Such a low pulse rate isn't abnormal

for a racing cyclist in top condition.

THEY SPEAK IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE

HE SINGS IN FRENCH

THEY SPEAK FRENCH

In Chantilly, the Flandria people are very optimistic.

They're counting on the Belgian duo of Freddy Maertens and Marc Demeyer.

Freddy Maertens, on the right, is 24 years old, the new superstar of

Belgian cycle racing and so far,

he's the predominant rider this season.

THEY SPEAK FRENCH

In their tactics, Maertens and Demeyer

enjoy the benefit of Flandria's experienced sports director,

Guillaume Driessens, an expert at making use of inter-team intrigues.

THEY SPEAK IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE

A tactical conference is going on at Sanson's hotel.

They're pinning their hopes on the young Italian Francesco Moser,

whom many consider the only non-Belgian with a chance.

THEY SPEAK ITALIAN

In Italy, Francesco Moser is hailed as the great new hope -

at last, a new campionissimo who might live up to the glorious past,

reminiscent of the great Fausto Coppi.

Roger De Vlaeminck gets ready.

Psychology plays a big part, a question of mind over matter

and Paris-Roubaix is a special challenge for him.

Like Merckx, De Vlaeminck has won the race three times.

It's his ambition to set the record of four wins in the finest

and most difficult classic event in professional racing.

He knows that his arch-rival Merckx might be the one

to do it tomorrow - four victories.

What gives Paris-Roubaix its reputation as the hardest

and most fascinating of all classic one-day races is the drama

which always accompanies the last part of the course -

over the infamous L'Enfer du Nord - the Hell of the North.

This hell consists of some primitive narrow country roads with

centuries-old cobblestones - les Paves du Nord -

roads no longer used for ordinary civilised traffic,

but only for the driving of cattle - and for a bicycle race.

A truly legendary course.

Year after year, this hell is the setting for a veritable

Dante's Inferno with incredible tortures, and even martyrdom.

Sometimes the roadside is transformed into a quagmire

and the cobblestones into a skating rink.

And this hell has become the home ground of the Flemish supermen.

An exclusive affair, reserved only for the strongest.

Sunday the 11th of April. It's 7.30 in the morning.

From here at the square in Chantilly,

the 74th Paris-Roubaix will start in a couple of hours.

The race was run for the first time in 1896

and has since been run every year, except during the War years.

And every year adds to the legend of the Hell of the North.

Paris-Roubaix is 166 miles long but the first 100 miles

are ridden on ordinary asphalt roads.

It's at Neuvilly that the course's strategic zone commences,

the terrible Paves du Nord.

At the hotels this morning, the teams are getting ready to

meet up at the starting place in Chantilly.

Each one of the bicycles has been taken apart.

Each bicycle has ten or 12 gears but the individual riders have

each chosen the number of teeth on their sprockets.

The machines of Moser and his best support rider, Ole Ritter,

are equipped with specially strong patented tyres, in the hope

of avoiding too many punctures on the almost impossible cobbled roads.

The competitors consume a solid breakfast. Brooklyn is a good team.

Roger De Vlaeminck can expect loyal

and effective support from riders such as De Witte, De Muynck,

Van Der Schlagmolen, Borgognoni, Guallazzini, Osler.

They are all riding for De Vlaeminck's chance.

THEY SPEAK IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE

A rare steak is a good breakfast for what lies ahead.

It looks like it's going to be a Paris-Roubaix beneath clear,

sunny spring skies.

Some of the teams are using the ride to Chantilly

as a warm-up in the morning chilly air.

Eddy Merckx and his team will also ride part of the way in.

But Merckx isn't ready to ride at all until his bicycle is ready.

THEY SPEAK IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE

FESTIVE HORNS

FRENCH COMMENTARY ON TANNOY

All 15 teams are now assembling in the square in Chantilly.

Each one of the 154 participants must sign on for the start.

It's a presentation ritual,

one which also gives the public a chance to see their heroes.

HE SPEAKS FRENCH

FRENCH COMMENTARY ON TANNOY

The French have long since given up all illusions.

It's many years since the French riders have been able

to hold their own in this great French race -

the last French victory was 20 years ago -

but that isn't stopping anybody from cheering the national heroes,

Tour de France winner Bernard Thevenet signs in.

And veteran Raymond Poulidon, 40 years old, but still among the best.

FRENCH COMMENTARY ON TANNOY

The Italian champion Francesco Moser -

is he the man to beat the Belgians?

HE SPEAKS FRENCH

HE SPEAKS FRENCH

It's 20 minutes past nine.

The 74th Paris-Roubaix is slowly getting under way.

Ahead of them is 166 miles, and the riders are expected

in Roubaix in a little more than seven hours.

But how many will arrive?

CROWD CHEERS

And at the municipal stadium in Roubaix,

preparations are already being made to receive the race,

still over seven hours away.

BNP stands for Banque National de Paris, the principal sponsor of

this year's race whose organisers, as with most of the best-known cycle

races in France, are the newspapers L'Equipe and Le Parisien Libere.

The field is neutralised through the streets of Chantilly,

until it reaches the official starting line,

and then it's a free-for-all outside the town.

It's beautiful weather but cold at this hour of the day and the riders

are wearing special arm-warmers and leggings in order to keep warm.

This is where the race is to be let loose,

with the chateau of Chantilly providing the backdrop.

But something's holding up the start, something unforeseen

and probably highly irregular.

CROWD CHANTING

Something's blocking the road and delaying departure.

An obstacle which is not included in the race programme.

It's a demonstration.

They're demonstrating against one of the sponsors of the race,

the newspaper Le Parisien Libere, and they are protesting against

the redundancies of the operators on linotype as a result of automation.

It's a long-standing labour conflict -

and the organisers of the race are not entirely unprepared.

THEY SHOUT IN FRENCH

But the delay can also be used for adjusting one's saddle.

It's such a quiet moment that Brooklyn's service car

even allows rival Merckx to borrow a spanner.

A professional bike rider is, of course,

a moving advertisement - so why not a little space for the workers?

The riders are let through in single file -

the chain gang run the gauntlet of epithets

about the capitalists who have organised their race.

A political lecture for the road.

STRIKING FRENCH WORKERS CHANT

But if the race is going to be ridden anyway - and it is -

then even the demonstrators have their favourites to cheer.

Such as the idolised Bernard Thevenet.

THEY CHANT SLOGANS IN FRENCH

Riding in the back seat of Brooklyn's service car

is a race commissaire from the French Cycling Union,

he sees to it that everything proceeds correctly.

In the driving seat is Roger De Vlaeminck's team director,

Franco Cribiori.

SPECTATORS SHOUT SLOGANS

Valenciennes, about 10 o'clock.

Valenciennes is over 100 miles along the route,

and the riders are expected there at a quarter past two,

when they can pick up food for the second time.

The feeding station is being marked out with tapes.

THE DINERS SPEAK FRENCH

The Cafe de la Place, Valenciennes.

A waiting room for bike fans.

This is one of the big days of the year,

even though nobody is deceiving themselves about a French victory

in Paris-Roubaix.

The time is 10.30.

The race eventually started

but with more than an hour's delay,

and within a few miles three men have broken away,

and have gained a slight advantage.

Three French riders, who in any case don't have a chance,

which is perhaps why they're trying to distinguish themselves

at this early stage, when the favourites are still idling,

and nobody's interested in increasing the pace.

A fall, due more to the size of the field than the pace.

Nothing serious, but considerable chaos,

which rouses the mechanics on the back seats.

The damage is quickly repaired,

and at this slow pace it's no problem for the casualties

to reach the field again.

Here's Bernard Thevenet once more, still France's greatest hero

after his triumph in the 1975 Tour de France.

He doesn't have much of a chance in the Paris-Roubaix,

because he's not good enough on les paves.

Each team has its own service car.

A rider having mechanical difficulties,

or who for some reason wants to contact his team director,

calls the car by raising his arm.

The car is immediately summoned by radio.

WALKIE-TALKIE RADIO

The 15 service cars are placed in a definite order,

for which they have drawn lots.

Of course it's an advantage to be as far forward as possible,

because you reach your riders more quickly.

The time is five minutes to 11.

The three breakaways have increased their lead.

The rest of the field is still intact,

and nobody seems much inclined to start a pursuit of the no-hopers.

The many motorcycles swarming around the field

are press photographers, film photographers, radio journalists

and internal communications people.

Besides the official cars is a long cortege of press cars,

who determine their own position either ahead or behind.

MASSED CHOIR MUSIC BY GUNNER MOLLER PEDERSEN

-Roubaix, 11 o'clock.

-TIME PIPS ON RADIO

The Eurovision production chiefs,

for the feature covering the last hour of the race,

are worried about the delay.

DISCUSSION OF RACE ON RADIO

There's excellent teamwork in the breakaway trio.

They're all sharing the pacemaking,

so that their riding really amounts to something.

They've built up an advantage of nearly nine minutes,

which isn't particularly disturbing for the main favourites of the race,

and the field's pace is still moderate.

As a matter of form, it's Molteni and Flandria -

which is to say the supporting riders

for Merkcx and Maertens respectively - who have gone into the front

to make sure that the pace, in spite of everything, doesn't get too slow.

Merckx himself, and Maertens.

They've gone ahead on a quick reconnaissance of the situation.

Right in the middle of the field, wearing the rainbow jersey,

is World Champion Hennie Kuiper of Holland,

and sheltering behind his support rider Gualazzini,

Roger De Vlaeminck, waiting.

MUSIC BY GUNNER MOLLER PEDERSEN

The field rides through Compiegne.

A Brooklyn rider raised his arm,

and Brooklyn has drawn first position in the line of service cars,

so they're on the scene without having to pass the others.

Changing a wheel can take a maximum of ten seconds.

The three up ahead now have a good five minutes lead,

just before St Quentin.

All three still seem very fresh,

and they take turn in the lead with a smooth, harmonious rhythm.

The smaller man with glasses, Mariano Martinez,

is better known as a good mountain climber.

His slender physique and characteristic upright style

is better suited to the mountains than to the flat roads.

One of the three, Jacques Boulas, has punctured.

Fortunately, the Jobo team car is right behind the breakaway group.

Off again - it took nine seconds -

and it'll take some pedalling to reach the other two again.

Meanwhile, the race has arrived at St Quentin,

but here something unexpected happens.

A new obstacle.

The cars can't get through, and have to drive up over pavements

and through front yards.

Chaos again.

The bike race has turned into a steeplechase.

It's another demonstration for the laid-off workers

of Le Parisien Libere.

IMPASSIONED SHOUTING IN FRENCH

THEY CHANT SLOGANS

But both the breakaway trio, and then the field

are allowed to slip through,

and, after some delay, the accompanying cars.

The bike race goes on.

The trio's advantage has begun to diminish,

because now they're approaching L'enfer du Nord.

It isn't far to Hell now, and the main field starts to accelerate.

Through Le Cateau, only four miles before the first cobbles,

and the field have gathered speed.

Right behind the pack are two official cars...

..then the 15 service cars,

a few press cars - most of them have gone on ahead -

..the doctor's car,

an ambulance

and more press cars.

The cavalcade ends with the broom wagon -

so-called because it sweeps up the riders

who've retired from the race.

Then the bike rack car to carry their bicycles.

Neuvilly, immediately before the rough stuff.

The time is 10 minutes to two.

A single rider in the lead.

It's Talbourdet, one of the three breakaways.

And then there are the other two, Martinez and Boulas.

But there, also, is the field.

It's important to be among the first in on the paves,

as the twisting cobbled roads cause an immediate spreading of the field.

This is where Hell begins.

The first stretch of pave is only two miles long,

but terribly difficult.

The surface is completely deformed,

and here past Neuvilly, there's a steep hill, as well.

And who's the first man in? It's Talbourdet.

He doesn't appear to have considered resigning yet.

But then it happens -

the front of the field catches up with him and streams past.

It's Roger De Vlaeminck, followed by Walter Planckaert.

De Vlaeminck is now in the clear, and forcing the pace.

SPECTATORS SHOUT ENCOURAGEMENT

There's panic in the field and signs of disintegration.

De Vlaeminck continues his tremendous push.

Not that he intends to go it alone,

but rather to provoke a state of alarm and split the field.

Behind him and leading the pursuit is his sworn enemy Freddy Maertens.

Andre Dierickx is at his rear wheel

and they have De Vlaeminck under control.

But the wild dash for the lead has had a dramatic effect.

It took just a couple of miles to split the field.

The merciless weeding-out process has begun.

In the front group of about 20 men are Moser, Dierickx,

Planckaert, and two or three Brooklyn riders behind De Vlaeminck.

But Merckx is here, at the head of the second group,

and behind him Walter Godefroot.

There's Talbourdet - of the three breakaways,

the one who held out the longest.

And there, a little ahead of the new main field,

is Raymond Poulidor, who, year after year,

has placed himself as the best Frenchman in the race.

At the rear, the weak and the more unfortunate

are being left behind, while those who don't like cobblestones

prefer riding along on the roadside.

An accident here, on the first stretch of paves, can be disastrous.

This is where the broom wagon has something to do,

when they start giving up.

And one of the first to pack it in is our old acquaintance now,

number 173, Jacques Boulas, who was in the breakaway trio.

There he is, poor Boulas - completely done for

and the end of Paris-Roubaix for him.

HE SPEAKS FRENCH

These old cobbled roads are hardly ever used,

except by farmers on their way to the fields,

and now, on this calm Sunday in April,

by a bunch of crazy bike-riders.

In fine weather, the crossroads are a good picnic spot

for the nearby villages.

People wait to get a glimpse of the great race

that has made this region legendary.

They wait for a few fleeting moments of action, drama,

torture and even heroism.

FRENCH RADIO RACE COMMENTARY

The time is 20 past two.

Now the race appears to be regrouping.

And there's not much distance between the two leading packs.

In other words, Merckx's section has closed in on De Vlaeminck's group.

There are about 15 men in the first group.

And Merkcx, at the head of the second group, commands another 18.

But Maertens isn't in either group. He must have had problems.

But there he is, hidden behind a motorcycle,

a little ahead of the main field.

Now Maertens has to try to catch up alone,

with none of his team to help.

A mile later and the situation is fairly obvious.

They're still pounding away in the leading groups.

Several in that company don't want to make it easy for Maertens

to join on.

Dierickx is leading the way, in front of Verbeck.

Once again the Flemish riders are dictating the pace.

Despite the tremendous pressure up front, Merckx's group -

led here by Godefroot - is about to make contact.

Only seven seconds separate them.

So a merging of nearly all the men that matter is imminent.

How far now does the hapless Maertens lag behind?

He's got to slog away at it in order to not lose his chance.

If the main group swallows him up - and they aren't far behind -

he risks getting stuck with them.

Maertens is a very strong rider, particularly in time trials,

but it's remarkable that none of his team-mates up ahead

have come back in order to help him.

The gap is 40 seconds between Maertens and the leaders.

And there's 20 seconds between Maertens and the main field,

here being led optimistically by the Dane Ole Ritter.

Ritter has always been well placed in Paris-Roubaix,

and it's obvious that he intends making his presence felt.

There are other good riders in this group, too,

who will contribute to narrowing the deficit,

hoping that sooner or later the speed up front will diminish.

But most of them are doing their utmost just to keep up.

The back end of the field is starting to fall apart,

and one by one the stragglers have to call it quits.

The weeding out, mercilessly, continues.

Following the main field, comes the line of vehicles.

The officials in the red cars still won't let the service

vehicles pass the field and drive up behind the leaders.

The red Peugeots also direct the traffic.

They're the command centre of the race,

from which the other vehicles are kept notified

about the positions of the riders by radio,

and likewise the service cars are called up singly when needed.

A fall. Number 163, Herve Inaudi of France.

He won't be getting back on his bike today.

KLAXONS BLARE

The service cars keep an eye on the right side of the road.

It's there - always on the right -

that riders with mechanical problems await help.

Such as here, for example.

It has to be quick, now, because so much is happening up ahead

and he'll have to do the best he can with that wheel.

WALKIE-TALKIE RADIO

The radio reports that Maertens has now received assistance from

his team mate, Michel Pollentier, who has dropped back for him,

and that they're closing on the leaders,

who are now bunched in a single group,

after the exertions of Merckx, and Godefroot.

RADIO COMMUNICATION CONTINUES

Now De Vlaeminck has to be notified that Maertens is approaching.

KLAXON BLARES

CAR TOOTS

DRIVER SHOUTS TO RIDER

Valenciennes, 20 minutes to three.

It won't be long now.

From the Cafe de la Place -

everybody knows how things are developing.

Maertens has reached the lead group, and the pace has been reduced.

RACE COMMENTARY ON RADIO

But something happens just before Valenciennes.

Two Brooklyn riders have broken away, the Belgian De Muynck

and the Italian Osler, who here speed over a level crossing.

SPECTATORS CHEER ON RIDERS

This breakaway is a tactical manoeuvre.

Neither De Muynck nor Osler

are among the real contestants in this race.

They've been sent by De Vlaeminck

with the intention of forcing his rivals to greater activity.

It's obvious that De Vlaeminck wants to dictate

how the race is to be ridden this year.

He's on the offensive, even with this ploy by his own support riders.

The expected re-grouping takes place behind the breakaway,

on the outskirts of Valenciennes.

Kuiper, Poulidor and Ritter have caught up.

It was their last chance to be included in the finale,

which begins after the feeding station in the town.

Some of the very worst cobbles are waiting further north.

The race is barely halfway into Hell.

The second feeding zone is right outside the Cafe de la Place.

There's a lunch bag for every one.

And it's also where many of the riders dismount -

the hopelessly outdistanced, the weary support men

who may feel that they've done their duty,

some, even, that it was well performed.

They know that here, team personnel are ready to take care of them,

and that there is transport to Roubaix.

THEY SPEAK FRENCH

Some of them gave up long before Valenciennes,

but were lucky enough to get a lift from private motorists

just out to see the bike race.

ALL CONVERSE IN FRENCH

WHISTLE Oh!

HE SPEAKS IN FRENCH

WHISTLE HE SPEAKS IN FRENCH

ALL CONVERSE IN FRENCH

Merci bien. Merci bien.

ALL CONVERSE IN FRENCH

ALL CONVERSE IN FRENCH

SHE SPEAKS IN FRENCH

The two Brooklyn attackers still have a slight advantage.

It can't go on for long because Merckx, as usual, has assumed

the role all the others are eager to see him in, the lead position.

Once in front, he heads the pursuit like a locomotive.

It falls into place for De Vlaeminck.

Merckx now has to ride after the breakaway

which De Vlaeminck has organised.

Merckx is causing the group to string out.

The new pack is about 40 strong,

here where the paving stones of Hell start again.

Barely two hours of the race remain

and a more comprehensive sorting out is imminent.

Soon the long column will be thinner.

Another fall.

The battle for a place is hard and dangerous on the sharp stones,

where the speed is again fast and furious.

HORNS

RACE RADIO CRACKLES

HORNS

And Poulidor is furious, he wants a wheel...and now!

There's some very fast riding now.

It's difficult just to keep position, to keep your rear wheel.

Maertens, Demeyer, Dierickx,

Godefroot, De Vlaeminck and Merckx...leading.

Merckx attempts to break the others with his tremendous power.

The time is 20 minutes to four.

At the cycle track in Roubaix the countdown continues.

In the interim period there is...cycle racing.

But track racing is only a substitute,

-the real thing is the road and the crowd is awaiting its heroes.

-Allez!

This old track's most distinguished function

has been to provide the setting for the conclusion of one

of the world's greatest road races.

COMMENTARY CRACKLES OVER THE RADIO

Roubaix is close to the Belgian border

and today the track is a Mecca for thousands of them.

The Eurovision television commentators are getting ready.

Transmission time is an hour from the finish.

A few things have been happening in Hell.

The two Brooklyn breakaways have been overtaken,

but straight afterwards a lone rider took off.

It's Frenchman Sibille, who bravely takes his life in his hands.

But he doesn't get very far.

On the left Maertens' leading man Marc Demeyer,

on the right Godefroot.

Merckx has temporarily stopped his attempts to split the field.

Everyone is happy to take a breather.

HORN

More mishaps.

A Brooklyn rider is among the unfortunates.

And there lies Walter Planckaert.

He might have been one of the strong men,

but his luck ran out as it does for so many.

They're waiting for the doctor and for transport

as the Brooklyn car rushes off to De Vlaeminck again.

HORNS BLARE

And up here the battle is coming to the boil.

Every other second the rhythm is broken

by somebody trying to break away.

All the favourites are active now

and have put themselves at the front of the field.

De Vlaeminck.

Demeyer.

Godefroot, Maertens, Danguillaume.

They keep a sharp eye on each other.

Maertens has taken the lead.

But off to the right, De Vlaeminck suddenly attacks.

Way out on the side of the road,

he pedals away in a new attempt to get free.

Moser is the first to react...

and then Maertens.

And this time they know that it's do or die.

De Vlaeiminck once more in the process of splitting the field.

Maertens gives it all he's got to overtake his two rivals.

Finally, he catches up with them.

Right behind him is Godefroot and Raas

and so the situation levels off.

But the field shrinks. About 25 men are still together

with around 22 miles still to go to Roubaix.

One after another...they falter.

-Now there's a new fall.

-CAR HORN

RACE RADIO CRACKLES

It's Maertens. Freddy Maertens has crashed.

Argh!

The young Belgian star has no hope now of success.

The race is over for the man many considered the top favourite.

And Maertens sadly ends the race as a passenger in the doctor's car.

Walter Godefroot has taken the lead

and now it's his turn to force the pace so that it hurts.

Godefroot, a former winner of Paris-Roubaix, seems in good form

and is riding very well.

With his smooth, powerful technique, he's a real expert in this terrain

and is not nicknamed the Bulldog of Flanders for nothing.

And suddenly it happens.

Four men have broken away.

Godefroot, Demeyer, De Vlaeminck and Kuiper.

De Vlaeminck looks back and proceeds to increase the speed even more.

Notice Demeyer tucked into De Vlaeminck's slipstream.

He's riding for himself now.

The crash by his captain Maertens

has released him from all obligations.

The remainder of the field are a couple of hundred yards behind.

Two men have separated themselves

and are midway between it and the breakaways.

They're the two Frenchmen Poulidor and Danguillaume,

desperately trying to include themselves

in this undoubtedly decisive escape.

Still another rider approaches the two at high speed...and passes them.

They just can't keep up with him.

It's Francesco Moser with his distinctive style.

His still, aerodynamic position on the bicycle

is an imposing sight of almost effortless rotary action.

Moser continues to bridge the gap.

And now Moser has made it and there are five men in the leading group.

But Godefroot has problems.

He's punctured. A real disaster for him.

And so another man's chance has gone.

MEN CONVERSE IN FRENCH

Now it's obvious that the decisive move has begun.

And in the service cars an appraisal of the situation is made.

Who's still in the race and who isn't?

The Italian Moser.

The rival Belgians, De Vlaeminck and Demeyer.

The Dutchman Kuiper in the World Champion's rainbow jersey.

These are the four who've gained for themselves a vital position.

Merckx unaccountably wasn't there when it happened,

but naturally he's leading the pursuit.

The Eurovision TV camera

is positioned directly behind the four leading riders.

The live transmission has begun and we're into the final hour of Hell.

MAN COMMENTATES IN FRENCH

The four breakaways. How great an advantage do they have?

10 seconds.

HORN

15.

20.

25.

30.

35.

40.

45.

And here comes a single rider.

It's the Frenchman Danguillaume.

About 50 seconds behind the quartet.

And here comes Merckx, Godefroot and the others,

about 15 seconds after Deguillaume

and so more than a minute behind De Vlaeminck and the others.

Some of the worst pave lies close to Roubaix

and on these misshapen roads, in these dust clouds, a lot can happen.

HORN

WHISTLE APPLAUSE

The four negotiate a sharp corner and...chaos again.

WHISTLE

MEN SHOUT IN FRENCH

There's Danguillaume...still 50 seconds behind.

And the Merckx group a good minute behind the leaders.

Now there are only 12 men in Merckx's group.

The rest are scattered in the dust.

Moser and De Vlaeminck are doing all the work in the lead group.

They're the ones making sure that the distance between them

and their pursuers is constantly increasing.

Neither Demeyer nor Kuiper take the lead,

they're just hanging on,

or are they being crafty and saving their strength?

Demeyer glues himself to De Vlaeminck's rear wheel.

He's been in that position since the start of the breakaway.

He's still marking De Vlaeminck and in so doing furthers the war

that Maertens and De Vlaeminck are waging against each other.

HORN

SIREN

Kuiper is always at the rear.

Is he tired or is he waiting for a chance to get a jump on the others?

That's his speciality and that's how, a little unexpectedly,

he became the world champion last year.

HORNS

The rest of the way is ordinary asphalt road.

It's unlikely now that anybody in the rear group can catch up.

Hennie Kuiper.

Now he plays his hand.

But De Vlaeminck is alert and immediately wipes out the danger.

And the ace Belgian still seems to be controlling the race.

On the final miles De Vlaminck again keeps the pressure on.

His pacemaking is tough and exhausting.

It looks as if he's trying to force an early showdown.

By continuing his attacks,

he's hoping to drain the power from his three companions.

The Merckx group is about a minute and a half behind.

Danguillaume has been swallowed up by them

and now no-one shows any desire to make a break for it.

Dutch Tour de France star Zoetemelk is tired.

Merckx seems resigned to his fate.

Moser tries to make a break for it,

but again De Vlaeminck parries the move in a flash.

And Kuiper again.

But De Vlaeminck sees it and is on his wheel at once.

Eddy Merckx. The race is over for him.

He hasn't been able to dominate this one.

But suddenly he mounts an attack.

Only a Merckx would attack at this late hour.

The final kilometre. Which of the four is the best sprinter?

Normally, it's De Vlaeminck, no doubt about it, and then Moser.

WHISTLE

Merckx.

But he doesn't succeed in breaking loose.

The others are on his tail and he doesn't force the issue.

The time is ten minutes past five.

A little relaxation before riding into the stadium.

De Vlaeminck and Moser have probably expended the most

in building up and consolidating the breakaway's lead.

So, just how fresh are Demeyer and Kuiper?

There are one and a half laps to do on the track.

De Vlaeminck maintains his command of the situation.

BELL RINGS

CROWD CHEERS

De Vlaeminck makes the tactical error

of riding a long sprint from the leading position.

Moser attacks from above but he doesn't box in Demeyer,

who slots in between them and rides a really explosive finale.

First Marc Demeyer, second Moser, third De Vlaeminck...

..fourth Kuiper.

Meanwhile, Merckx's group approaches the stadium.

Four riders have detached themselves.

Jan Raas, Merckx, Godefroot and Danguillaume.

The surprise winner, Marc Demeyer,

a tremendous triumph for this support rider

who rode his own race when his star Maertens dropped out.

And victory is especially sweet,

snatched as it was from the hands of Maertens' arch-enemy De Vlaeminck.

THEY CONVERSE IN FRENCH

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

THEY CONVERSE IN FRENCH

And from the television platform

over to the official podium and the photographers.

Advertising interests form the economic basis

for professional cycle racing

and for the organisers Paris-Roubaix is a business enterprise.

And so the Banque Nationale de Paris, the race's principal sponsor,

is naturally in the picture.

And that's what the bank has paid for.

APPLAUSE

Another ritual is the victor's obligatory refreshment...

a bottle of mineral water.

Also in the contract.

For the race's producers just another necessary detail,

but a bit more hell if he doesn't like to drink it!

Eddy Merckx...inscrutable as ever.

Roger De Vlaeminck...disappointed and furious.

Marc Demeyer...the happy winner.

HE SPEAKS IN FRENCH

And that was Paris-Roubaix 1976.

A great race with a surprise winner.

A year with a very special character, Paris-Roubaix 1976,

and it will be remembered as a race of fluctuating fortunes

in the dust of the L'Enfer du Nord.

In a week or so, the same cast will be assembled,

the same actors, the riders, the journalists, the officials.

The rivalry will continue,

but few will have forgotten that Sunday in Hell.