What makes Paris Roubaix and other Pro Cycling Races so Insane to Watch ?
If you’re planning on watching pro cycling in France—especially legendary races like Paris-Roubaix—you need to know the brutal truth. It’s not all champagne and helicopter shots. This is the real fan experience: muddy boots, roadside camping, beer-fuelled chaos, and a fleeting glimpse of your heroes flying past at 50 km/h.
In my latest video, I break down the raw, unfiltered reality of following the peloton at major French races like Paris-Roubaix and the Tour de France. With over 15 races under my belt, I’ve learned that it takes 24 hours of effort for 30 seconds of action—and somehow, it’s completely worth it.
Paris-Roubaix: A Spectator’s Gauntlet
Nicknamed The Hell of the North, Paris-Roubaix is one of cycling’s most iconic and punishing one-day races. But what’s it like for fans? In a word: insane.
From staking out a cobbled sector before dawn to dodging swarms of Belgian beer drinkers and wrestling with camera gear in the cold, watching this race up close is an endurance event in itself. In the video, I take you right into that madness—camping on a desolate farm track, setting up my 3m Insta360 pole, and hoping for one glorious shot as the riders thunder past in a blur.
It’s loud. It’s muddy. It’s chaotic. And yet, there’s a certain magic in the mayhem. The energy is electric. The passion is unmatched. It’s one of those sporting experiences that grabs hold of you—and never lets go.
Tour de France? Just as Bonkers
The Tour de France may offer more days and bigger crowds, but it’s no less wild. Getting close to the action often means parking miles away, climbing hills with half the country’s cycling fans, and waiting hours for a few glorious seconds of whizzing lycra and carbon fibre.
But when that moment comes? When the breakaway bursts past and the helicopters roar overhead? You forget the long wait. You forget the cold. It’s pure adrenaline.
The Bottom Line
If you want polished, televised perfection—watch it from the sofa. But if you want the real experience of pro cycling in France, you’ll need patience, passion, and maybe a few warm layers.
The chaos, the colour, the atmosphere—it’s all part of the deal. And in the end, for those 30 seconds of action, it’s absolutely worth it.
👉 Watch the full video for an eye-opening look at what it really takes to follow pro cycling in France: mud, madness, and moments you’ll never forget.