His first paris roubaix was also his last

About forty riders tackle Paris–Roubaix every year for the first time. Last year, Tanguy Turgis’s first Paris-Roubaix was also his last. The19-year-old became the youngest rider to finish the Hell of the North since Belgian Roger Gyselinck who finished 73^rd all the way back in 1939! Jérôme Pineau, his team boss, even saw him winning the race some day. Unfortunately, a heart malformation diagnosis put an end to his career. This was his Paris Roubaix experience.

The editions I remember well are the Boonen and Cancellara years. Tom Boonen was a class act. He made me want to ride Paris-Roubaix. I took part in the mini Paris-Roubaix for under-16 riders and then in Paris-Roubaix Juniors, where I finished third in 2016. I loved this terrain and was able to thrive on it, especially in the build-up to the race. You need to be more focused than ever: reconnoitring, selecting the right material with great attention to detail, getting new bikes. All these things put me into a serious state of mind that boosted my performance.

I remember telling my brother that I was a bit tired and wanted to reduce my training volume to stay sharp.  I loved the days before the race and spent lots of time reconnoitring the course with Bert De Backer. He’s not really the chatty type, but Paris–Roubaix brings out a completely different side of him. I learned a lot simply from watching him.

“If I could make my heart condition go away for just one race, I wouldn’t choose the Tour de France or any other Grand Tour…It would be Paris–Roubaix.”

I knew what I was doing. After Pont Gibus, the course was the same as in the junior race, so I felt almost at home. I thought to myself, ‘we’re on an equal footing now, boys, you can no longer count on home advantage’. I was on Mathew Hayman’s wheel in Mons-en-Pévèle, riding close to my limit. I clung too close to him and had a flat. Everyone says punctures are just bad luck, but I disagree. I could’ve avoided this one. Bert De Backer hasn’t had any flats in nine starts, while I’ve only had one in four races on the cobblestones. I think it’s a matter of staying clear-headed.

We both put in some pretty big turns, just like when we used to train as young riders. We kept increasing our gap to the peloton, where riders like Tony Martin and Adrien Petit were pulling, all the way to the velodrome. It was huge.

Tony Martin finished 72^nd because there came a point when he just let himself go. However, as a first-time Paris-Roubaix rider, for me there was a world of difference between finishing in 42^nd or 75^th place. I was there to fight until the end. I’m disappointed about my puncture because I could’ve finished 30^th.

Right now, I feel sad because I know I’ll never get to experience it again, but as time goes by, good memories prevail over bad ones. If I could make my heart condition go away for just one race, I wouldn’t choose the Tour de France or any other Grand Tour… It would be Paris-Roubaix.

Photo credit: Franz-Renan Joly / Vital Concept-B&B Hotels