Big Stu bashes the cobbles

Congrats to Stuart O'Grady. Winner of the 2007 edition of Paris Roubaix. Allez!

Bad Asses of Paris Roubaix Vol. 9

Francesco "Il Sceriffo" Moser

Moser won PR three times in a row (1978,79,80). Nobody has bested that feat. To win once is to be marked for life in the race. To win three times in a row is superhuman, or, as Laurent Fignon liked to say "extraterrestrial". Moser was a bad ass x3.

Bad Asses of Paris Roubaix Vol. 8

Bernard "The Badger" Hinault

Hinault came out of the womb with a wry smirk and domineering disposition. He was perhaps cycling's most renowned bad ass. And, the last dude to win one day classics, grand tours, and world championships. Will we ever see a rider challenge the best in all of cycling's great disciplines? I doubt it. Shame...
Anyway, enough waxing nostalgic. Hinault won PR in 1981 and then ripped the race organizers in a tirade and comparing the race to a piece of shit (rough translation). Hinault also quite famously said "As long as I breathe, I attack." A bad ass with the moxy to back it up.

Bad Asses of Paris Roubaix Vol. 7

Peter Post

He's held the average speed record in PR since 1964. Even with the doping, high tech bikes, and fruity suspension gimmicks. Peter did it the old fashioned way. He's still PR's fastest bad ass.

Bad Asses of Paris Roubaix Vol. 6

Eddy "The Cannibal" Merckx

What cycling greats list is complete without dear Eddy. Eddy won PR along with everything else. The assholes and cynics of the world might point out that he never won Paris Tours. Puh-leeze. If I ever hear a comment like that I will undoubtedly have met the most retarded mongoloid the earth has ever seen. Merckx = ALL CAPS BAD ASS!

Bad Asses of Paris Roubaix Vol. 5

The Cobblestone guy

If it wasn't for him we wouldn't have a Paris Roubaix. Give this bad ass all the pints, frites, and mayonaise he can handle. Just don't ask him to write his goals for the year, or to "stay on message" (corporate jokes- if you know, you know.) He's liable to pave' over your souless shell of a body so the cows and pigs can shit all over your lame, "I saw it on E!", Red 7 tousled hair.

Bad Asses of Paris Roubaix Vol. 4

Johan "The Lion of Flanders" Museeuw

A bad ass based on this photo alone. Either way, he's got 3 PR wins in his back pocket. Big fucking deal if he doped. It doesn't make you suffer any less on those goddamn cobbles.

Bad Asses of Paris Roubaix Vol. 3

Roger deVlaeminck (here on the Koppenberg of the Ronde...not Roubaix)

He's won Roubaix more times than anybody (4) and finished on the podium (total of 9, with wins) more than anyone as well. He was said to float over the cobbles because of his mastery of bike handling. Roger was a beast you didn't want to tangle with. Fuckin' bad ass!

Bad Asses of Paris Roubaix Vol. 2

Andrei Tchmil, Paris Roubaix 1994

1994 saw another photographers dream in an apocalyptic maelstrom of mud, blood, and cobblestones. Tchmil's use of the Rock Shox Paris Roubaix SL fork launched an ad blitz for a product that really only had one use- Paris Roubaix. I don't abide with suspension in any form for PR. But that doesn't take away the fact that Tchmil earned every bit of his overwhelming victory. A bad ass? You better fucking believe it!

Bad Asses of Paris Roubaix Vol. 1

Sean Kelly, 1985 Paris Roubaix.

Although "King" Kelly didn't win (third) PR the year this photo was taken (Marc Madiot took the win, Kelly won the year before and the year after), one has to agree that this captures him in one of his bad ass-est moments.