2011 Paris-Roubaix, the Arenberg Forest: a Ben Delaney gallery

Jersey pockets can be used for more than water bottles, don't you know. Photo: Ben Delaney

These five rode the Paris-Roubaix Challenge the day before the big race, and they've got the "Bienvenue en Enfer" T-shirt to show for it. Photo: Ben Delaney

Fans rush to catch a shot of Fabian Cancellara in hot pursuit of Lars Boom. Photo: Ben Delaney

Fans get a front-row view of a wheel change for Cofidis' Latvian champion Aleksejs Saramotins. Photo: Ben Delaney

A dance troop does its things at the entrance to secteur 16. Photo: Ben Delaney

A few of the aforementioned Jupilers in action. Photo: Ben Delaney

The Arenberg Forest is part of a national forest, and very much open to the public. Photo: Ben Delaney

A family enjoys following the race on a mobile phone. Photo: Ben Delaney

A fan holds the bike for Jens Debusschere, who gave up a wheel for teammate Marcel Sieberg. Photo: Ben Delaney

A thinking man consults the story of the French great while waiting for the race. Photo: Ben Delaney

The Lion of Flanders. The Union Jack. Brittany, Italy, Australia, Norway. You name it, someone was flying it on Sunday. Photo: Ben Delaney

Although there were Jupiler beers a plenty in the Arenberg, this gentleman was content to simply get into the spirit with his Belgian hat. Photo: Ben Delaney

Team Sky's Jeremy Hunt dodged spectators on both sides as he rode a dirt track off the cobbles. Photo: Ben Delaney

As the breakaway bombed through the Arenberg Forest, the fans craned their necks for a better view. Photo: Ben Delaney

Although it's technically April, the summery weather spurned people into Tour de France picnic mode. Photo: Ben Delaney

The beer tent outside the Arenberg blared dance music and kept fans up to speed with a jumbo tron. Photo: Ben Delaney

For the thousands of people lining the 3km of pavé, the Arenberg was a lovely forest for a picnic. For the racers who went down on the stones at high speed, it was something different. Photo: Ben Delaney

One man's monument is another man's bar top. Photo: Ben Delaney

A monument at the entrance to the Arenberg pays tribute to Jean Stablinski, the father of the section. Photo: Ben Delaney

Wine? Check. Cheese and sausage? Check. Friends, live race TV and front-row Arenberg seats? Triple check. Photo: Ben Delaney