Gallery: Behind the scenes at Paris-Roubaix

A cold and sunny Easter Sunday in Compiegne, for the start of the 2012 Paris-Roubaix. Photo: BrakeThrough Media

All riders must sign-on before a crowd-filled square in Compiegne. Photo: BrakeThrough Media

Paris-Roubaix sponsors find unique ways of distributing swag to thousands of fans. Photo: BrakeThrough Media

Not just any old hat is given out at Paris-Roubaix. Photo: BrakeThrough Media

Former Paris-Roubaix winner, Frederic Guesdon of FDJ waves to the crowds one last time. This Paris-Roubaix will be his last. Photo: BrakeThrough Media

Team SKY are always a media attraction and classics specialist, Mathew Hayman is no exception. Photo: BrakeThrough Media

Former U-23 winner of this race, Taylor Phinney has a watchful eye on his competition. Photo: BrakeThrough Media

Tom Boonen arrives in good spirits as he sets out to win his 4th Paris-Roubaix. Photo: BrakeThrough Media

Daniel Mangeas announces the start of Paris-Roubaix, as he has done for nearly 40 years. Photo: BrakeThrough Media

Riders of the 2012 Paris-Roubaix line up under cold and partly cloudy skies in Compiegne. Photo: BrakeThrough Media

Riders roll out of Compiegne with 257.5 kilometers ahead of them. Photo: BrakeThrough Media

Edvald Boasson Hagen of Team SKY rides near the front of the peloton as the racers aclimate themselves to the first sections of cobblestones. Photo: BrakeThrough Media

The race is on and fans seek out prime spots to see their favorites race by. Photo: BrakeThrough Media

This fan crafter her own homemade flag for Stijn Devolder of Vacansoleil. Photo: BrakeThrough Media

The fans in the Arenberg forest are restrained by barricades but their enthusiasm for the race runs wild. Photo: BrakeThrough Media

The last remaining rider from the day's breakaway, Kenny De Haes (Lotto-Belisol) exits the forest with the Peloton in hot pursuit. Photo: BrakeThrough Media

Taylor Phinney, in his first pro edition of Paris-Roubaix, completes the Arenberg forest sector with all the favorites. Photo: BrakeThrough Media

A NetApp rider crashed heavily in the first 400 meters of the Arenberg sector, bringing an end to his race. Photo: BrakeThrough Media

Tom Boonen claimed his fourth Paris-Roubaix title with a crushing performance over all his rivals. Photo: BrakeThrough Media

This Belgian fan makes the most out of the sector markers as the race flies by. Photo: BrakeThrough Media

The grandstands are filling up as the race nears the finish on the world famous track. Photo: BrakeThrough Media

Copious amounts of media and staff eagerly await the arrival of Tom Boonen onto the velodrome. Photo: BrakeThrough Media

Former pro and Tour de France stage winner, Dag Otto Lauritzen, now a TV reporter, awaits Boonen and his countryman Hushovd. Photo: BrakeThrough Media

It's safe to say the Tommeke does heart Roubaix, as he is about to claim his fourth victory of this race. Photo: BrakeThrough Media

Niki Terpstra of Omega Pharma-Quickstep has many questions put in front of him after his team's win and his own performance. Photo: BrakeThrough Media

Last year's winner, Johan Vansummeren of Garmin-Barracuda was overcome with emotion from his performance on Sunday. Photo: BrakeThrough Media

George Hincapie has raced Paris-Roubaix now on 17 occasions, but the victory has always eluded him. He explains his thoughts on the day to VeloNews reporter, Andrew Hood. Photo: BrakeThrough Media