Serious cyclists will relate to this bit. Saying 'no' to a ride - it's like kicking a puppy, or talking back to your mother - some things are just not done. Some things are just not right. Especially when someone gives you an entry to a sportif over the infamous French cobbles.





I knew it was ambitious, riding the Roubaix Sportif just a day before photographing the Paris-Roubaix. To add to the challenge, I needed to drive to Compiègne immediately afterwards to pick up my accreditation and attend a press briefing. So I had to ride fast, as time was already tight.





On top of that, for the 2016 Paris-Roubaix I would be shooting for Beardy’s Caravan and the ASO, the organisation that runs the race. Never mind I had never shot the race before, or even attended it for that matter.





Still, I did the right thing. Instead of prepping to shoot the race, I got up at 5am and rode the sportif - but more on that some other day.





Post-ride and I threw on some tracksuit pants with a puffy jacket, then loaded up on multiple espressos for my drive to Compiègne. The good news about shooting for ASO is that it comes with some perks - in this case a driver and accommodation.