• Pascal Sergent, race historian, has an incredible collection of Paris-Roubaix.

  • The 64-year-old Northerner has original jerseys, pennants and winners' trophies.

  • A personal collection kept in his attic for lack of an existing museum dedicated to the race.

More than 300 cycling jerseys, photos of runners or newspaper front pages.

In his attic and his office, Pascal Sergent accumulates everything.

Cubic meters of memories on cycling and in particular on Paris-Roubaix, the 2022 edition of which runs this Sunday, April 17.

This 64-year-old Northerner has probably the most important personal collection on the hell of the North.

With original nuggets that speak to enthusiasts.

"I have Bernard Hinault's winner's pennant in 1981, Duclos-Lassalle's bike from 1992. And then, I also have 35 original jerseys worn in the race and especially not washed, including four winners (Planckaert in 1990, Duclos Lassalle in 1993, Tchmil in 1994 and Museeuw in 1996).

When you put your finger in a gear, passion kicks in, ”smiles this former executive of the territorial public service.

A passion born at the age of 8

Born in Roubais, Pascal Sergent discovered racing at the age of 8 when his father took him to watch the finish.

The passion for the queen of the classics took hold of her and never left her again.

"It's a real drama.

Anything can happen at any time whether it's a fall or a puncture.

It's more than just cycling.

The winner of Paris-Roubaix enters the history of sport.

It's not just the winner of a race", assures the enthusiast

Considered in the world of cycling as the historian of Paris-Roubaix, Pascal Sergent has written a dozen books devoted to the hell of the North.

A job that allowed him to meet and befriend great cycling champions.

Friends with the older ones

“It's not the fetishism of objects that counts but rather the relationship with people.

Thanks to the books I wrote, I had the chance to become friends with champions like Jan Janssen, Hennie Kuiper or Bernard Hinault.

That's what drives me.

The objects are there, but it's the human connection that takes precedence first,” summarizes Pascal Sergent.

Objects that he would like to show to as many people as possible rather than leaving them in his attic.

Repeatedly announced for years by elected officials but never implemented, the Paris-Roubaix museum has become a sea serpent.

A museum that still does not see the light of day

“When we see today the Tour of Flanders museum which works like thunder in Belgium, I do not understand that there is a blockage at home.

It's not even a financial matter since the collection is there.

I can make it available as part of a convention.

I believe that a collection should be seen by the public.

I regret that there is no museum dedicated to the race”.

Message once again sent to the decision-makers, so that this exceptional collection stops gathering dust in an attic.

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