1998 Paris–Roubaix

The 1998 Paris–Roubaix was the 96th running of the Paris–Roubaix single-day cycling race, often known as the Hell of the North.

It was held on 12 April 1998 over a distance of 266.5 kilometres (165.6 miles).

[1] Franco Ballerini won the monument classic; his Mapei–Bricobi team took all three podium positions.

[2] Johan Museeuw, the winner of 1996, crashed heavily in the Trouée d'Arenberg pavé section, shattering his knee.

On top of this came a dangerous gangrene infection which nearly spelled the end of his career.

Johan Museeuw minutes after his fall in the Forest of Wallers-Arenberg