'A Sunday in Hell' with Joe Parkin & Simon Stewart

Today, Simon Stewart is joined by former pro cyclist Joe Park to revisit the 1977 documentary, A Sunday in Hell, often regarded as the greatest bike racing film of all time. Having raced the 1988 Paris-Roubaix, Joe brings a perspective only someone who has suffered on the infamous cobbles of  “The Hell of the North” can offer. Director Jørgen Leth’s gritty documentary style puts you right there on the famed cobbles of northern France to witness the 1976 edition of the Paris-Rounbaix road race, while Joe’s experience racing against some of the same legends in the film adds an unmistakeable layer of authenticity to the conversation.

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Topics and Times:

The Sherif, The Gypsy, and The Cannibal (1:47)

Jørgen Leth’s Documentary Style (5:08)

Joe’s 1988 Paris-Roubaix Race (6:34)

Flemish vs Belgian (11:20)

Daunting Boredom (17:17)

Joe’s Pie-Plate (20:37)

Dust (24:06)

The Chaos of the Cobbles (26:04)

Race Strategy (34:37)

The Broom Wagon (45:14)

Roger Muffed It (51:27)

New Bikes vs Old Bikes (58:43)

Best Bike Race Film Ever (1:05:41)

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