Andrea Tafi is an Italian former road bicycle racer who retired from his professional career in 2005. Tafi's propensity to perform best in the harder races earned him the nickname "Il Gladiatore".
Tafi at the 1996 Paris–Tours
Paris–Roubaix is a one-day professional bicycle road race in northern France, starting north of Paris and finishing in Roubaix, at the border with Belgium. It is one of cycling's oldest races, and is one of the 'Monuments' or classics of the European calendar, and contributes points towards the UCI World Ranking.
Winners since 1977 have received a mounted cobble (sett); the organisers keep a gold-plated cobble for themselves
Théodore Vienne Roubaix entrepreneur
Share of the Société Anonyme du Vélodrome de Roubaix, issued 3 March 1899
Cobblestone Emblem of Paris–Roubaix, Donated on the 100th anniversary by 'Les Amis de Paris–Roubaix' and 'La Ville de Roubaix' 50°40′43″N 3°12′17″E / 50.678548°N 3.204612°E / 50.678548; 3.204612