The Mapei team of the 1990’s were Belgian cycling royalty, and Johan Museeuw was their king. They considered winning the cobbled classics their right, culminating in a famous Paris Roubaix victory in 1996 where Museeuw topped the podium flanked by two team-mates, The Lion of Flanders leading his pack to the top three places in hardest classic of all. And then, his world fell apart.

in 1998 he crashed riding through Roubaix’s feared Arenberg Forest, shattering his kneecap, followed by gangrene. There was talk of amputation, and his career was over. But Museeuw - showing all the courage that gave his is fearsome nickname - fought back.

In 2000 he returned to the scene of his injury, dropping the remnants of the peloton over 40 kilometers from the Roubaix velodrome and soloing to an improbable, emotional victory. As he crossed the line he fought back tears as he pointed to his rebuilt knee and reflected on the longest, toughest road to Roubaix of them all.