i have no idea what others do when they're reviewing DVDs; generally i have a pen and paper at the ready to scribble notes and those incredibly brilliant one liners that i never have while watching. Only this documentary was so cotton picking absorbing, that the end credits were running and my hand was still holding the pen, mid word. and the worst part is, i'm not sure what the word was. i'm not much one for swearing, whatever the occasion, but this is ****ing brilliant. watch as Tom Boonen ambles his way through a pressing stream of autograph hunters, calmly and cheerfully signing everything placed in front of him. watch again as 2007 winner, Stuey o'Grady walks almost as many kilometres to the team bus as he's just ridden across the cobbles. and after pedalling across those huge chunks of rock for 160 miles, happily posing for photographs with folk that presumably have no business being there in the first place. David Deal and David Cooper of Masterlink Films have made one heck of a movie about one of the finest, if not the finest race in the cycling season. It's a point well made throughout the film, by several of the participants; those who dream of a win in the Roubaix velodrome are generally a lot less interested in the three week tours. Peter Van Petegem for instance, though it's obviously possible to do both. interviewee Sean Kelly one of the prime examples. Eddie Merckx' mechanic, Julienne De Vriesse, at the point of creation, a mechanic with Discovery Channel team; 'you're either a rider for Paris-Roubaix, or you're not'. Thankfully, those are qualities not necessarily applicable to those on this side of the screen. it's a fabulous race to watch on TV, even better if you have the opportunity to stand by the side of the cobbled roads, and finally rounded out to satisfaction by this film. It's an eccentric mix of interviews too; Tim Kolln and Camille McMillan, two photographers who have contributed so artfully to Rouleur since its inception, as well as the editor of same, Guy Andrews and regular contributor, Johnny Green, tellingly wearing a Tour De France pin badge on his lapel, all the while professing undying love for Roubaix. all encompassing is cycling. the choice of riders is also eclectic. yes, there's Tom Boonen and Peter Van Petegem, but contrasted by ('it's insane) Lance Armstrong, a rider who never took the Compiegne start line throughout his career (regrettably, if his words are to be believed). Juan Antonio Flecha, who crossed the line in Roubaix almost a minute behind O'Grady, Gert Steegmans, Marc Madiot, Max van Heeswijk, all conspire to make this an overwhelmingly, well considered documentary. Prize for the most unfortunate interview has to go to Lampre's Alessandro Ballan, camera in his face in front of a team bus running a rather loud engine of some sort. Thankfully, Ballan's answers are in Italian, so we have the benefit of English subtitles to 'hear' his Roubaix wisdom. The latter part of the film is a cleverly edited, monochrome overview of Stuey's 2007 Paris Roubaix, the hours in the showers, and even Tim Kolln photographing those incredible post race shots in front of a large white background. Like all the best movies, Road to Roubaix will bear repeated viewing, because much like a Joni Mitchell album, you'll always find bits you missed the first, second and probably eleventh time round. The aptly atmospheric music was especially commissioned for the occasion, composed and performed by Paul O'Brien - as important as the moving pictures in my humble opinion. quite insane - i had shivers down my spine watching much of this.