Originally Posted by
GhostRider62
I have watched Paris Roubaix several times in person. In my opinion, it is a crap shoot that does not belong in a big tour. It is not a fallacy, it is my opinion that cobbles add an excessive element of chance.
That's true, but the chance means that you have to factor that into your strategy and tactics and positioning. That's what makes for a selective race. If you want to win the stage you attack on the cobbles, and if you want to win the GC you have to balance not crashing with not losing time. These things make racing more interesting, and make the win more worthy.
The beauty of stage racing is the diversity of skills required. A few sprint stages, a few long breakaways, a few mountains, a few time trials, and a few cobbles or white roads or gravel or whatever the local terrain has to offer.