A saying associated with Paris-Roubaix is that every rider who takes on the "Hell of the North" has his or her own story to tell about the day on the cobblestones of northern France, whether he or she comes in first or last, and even if he or she fails to finish.

This old adage proved true once again in Saturday's second women's race, from winner Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek Segafredo) to finalist Ronneke Uneken (Team SD Walks) in 98th place.

However, after the Dutch woman who finished 15 minutes behind the winner, 27 more women made it to the finish. The last to finish was 20-year-old American Katie Cruz, making her race debut with Human Powered Health.

Utahan told Cycling News on the morning of the race that she was "pretty nervous" and wanted to "survive to the end."

In only her second European race after the Amstel Gold Race, Kruse not only endured her first battle with the cobblestones, but also managed an early breakaway.

"I was a little thrown, and maybe I tried a little too hard," Klaus said after finishing the race in 125th place, 35 minutes and 38 seconds behind Longo Borghini in the Andre Petrieu Velodrome infield.

"I went deep right away, but that's my job. But that was my job. So I tried to run as long as I could, but it's one of the hardest races in the world, so I didn't have a great spot on the cobbles."

"But I was able to finish the race in 125th place from Longo Borghini.

"But it was fun. It was a really cool experience and I'm glad I got to experience it."

Clouse, the U23 U.S. cyclo-cross national champion, moved to the front as part of a five-rider breakaway on the second lap of the Dunain Circuit in the opening 10km of the race. She held on until 80km to go, but was pulled back by the peloton.

Then, just after the first cobbled section of Hornan, it was a question of surviving to the finish over 17 more cobbled sections, including the dreaded 5-star Mont en Pevert and Carrefour de Larbre.

"I was definitely cracking with 50km to go, but 'you know what,' I'm going to finish this thing. But it was definitely hard." But it was definitely hard."

"After I fell off the bike, I ran pretty safe on the cobblestones because I thought, "It's not going to be flat. So I ran pretty safe on the cobblestones. But I think I'm still not back in shape because I took a pretty long break after the end of the cross season. The girls were kind of tuned up for these races over the winter."

Three hours and 46 minutes later, Kraus crossed the finish line in a group of four with her teammate, 18-year-old Makayla McPherson. She said she enjoyed the experience of running in a velodrome full of fans at the end of a race she had watched as a fan for years.

"I had never experienced a race like this, so it was pretty cool just to come to the velodrome and experience it. I had just been watching it on TV the whole time, so it was a day I'll never forget."

"Well, I think I'm going to take a nap.