Originally Posted by rghysens
Erm...yes it was. The main roads became less and less cobbled in the 50's and 60's though. That's why the start moved to Compiegne and the final was concentrated between Valenciennes and Roubaix.
As I updated in my second reply on this thread, the move to Compiègne dates from 1977, with a second wave of asphalting around Templeuve but not as big as the road network modernizing of the 50's.
I you watch A Sunday in Hell
(1976 edition), you definitely have the start in Chantilly !