Cycling: On Sunday it's that time again. In the one-day classic Paris – Roubaix, the pros venture into the hell of the north. This time the fight for the coveted cobblestone could turn into a real mud fight. In addition, we can finally see the first women's race the day before. Both races will be broadcast live on Eurosport!
Heavy rain the night before the race
The Monument Paris – Roubaix will be held on Sunday for the 118th time. The pros have to cover a whopping 257,7 kilometers in the hell of the north, 55,0 of them over cobblestones. It starts in Compiègne. The winner is traditionally chosen in the Roubaix velodrome. The reward? A cobblestone! The defending champion is Philippe Gilbert after the corona-related cancellation from the previous year. The Belgian won in 2019 ahead of Germany's Nils Politt. Both are among the favorites again this year. But the top favorites are different – also because of the weather. Rain is forecast for the entire week. So there will hardly be any dusty pavé sections. On the contrary: a real mud fight is expected. An advantage for the crossers wout van aert (Jumbo – Visma) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin – Fenix)?
Museeuw sees advantages for crossers
Johan Museeuw is someone who knows the hell of the north like no other. The now 55-year-old has won Paris – Roubaix three times in his career and finished on the podium six times. He explained to Sporza that the cyclocross riders would have a clear advantage over their competitors in a mud fight.
Johan Museuw:
"It's going to be a lot more selective. There will be many falls. And the favorites will be among themselves very quickly. The riders with cyclo-cross experience have a huge advantage. They know exactly how to behave and what their bike has to do. In wet weather you have to let the bike steer itself. That sounds funny, but that's how it is. Let the bike do what it wants. If you countersteer too much, you fall. Crossers can judge that perfectly.”
55 kilometers of cobblestones
In 2002 Paris – Roubaix degenerated into a mud fight for the last time. At that time, that same Johan Museeuw won ahead of the German and Swiss Steffen Wesemann and the Belgian Tom Boonen. Only 41 riders reached the finish within the time limit. It could be just as tough this year. Particular attention should be paid to the Trouée d'Arenberg, Mons-en-Pévèle and Carrefour de l'Arbre sectors. Categorized with 5 stars, they are considered the most demanding.
The 30 pavé sectors of Paris – Roubaix
30) Troisvilles to Inchy (km 96,3 – 2,2 km) ***
29) Viesly to Quiévy (km 102,8 – 1,8 km) ***
28) Quiévy to Saint-Python (km 105,4 – 3,7 km) ****
27) Saint-Python (km 110,1 – 1,5 km) **
26) Haussy to Saint-Martin-sur-Écaillon (km 116,6 – 0,8 km) **
25) Saint-Martin-sur-Ecaillon to Vertain (120,9 km – 2,3 km) ***
24) Capelle to Ruesnes (127,3 km – 1,7 km) ***
23) Artres to Quérénaing (km 136,3 – 1,3 km) **
22) Quérénaing to Maing (km 138,1 – 2,5 km) ***
21) Main to Monchaux-sur-Ecaillon (km 141,2 – 1,6 km) ***
20) Haveluy to Wallers (km 154,2 – 2,5km) ****
19) Trouée d'Arenberg (km 162,4 – 2,3 km) *****
18) Wallers to Hélesmes (km 168,4 – 1,6 km) ***
17) Hornaing to Wandignies (km 175,2 – 3,7km) ****
16) Warlaing to Brillon (km 182,7 – 2,4 km) ***
15) Tilloy to Sars-et-Rosières (km 186,2 – 2,4 km) ****
14) Beuvry-la-Forêt to Orchies (km 192,5 – 1,4 km) ***
13) Orchies (km 197,5 – 1,7km) ***
12) Auchy-lez-Orchies to Bersée (km 203,6 – 2,7 km) ****
11) Mons-en-Pévèle (km 209,1 – 3km) *****
10) Mérignies to Avelin (km 215,1 – 0,7 km) **
9) Pont-Thibault to Ennevelin (km 218,5 – 1,4 km) ***
8) Templeuve – L'Epinette (km 223,9 – 0,2 km) *
8) Templeuve – Moulin de Vertain (km 224,4 – 0,5 km) **
7) Cysoing to Bourghelles (km 230,8 – 1,3km) ***
6) Bourghelles to Wannehain (km 233,3 – 1,1 km) ***
5) Camphin-en-Pévèle (km 237,8 – 1,8km) ****
4) Carrefour de l'Arbre (km 240,5 – 2,1 km) *****
3) Gruson (km 242,8 – 1,1km) **
2) Willems to Hem (km 249,5 – 1,4km) ***
1) Roubaix – Espace Charles Crupelandt (km 256,3 – 0,3 km) *
Finally: The first edition of Paris – Roubaix Femmes
It took an unbelievable 125 years until, after the first men's edition, the women finally received their Paris – Roubaix. The day before – that is tomorrow, Saturday – the women will set off on the 116,4 kilometer route from Denain to Roubaix. 29,2 kilometers of cobblestones are divided into 17 sectors.
Ellen van Dijk:
"Women's cycling missed this race so that it could continue to grow."
Lisa Klein has to cancel due to injury
Since the women have not yet been allowed to compete at Paris – Roubaix, it is extremely difficult to name a favourite. Of course, we have to keep the Dutch women in mind here as well. Unfortunately, the German Lisa Klein cannot be there. In a training fall, she sustained a small fracture in her shoulder.
Lisa Small:
“Unfortunately, I will miss Paris-Roubaix and the Track World Championships, but I will be forced to have shoulder surgery tomorrow. What a fantastic season it has been. Now I have time to realize that, to reflect, but also to take my recovery seriously.”
The 17 Pavé Sectors of Paris – Roubaix Femmes
17) Hornaing à Wandignies (82,5km to finish) 3.700m – ****
16) Warlaing à Brillon (75km to finish) 2.400m – ***
15) Tilloy à Sars-et-Rosières (71,5km to finish) 2.400m – ****
14) Beuvry à Orchies (65,2km to finish) 1.400m – ***
13) Orchies (60,2km to finish) 1.700m – ***
12) Auchy à Bersée (54,1km to finish) 2.700m – ****
11) Mons-en-Pévèle (48,6km to finish) 3.000m – *****
10) Mérignies à Avelin (42,6km to finish) 700m – **
9) Pont-Thibault à Ennevelin (39,2km to finish) 1.400m – ***
8) Templeuve (L'Épinette) (33,8km to finish) 200m – *
8) Templeuve (Moulin-de-Vertain) (33,3km to finish) 500m – **
7) Cysoing à Bourghelles (26,9km to finish) 1.300m – ***
6) Bourghelles à Wannehain (24,4 km to finish) 1.100m – ***
5) Camphin-en-Pévèle (19,9km to finish) 1.800m – ****
4) Carrefour de l'Arbre (17,2km to finish) 2.100m – *****
3) Gruson (14,9km to finish) 1.100m – **
2) Willems à Hem (8,2km to finish) 1.400m – ***
1) Roubaix (Espace Charles Crupelandt) (1,4km to finish) 300m – *