The 110th edition of Paris-Roubaix, which will set off from the Napoleonic city of Compiègne this coming Sunday, April 8th, will feature twenty-seven sections of cobbles - the feared Pavé du Nord - adding up to a total of 51.5km. These will range in severity from five-star rated sections, such as the iconic Trouée d’Arenberg, and the one-star “Espace Charles Crupelandt” just before the entrance to Roubaix’s famous velodrome.
As usual, the condition of the various cobbled sections have been monitored, by organisations including les Amis de Paris-Roubaix; while the sections at Viesly (after 104 km), Aulnoy-lez-Valenciennes (after 142 km) and Millonfosse (after 178.5 km), have undergone renovation work by pupils from the horticultural schools in Raismes, Flandres and Douai.
Two sections have come in for some extra special attention, with the local Pays de Pévèle taking steps to reverse the degradation of the five-star Mons-en-Pévèle section - which was the scene of George Hincapie’s spectacular crash in 2006, where the American cobble specialist fractured his shoulder.
Additionally, the iconic Arenberg section has concerned many this year, with reports of its uneven cobbled surface becoming covered in moss. The Conseil General of the Nord department has commissioned a clean-up of the section, and it has been declared safe for the race.
The 27 cobbled sections of Paris-Roubaix
27. Troisvilles (after 97.5 km - 2,200 m) +++
26. Viesly (after 104 km - 1,800 m) +++
25. Quievy (after 106.5 km - 3,700 m) ++++
24. Saint-Python (after 111.5 km - 1,500 m) ++
23. Vertain (after 119.5 km - 2,300 m) +++
22. Capelle-sur-Ecaillon - Le Buat (after 126 km - 1,700 m) +++
21. Aulnoy-lez-Valenciennes - Famars (after 142 km - 2,600 m) +++++
20. Famars - Quérénaing (after 145.5 km - 1,200 m) ++
19. Quérénaing – Maing (after 149 km - 2,500 m) +++
18. Monchaux-sur-Ecaillon (after 152 km - 1,600 m) +++
17. Haveluy (after 163.5 km - 2,500 m) ++++
16. Trouée d’Arenberg (after 172 km - 2,400 m) +++++
15. Millonfosse - Bousiginies (after 178.5 km - 1,400 m) +++
14. Brillon to Tilloy-lez-Marchiennes (after 183 km - 1,100 m) ++
Tilloy - Sars-et-Rosières (after 185.5 km - 2,400 m) +++
13. Beuvry-la-Forêt - Orchies (after 192 km - 1,400m) +++
12. Orchies (after 197 km - 1,700 m) +++
11. Auchy-lez-Orchies - Bersée (after 203 km - 2,600 m) ++++
10. Mons-en-Pévèle (after 208.5 km - 3,000 m) +++++
9. Mérignies - Avelin (after 215 km - 700 m) ++
8. Pont-Thibaut (after 218 km - 1,400 m) +++
7. Templeuve l’Epinette (after 223.5 km - 200 m) +
Le Moulin de Vertain (after 224 km - 500 m) ++
6. Cysoing - Bourghelles (after 230,5 km - 1,300 m) ++++
Bourghelles - Wannehain (after 233 km - 1,100 m) +++
5. Camphin-en-Pévèle (after 237.5 km – 1,800 m) ++++
4. Le Carrefour de l’Arbre (after 240.5 km - 2,100 m) +++++
3. Gruson (after 242.5 km - 1,100 m) ++
2. Hem (after 249.5 km - 1,400 m) ++
1. Roubaix (after 256.5 km - 300 m) +