Paris-Roubaix 2025: The Ultimate Guide to the Hell of the North

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Paris-Roubaix isn’t just a race, it’s a challenge. A battle. A deathmatch between the cyclist and the cobblestones.

The cobbles… those damn chunks of stone placed there to crush legs and shatter dreams…

So hold on tight, I’m about to tell you everything about this legendary and ruthless race we call the Queen of the Classics! (Because if it were easier, it’d be… the Princess of the Classics 👸… yeah, not quite as epic, huh? Hehe)

1. Paris-Roubaix 2025: When is it?

Well, Paris-Roubaix 2025 will take place in April, like always. It often lands on Easter weekend, so it used to be called the « Pascale » race.
(Although, it’s far from being as soft as a lamb, alright, I’ll stop with the princesses and lambs, we’re about to step into hell’s gates 🔥).

For 2025, here are the start times:
→ Women’s ELITE race on Saturday, April 12, starting at 1:00 PM
→ U23 race on Sunday, April 13, starting at 11:00 AM
→ Junior race on Sunday, April 13, starting at 11:00 AM
→ Men’s ELITE race on Sunday, April 13, starting at 11:10 AM

📌 FORMAT

It’s a one-day race, and not just any race. Just like the Tour of Flanders or the other Flanders Classics. One shot. Here and now!

2. How long is this hell?

→ This year, Elite Men riders will start from Compiègne and tackle exactly 259.2 km, including 55.3 km of cobblestones (30 sectors in total).)
→ As for the Women, they’ll start from Denain and face 148.5 km, with 29.2 km of cobbled sectors (the last 17 cobbled sectors of the men’s race).
→ For the U23 riders: 163 km with 26 cobbled sectors, starting from Le Cateau-Cambrésis.
→ And while we’re at it, the Juniors will start from Lecelles and get a 111 km course with 17 cobbled sectors.

Despite its name, Paris-Roubaix hasn’t started in Paris for a long time. Since 1977, the start has been in Compiègne, about 80 km north of the capital. After that, it’s straight into the chaos of the Northern cobbles.

📌 RACE NAMES

By the way, speaking of race names, it’s the same for Ghent-Wevelgem. Some races kept city names but no longer start or finish in those locations.

3. Where is Roubaix again?

For those who aren’t quite sure, Roubaix is in the North of France. A border town near Belgium, right next to Lille. Hence the name, the Hell of the North.

📌 Epic Race Finish

The legendary Vélodrome André Pétrieux in Roubaix, where riders often finish in a sprint, exhausted, with faces covered in dust or mud, depending on the weather’s mood. But always to the wild cheers of the crowd. If you’ve been there, you know the chills it gives you… phew, that tension finally escaping, it’s unreal! !

4. The cobbles, let’s talk about them… 😈

Ah, the cobbles… they’re the soul and the nightmare of this race. Forget about the neatly arranged cobbles of pedestrian areas, here we’re talking about uneven old blocks, some of which have been there for centuries, full of holes, bumps, and traps… and goat droppings – true story! 🐐🐐🐐 (hey, didn’t you say you’d stop with the sheep stories?)

🛑 30 cobbled sectors await the riders this year.

From 1 star ⭐ (easy) to 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (the toughest)… it’s like the ALL-INCLUSIVE of suffering. No welcome cocktail, but an all-inclusive shaking massage guaranteed!

Among the best of the worst:

💣 Sector #21 – Hornaing to Wandignies (3.7 km) – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The longest cobbled sector of the race. Not necessarily the hardest, but it’ll drain your legs before the harder ones ahead.
🔪 Sector #19 – La Trouée d’Arenberg (2.3 km) – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A hellish straight line through the forest, where every poorly placed cobble can flip the race in an instant.
🔥 Sector #11 – Mons-en-Pévèle (3 km) – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Three kilometers of chaos where the cobbles, the surges, and the mud slowly break down the riders. A sector that shows no mercy.
⚡ Sector #5 – Camphin-en-Pévèle (1.8 km) – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Just before the Carrefour de l’Arbre, this uneven and technical section shakes you up like a cocktail shaker. No break, just battle.
💀 Sector #4 – Le Carrefour de l’Arbre (2.1 km) – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The last ruthless test before Roubaix: treacherous cobbles and maximum fatigue. This is where dreams of victory either vanish… or come true.

Each cobbled sector is a challenge on its own. It hits, it shakes, it hurts, yet… this is why we love it, because it’s where everything is decided! No other course beats up cyclists quite like this in one day.

📌 New for the 2025 course

Two new sections are added to the 2025 route: Artres (1.3 km) and Famars (1.2 km). These additions form an almost continuous sequence of five cobbled sectors, making the race even more demanding.

Modification of the Trouée d’Arenberg: last year’s controversial « chicane » disappears in favor of a detour with four right-angle turns, allowing for a more gradual slowdown and improving safety before one of the most feared sections of Paris-Roubaix.

5. Who are the winners and favorites of the Queen of Classics 2025?

Ah, this cycling monument, where only the toughest can finish. No matter how good or trained you are… luck 🍀 or bad luck plays a huge role. Punctures are common, mechanical failures, slips, crashes. Anything can happen as long as the finish line hasn’t been crossed! And some have even won it multiple times!

👑 Here are some legendary winners:
→ Roger De Vlaeminck (4 wins) – Mr. Paris-Roubaix.
→ Tom Boonen (4 wins) – One of the greatest specialists of the race.
→ Fabian Cancellara (3 wins) – A monster on cobbles.
→ Mathieu van der Poel (2 wins in 2023, 2024) – Because yes, the new generation is here too.

Van der Poel is the big favorite for 2025. But behind him, there’s often the shadow of Wout Van Aert.

For the women, there’s no clear favorite, but top riders like Marianne Vos or Lotte Kopecky won’t leave anything to chance. Basically, all the Dutch-Belgian elite will be there. 🍟😎

📌 The show will be epic!

It’s a bit early for predictions in early February 2025, so we’ll have to wait for the start of the Classics season to see how everyone kicks off their season… but oof, I just saw that Poggy-Pogačar has been training on the cobbles of the Trouée d’Arenberg this week… 🥳

6. The Paris-Roubaix Challenge: Want to give it a shot? 🔥

Good news: You too can take on the cobbles with the Paris-Roubaix Challenge, an amateur version of the race, taking place on Saturday, April 12th.

Starting from Roubaix, there are several distances to choose from:

→ The easiest: 70 km with 8 cobbled sectors.
→ The Loop: 140 km from Roubaix to Roubaix with 19 cobbled sections.
→ The Full Deal: 175 km from Busigny to Roubaix, with a shuttle taking you to the start at 4:30 am (and it already stings before you’ve even started) with 30 cobbled sectors, just like the pros.

📌 How to prepare for the cobbles?

Lost a bet? A friend signed you up against your will? Don’t worry, here’s my complete guide to riding on the cobbles.
In short, a great way to understand how much the pros suffer and to enjoy kicking back on your couch, watching them struggle.

7. How to watch Paris-Roubaix 2025?

There are several ways to follow Paris-Roubaix 2025, whether you’re at home or on the ground.
👋 These are french sources, if you have any foreign to share, please do for all the future readers.

📺 Live TV broadcast and streaming

• France Télévision : The group will broadcast the entire race on its channels, offering full coverage of both the Women’s and Men’s events. Can’t wait for the dream team’s commentary ✨ Alex, Marion, and Jaja! And of course, Thomas on the motorcycle!
• Eurosport : Full coverage starting at 11am
• RTBF : With Belgian commentary and the riders’ names pronounced with that local accent!
• Streaming : You can also watch the race live or replay it on the France.tv platform.

📻 Listen to it on the radio

• RMC : The station often broadcasts live coverage of major cycling races, including Paris-Roubaix.
• France Bleu : Now known as Ici Nord, it broadcasts the final kilometers.

📍 Where to watch the race live?

• On a cobbled sector: Iconic sectors like the Trouée d’Arenberg or the Carrefour de l’Arbre offer stunning viewpoints to see the riders in action.
• In a fan zone: Fan zones are usually set up along the course, featuring big screens and activities for an immersive experience.
• At the finish line in the velodrome: The Roubaix velodrome has grandstands for spectators. Plus, the Paris-Roubaix Village offers a fan zone with various activities to celebrate the event.

📌 The best fan zones at Paris-Roubaix

If you’re interested, I’ve gathered info on the best fan zones for 2025! Get your best costume, picnic, flags, and positive vibes ready for a memorable Paris-Roubaix experience! !

8. Paris-Roubaix in pictures: 5 documentaries to watch

I’ve been selling you the dream all this time and you’re dying to dive in? Want to feel the race vibe without taking a cobblestone to the face?

Check out these docs to get the full experience:
🎥 « A Sunday in Hell » (1976) – THE cult Paris-Roubaix documentary, guaranteed old-school vibe.
🎥 « La Légende du Paris-Roubaix » (1996) – A classic French historical doc, just the way we love it!
🎥 « Sur le haut du pavé » (2002) – A unique inside look at Paris-Roubaix with Marc Madiot.
🎥 « Road to Roubaix » (2008) – Go behind the scenes of the race.
🎥 « Paris-Roubaix Le Film » (2012) – Paris fixie boys who decided to suffer…

Since 1896, the years go by, but the cobblestones remain… making Paris-Roubaix one of the oldest cycling races still going.

📌 How many Paris-Roubaix races have there been so far?

2025 marks the 122nd edition for the Men and the 5th edition for the Women.

Paris-Roubaix 2025 promises to be yet another brutal and epic spectacle. 😈🔥

Every kilometer on these legendary cobblestones will test the riders’ determination and endurance. It’s a race where victory is never guaranteed, and even the biggest names in cycling must face the hell of the North.

The only thing that’s certain: in April 2025, the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix will once again make legs and hearts tremble. 🔥🔥

Before you head out 🏁

Don’t forget your perfect gear, made in Roubaix!

Whether you’re a spectator or a participant, my cycling accessories inspired by the spirit of Paris-Roubaix are here to help you tackle those legendary cobbles with style and comfort. Cyclist caps, neck gaiters, musettes for your supplies, and more—all crafted with passion in north of France—will give your adventure that local touch.