Northern France _ Paris-Roubaix _ Cycling race © OT Porte du Hainaut - Fabien BouklaNorthern France _ Paris-Roubaix _ Cycling race © OT Porte du Hainaut - Fabien Boukla
©Northern France, Paris-Roubaix, Cycling race|OT Porte du Hainaut - Fabien Boukla
The Paris-Roubaix
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The Paris-Roubaix

Where cycling becomes legend
In Northern France, few events stir the emotions quite like Paris–Roubaix. Following the famous cobbled roads of the Nord and Picardy countryside, this iconic race is more than a sporting fixture — it is a shared ritual, a springtime gathering, and a living piece of cycling history. Each year, spectators from across the world line the route, drawn by the drama, the noise, and the raw beauty of the race.

Names such as Arenberg Forest, Carrefour de l’Arbre and the Roubaix Velodrome resonate far beyond the region. These places are not just points on a map; they are chapters in a story written through mud, sweat and resilience.

A race forged in myth and memory

Nicknamed The Hell of the North, The Queen of the Classics or even The Toughest of the Tough, Paris–Roubaix has earned its reputation over more than a century. Created in 1896, it stands alongside cycling’s most prestigious monuments, celebrated as much for its unforgiving terrain as for the champions who have conquered it.

Legends such as Eddy Merckx, Johan Museeuw, Bernard Hinault and Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle have all left their mark here, but the soul of the race also lies in its atmosphere. Every second Sunday in April, the roads fill with anticipation as crowds gather to cheer riders on, sharing picnics, stories and a deep respect for the challenge unfolding before them.

A route that tests every limit

Despite its name, Paris–Roubaix no longer starts in the capital. Since 1977, the peloton sets off from Compiègne, heading north on a demanding journey of nearly 250 kilometres. Along the way, riders face more than two dozen cobbled sectors — rough, uneven stretches that total almost 50 kilometres of relentless vibration and strategy.

Among them, the Trouée d’Arenberg remains the most feared. This narrow, forest-lined passage often reshapes the race in seconds, shaking up the peloton and testing nerves as much as strength. Later on, Carrefour de l’Arbre is frequently the decisive moment, where the strongest riders begin to emerge. From there, all eyes turn towards the final laps inside the Roubaix Velodrome, where victory, and the symbolic cobblestone trophy, awaits.

A heritage carved in stone

The cobbles of Paris–Roubaix are more than obstacles; they are part of the region’s identity. Once threatened by modernisation, many sections were close to disappearing altogether. Today, they are carefully preserved thanks to the dedication of local volunteers, including the Amis du Paris–Roubaix and regional horticultural schools, who restore the stones year after year.

Their work ensures that the race remains faithful to its roots, challenging, authentic and deeply connected to the landscape of Hauts-de-France.