Welcome to Hell
Paris-Roubaix is for many the best race of the year, as it transports us to cycling from another era. An epic survival race, where the hard cobbled sectors are the protagonists. Also known as the Hell of the North or as the Queen of the Classics, the third monument of the year marks the end of the cobblestones season, and it is a grand finale.
Men's race route
The route of the men's race adds up to a total of 257 kilometers, of which 54 are on the very hard cobbled roads. 31 sectors where including the most classic ones: Trouée d'Aremberg, Mons-en-Pévèle and Carrefour de l'Arbre. As always, the finish line is located at the mythical Roubaix Velodrome.
Women's race course
The women's race includes 18 cobbled sectors that add up to a total of 29 kilometers. The route is very similar to that of the first edition of the women's event last year, although it includes 8 more kilometers in the initial part in Denain until reaching 124 kilometers, adding an extra hardness before the first cobbled sector. The final part of the route is the same as that of the men's race.
Men's Race Favorites
Mathieu Van Der Poel (1000) starts as the big favorite, especially due to doubts about the participation of Wout Van Aert (1200), who after missing the Ronde Van Vlaanderen due to a positive COVID-19 test, has not confirmed if he will take the start, nor under what conditions. Mads Pedersen (1000), Kasper Asgreen (600), Matteo Trentin (600), Jasper Stuyven (600), Michal Kwiatkowski (600), Matej Mohorič (800), Stefan Küng (800), Alexander Kristoff (800), Christophe Laporte (600), Greg Van Avermaet (600), John Degenkolb (600), Anthony Turgis (400), Rasmus Tiller (400), Yves Lampaert (600), Nils Politt (400), Dylan Van Baarle (400), Florian Vermeersch (200), Sep Vanmarcke (200) or Connor Swift (200) are other riders who can do well.
Women's Race favorites
Marianne Vos (1200), Lotte Kopecky (1000), Emma Norsgaard (1000), Lorena Wiebes (1200), Chantal Blaak (600), Marta Bastianelli (800), Marta Cavalli (800), Alice Barnes (600), Ellen Van Dijk (600), Grace Brown (800) and Elisa Balsamo (800) are some of the candidates for victory. The winner of the 2021 edition Elizabeth Deignan (1000) will not take the start, as she is pregnant.