Paris-Roubaix has obviously been a cobblestone affair since 1896. And from this point of view alone, the 121st edition (259.7 km) promises to be a grand cru, with 55.7 km of cobblestones, or 1,200 meters more than compared to the 2023 edition.
This year, the Queen of Classics is offering the highest total mileage in 30 years, the golden era of Marc Madiot, winner in 1991, Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle, double winner in 1992 and 1993 and Andrei Tchmil, distinguished in 1994.
The paved sectors, 29 in number, are numbered in the reverse order of their appearance on the route, from 29 to 1.
Each year, the organizers classify them according to their level of difficulty, taking into account the intrinsic difficulty of the sector and the specific state of the pavement: “easy” (1 star), “fairly easy” (2 stars), “difficult » (3 stars), “very difficult” (4 stars) and “extremely difficult” (5 stars).
Unsurprisingly, the three “5-star” sectors of the route remain the Trouée d’Arenberg (sector 19, km 164.4), Mons-en-Pévèle (sector 11, km 211.1) and the Carrefour de l’Arbre ( sector 4, km 242.5).
This Sunday, the cobblestones will appear after about a hundred kilometers via the traditional Troisvilles sector (sector 29, 3 stars, km 96).
Last year, Peter Sagan, winner of the 2018 edition, saw his race stop in Troisvilles.
For this edition, the sectors of Briastre (sector 26, km 111.5) and the hamlet of Buat (sector 24, km 129.5) return to the start of the route.
Two long sections whose purpose is to wear out the competitors. “The influence on the scenario will not be immediate, but having long and difficult sectors to enter makes the race tiring and the consequences can be noticeable later,” explains Thierry Gouvenou, the technical director of the event.
😈 𝑨𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒈 😈#ParisRoubaix pic.twitter.com/AOSUJear00
— Paris-Roubaix (@parisroubaix) April 2, 2024
The first highlight is supposed to occur in the Arenberg gap.
Introduced on the route in 1968 and now world famous, the passage of the 2,300 meter forest path almost always leads to a first selection.
By its straightness and the depth of its perspective, the Drève des Boules d'Hérin generally provides some of the most epic images of the Queen of the classics.
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After Arenberg, however, there are almost 100 km until the finish, and more than half of the sectors to go, 18 out of 29.
The next big piece stands in Mons-en-Pévèle, a five-star 3,000 meter hotel, 50 km from Roubaix, preceded by several multi-starred and fairly close sectors.
😈 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ alert: welcome to Mons-en-Pévèle!
😈 Alert ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: here we are in Mons-en-Pévèle!#ParisRoubaix | #ParisRoubaixFemmes pic.twitter.com/nLHutCMRZP
— Paris-Roubaix (@parisroubaix) April 2, 2024
In the following 30 kilometers, the hierarchy generally emerges with greater precision thanks to new demanding sectors - Cysoing (sector 7) and Camphin-en-Pévèle (sector 4) - and the general wear and tear of the bodies.
The final classification often takes its final form over the 2000 meters in the Carrefour de l'Arbre, characteristic for its clear view, its restaurant and its right-angle turn, less than 20 km from the finish.
The cobbled sectors of Paris-Roubaix 2024
29. Troisvilles to Inchy (2200 m) ***
28. Viesly in Quiévy (1800 m) ***
27. Quiévy to Saint-Python (3700 m) ****
26. Viesly to Biastre (3000 m) ***
25. Vertain in Saint-Martin-sur-Écaillon (2300 m) ***
24. Capelle in Ruesnes (1700 m) ***
23. Artres in Quérénaing (1300 m) **
22. Quérénaing to Maing (2500 m) ***
21. Maing to Monchaux-sur-Écaillon (1600 m) ***
20. Haveluy to Wallers (2500 m) ****
19. Trouée d’Arenberg (2300 m) *****
18. Wallers in Hélesmes (1600 m) ***
17. Hornaing to Wandignies (3700 m) ****
16. Warlaing to Brillon (2400 m) ***
15. Tilloy in Sars-et-Rosières (2400 m) ****
14. Beuvry to Orchies (1400 m) ***
13. Orchies (1,700 m) ***
12. Auchy to Bersée (2,700 m) ****
11. Mons-en-Pévèle (3000 m) *****
10. Mérignies in Avelin (700 m) **
9. Pont-Thibault in Ennevelin (1400 m) ***
8a. Templeuve (L’Épinette) (200 m) *
8b. Templeuve (Moulin-de-Vertain) (500 m) **
7. Cysoing in Bourghelles (1300 m) ***
6. Bourghelles to Wannehain (1100 m) ***
5. Camphin-en-Pévèle (1800 m) ****
4. Carrefour de l’Arbre (2100 m) *****
3. Gruson (1100 m) **
2. Willems to Hem (1400 m) **
1. Roubaix (Espace Charles Crupelandt) (300 m) *
*easy **fairly easy ***difficult ****very difficult *****extremely difficult