Comprehensive guide to the 'Hell of the North'
Sunday 10 April 2016 13:01, UK
The best riders in the world will test themselves on some of the hardest roads in professional cycling in the iconic French one-day classic Paris-Roubaix on Sunday.
The flat, 257.5km marathon is the third of the season’s five 'Monuments' and is also known as the 'Hell of the North' thanks to its unique test of endurance, bike-handling skills and sheer will to win.
The most difficult aspect of the race is its centuries-old, bone-rattling cobbled roads, or pavé, as they are known in France, which this year make up 52.8km of the route and are spread over 27 sectors.
The bookmakers' favourite for victory is Peter Sagan, who won the Tour of Flanders last Sunday and is bidding to become the first world champion to triumph at Paris-Roubaix since Bernard Hinault in 1981.
John Degenkolb won last year's race in a sprint but will not be back to defend his title due to injury.
Here’s what you need to know about Sunday’s race…
Although it’s called Paris-Roubaix, the race doesn’t actually start in Paris. Instead it begins in Compiegne, 50 miles north of the capital, and ends in Roubaix, a town just outside Lille, close to the border with Belgium.
The first 98.5km amble along relatively gently on asphalt roads, but then the “hell” begins with the first cobbled sector, from Troisvilles to Inchy. The cobbles come thick and fast afterwards, but there are three sectors in particular – all rated five out of five stars in difficulty – that are especially challenging and could have a pivotal say on the outcome of the race. They are:
- Trouee d’Arenberg (162km-164.4km): Translating as the Trench of Arenberg, this arrow-straight road cuts through the Arenberg forest and is one of the roughest sectors on the whole route. Locals plough the roadside verges to prevent racers riding on the smoother mud, and a high speed leading on to the sector means crashes are rife. There are still almost 100km to go after this sector but any riders distanced here could find there is no way back.
- Mons-en-Pevele (209km-212km): The race is now entering a key phase and it is here, with just under 50km to go, where what is left of the peloton could well get blown to pieces. A series of sharp turns exacerbate the challenge of what is already a hugely demanding sector.
- Carrefour de l’Arbre (240.5km-242.6km): An iconic and potentially crucial stretch of cobbles, it arrives with only 17km remaining and could have a significant say in who wins the race. Again, some of the most uneven cobbles on the route are found here.
Once over the cobbles, the race ends with one and a half laps of the outdoor Roubaix Velodrome. There might be a lone leader at this point, as there was in 2014, or there could be a handful of riders who will sprint for victory on the boards, as there was last year.
Here is a breakdown of the cobbled sectors...
Peter Sagan (Tinkoff)
Sagan appears to be in the form of his life, which is saying something for arguably the most naturally gifted rider in a generation. In the past fortnight he has won both Gent-Wevelgem and the Tour of Flanders - the latter with frightening ease - and may never be better placed to win Paris-Roubaix. He can win solo or in a sprint and will take some beating.
Fabian Cancellara (Trek-Segafredo)
Cancellara is already a Paris-Roubaix legend but wants to make history in his final appearance at the race by winning for a joint-record fourth time. He is now 35 years old, but rather than wind down his career, 'Spartacus' has been as competitive as ever this season, winning four times and finishing second to Sagan at the Tour of Flanders last week. Nobody on the start line will be more motivated to win.
Sep Vanmarcke (LottoNL-Jumbo)
Belgium's Vanmarcke has both good pedigree at Paris-Roubaix and good form, having finished second at Gent-Wevelgem and third at the Tour of Flanders in the past two weeks. Second in the 2013 edition of Paris-Roubaix, Vanmarcke is one of those riders for whom a first Monument win never seems far away and it wouldn't be a surprise if he ended his wait this weekend.
Zdenek Stybar (Etixx - Quick-Step)
Stybar is another rider with excellent Paris-Roubaix pedigree, having finished sixth, fifth and then second in the past three years. His classics campaign so far has been a mixed bag. He finished second at Strade Bianche and eighth at the Tour of Flanders, but he finished at distant 15th at E3 Harelbeke and a forgettable 46th at Gent-Wevelgem. That patchy form could work to his advantage, though, if it means his rivals allow him to escape up the road.
Alexander Kristoff (Katusha)
Kristoff has the fastest finish of any of the contenders for victory, so if the race comes down to a small-bunch sprint and the Norwegian is present, bet your house on him winning. He proved he has the ability to triumph at Paris-Roubaix by winning the Tour of Flanders last year, although his best finish at the 'Hell of the North' is only ninth, so he will need an improved performance.
Lars Boom (Astana)
Boom finished fourth last year and sixth in 2012, so he is capable of putting himself in contention. He also has a fast finish and won the cobbled stage of the 2014 Tour de France.
Niki Terpstra (Etixx - Quick-Step)
The 2014 winner is a contender by default, but his form in the classics this year has been poor and it will require a considerable improvement for him to claim a second victory. Nevertheless, Terpstra is a formidably powerful rider and if his rivals allow him to escape up the road, he won't be easy to catch.
Luke Rowe (Team Sky)
Rowe is one of two leaders for Team Sky at this year's race along with Ian Stannard (see below) and, having finished fifth at the Tour of Flanders last weekend, he may be the better bet of the two. The 26-year-old also finished eighth at Paris-Roubaix last year, so he appears to be getting closer to a Monument podium, if not a win.
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data)
Boasson Hagen started the year in superb form, taking one win at the Tour of Qatar and two more at the Tour of Oman. He appeared poised for a strong classics campaign, but so far it hasn't materialised, with his best result being 18th at Gent-Wevelgem. His Paris-Roubaix record is average, but he unquestionably has the attributes to win if his legs come good on the day.
Ian Stannard (Team Sky)
Stannard's spring has so far been heavily disrupted by illness, but a third-place finish at E3 Harelbeke proved he has good legs when healthy and if he is feeling good this weekend, don't be surprised to see him animating the finale. Victories at the 2014 and 2015 editions of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad proved he has what it takes to win classics.
Adam Blythe (Orica-GreenEdge).
Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data).
Andy Fenn (Team Sky).
Dan McLay (Fortuneo-Vital Concept).
Luke Rowe (Team Sky).
Ian Stannard (Team Sky).
Scott Thwaites (Bora-Argon 18).
2015: John Degenkolb (Ger).
2014: Niki Terpstra (Ned).
2013: Fabian Cancellara (Sui).
2012: Tom Boonen (Bel).
2011: Johan Vansummeren (Bel).
2010: Fabian Cancellara (Sui).
2009: Tom Boonen (Bel).
2008: Tom Boonen (Bel).
2007: Stuart O’Grady (Aus).
2006: Fabian Cancellara (Sui).
Peter Sagan
"The Paris-Roubaix is a very hard race whose outcome is again an unpredictable one. I will try to ride at the front and save my energy for the finale. In the last few weeks, I have showed that I am well prepared but every race is different. It will be very difficult to surprise my opponents the way I did at the Tour of Flanders. We will see how the race pans out and I believe that I will make the right decisions out on the road."
Ian Stannard
"Peter Sagan's clearly strong; Fabian Cancellara's looking good; Alexander Kristoff, Lars Boom and Sep Vanmarcke should all be there; and, as a team, Etixx - Quick-Step will be massively motivated. They haven't had a result in the cobbled classics yet, so they'll be looking to put things right and going all out to achieve that."
Zdenek Stybar
"It seems like he [Sagan] is unbeatable. When you see how he's riding, he doesn't just have a strong sprint; he's really explosive on short climbs. In Roubaix that's not the case but it will still be difficult to beat him."
Sep Vanmarcke
"I feel confident and I'm looking forward to this race. I want to play a key role another time to deliver another great result."
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