Cobbles
France
Hard
6,000
The hell of the north. The most unique race in the cycling calendar where the crowd hope for bad weather and terrible conditions for the riders. The route over old farm tracks and country lanes are mostly closed to traffic so this is a rare chance to ride over this classic course. Book just your hotel & sportive or join us on Friday for a free guided warm up ride to give you a taste of the pave before your big ride.
Roubaix is one of the easiest races to get to from Calais. Over one weekend you can ride the sportive to give you a unique insight into the pro race, then watch the peloton the next day in the best one day race in the world and still be back home in time for dinner. A brilliant cycling weekend.
There are three routes to choose from. While the pros start in Compiegne, the long route goes from Busigny and then follows the pro route back to Roubaix for the last 172kms. This takes in all three 5* sectors of pave and plenty of others. The route changes slightly each year with the final details being announced a few weeks before the event. These changes are normally quite minor and the classic sectors always feature.
The medium and short routes start and finish in Roubaix so the first part of the sportive is just getting you onto the pro route. The medium route throws you on at the toughest spot - the Forest of Arenberg and then follows the route back to the velodrome. The short route still contains 7 cobbled sectors including the 5* Carrefour de l'Arbre so there are no easy options.
27 cobbled sectors between Busigny and the velodrome in Roubaix. The day starts early with a 5am bus transfer. From Busigny, there are some warm up cobble sections to get you ready for the big challenges. You hit three 5* sectors in all, a tough day out!
18 cobbled sections starting and ending in Roubaix with a baptism of fire at Arenberg. The start is at the velodrome and the first half of the ride is getting you out to the race route. Your introduction to the cobbles is the 5* Arenberg, from here it only gets easier!!
7 cobbles including the 5* Carrefour de l'Arbre on this route out and back from Roubaix. The first 30km is on smooth roads getting you onto the Roubaix route. After a feed station you hit the first of 10 sectors. For a short ride, it definitely packs a punch!
There are a few options for this weekend. Lille is a larger, slightly closer to Calais and has a wider range of hotels. Our preference is Roubaix - you are here for cycling and the town is buzzing for this weekend. It is also more convenient for the start / finish of the sportive as you can ride from hotel to velodrome and you can watch the pros in the velodrome on the Sunday.
The easiest way to get to Roubaix is by car - around one hour from Roubaix. You can get the Eurostar to Lille which is 15 mins away or fly to either Brussels or Paris (both between 1hr30 and 2hrs away). If you are riding the long route, there is a shuttle from Roubaix to Busigny leaving at 5.30am.
You can collect your race pack on the morning of the event or the day before in Roubaix. If you are riding the long route, transfer vouchers must be collected before 20:00 in Roubaix the day before the race. Transfer leaves Roubaix at 05:30
There is a rolling start for this sportive. The long route starts at Busigny (Salle des fêtes – Rue Pasteur – 59137 Busigny) between 7am and 9am. The medium and short routes start at the velodrome (Vélodrôme Couvert Régional Jean Stablinski – Rue Alexandre Fleming 59 – 59100 Roubaix) between 7am and 10am for the medium and 7am to 11am for the short route.
All routes finish in Roubaix at the velodrome.
Book 2 to 4 nights in a range of hotels in Roubaix with guaranteed sportive entry including a transfer to Busigny for riders of the long route.
From 05/04/2018 to 09/04/2018
Min Nights: 2
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