FranceRECOMMENDED AIRPORT: BRU
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.
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.
Distance: 172 Km. Elevation: M.
18 cobbled sections starting and ending in Roubaix with a baptism of fire at Arenberg
Distance: 145 Km. Elevation: M.
7 cobbles including the 5* Carrefour de l'Arbre on this route out and back from Roubaix
Distance: 70 Km. Elevation: M.
The first Paris Roubaix was raced in 1896. The sportive is a relative newcomer, started in 2011
The cobbled sectors are maintained by Les Amis de Paris Roubaix, a volunteer organisation dedicated to looking after the pave of the route.
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, the entry pack can be collected in Busigny.
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.
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.
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