2021 Paris-Roubaix Race Preview
The details of this year's 2021 Paris-Roubaix are falling into place. Find the latest route profiles and maps below, followed by our strategic preview of the race.
The cobblestones of northern France are ready to inflict their annual punishment on the peloton, and after a two-year absence owing to the pandemic, Paris-Roubaix returns in October for a truly unique edition. The race, which normally takes place in the spring, will encounter autumn conditions that could make the already brutal parcours even more treacherous. Wet cobbles, mud, and falling leaves are likely to feature, turning the 29 sectors of pavé into something approaching a cyclocross course in places.
The route covers around 257 kilometres from Compiègne to the famous velodrome in Roubaix, with the decisive sectors concentrated in the final 100 kilometres. The fearsome Arenberg Forest, officially known as the Trouée d'Arenberg, remains a pivotal moment in the race, its five stars of difficulty and unforgiving stones capable of ending a rider's day in an instant. The Mons-en-Pévèle and Carrefour de l'Arbre sectors in the closing kilometres will likely determine who has the strength and technical ability to make it to Roubaix with a chance of winning.
Mathieu van der Poel arrives as perhaps the most anticipated debutant the race has seen in years. The Alpecin-Fenix rider carries extraordinary pedigree across multiple disciplines, and his raw power combined with his bike-handling skills developed through years of cyclocross racing make him a genuine threat on the cobbles. He will be watching the Tour of Flanders winner Kasper Asgreen closely, as the Deceuninck-Quick-Step rider showed tremendous form earlier in the spring classics season and rides for arguably the most experienced cobbled classics team in the world.
Wout van Aert cannot be overlooked. The Belgian superstar has had a remarkable season and demonstrated his ability on the pavé in previous editions. He will have strong support from Jumbo-Visma and possesses the engine and the tactical intelligence to be a factor deep into the race. His rivalry with van der Poel has been one of the defining storylines of recent seasons and could well come to a head on the road to Roubaix.
Defending champion Philippe Gilbert is unlikely to repeat his heroics of 2019, but experience on these roads counts for something, and veterans who know how to read the cobbles often exceed expectations. Peter Sagan, another multiple classics winner, will be motivated after a difficult Tour de France and brings both the strength and the cunning required for a race of this complexity.
Sep Vanmarcke, Florian Vermeersch, and Stefan KĂĽng could all emerge as dark horses, riders with the physical tools to survive the attrition and potentially surprise the favourites if the race breaks apart in unexpected ways. Teams will be desperate to control positioning heading into the major sectors, as being caught behind a crash or a mechanical failure on the cobblestones can end a challenge before it has truly begun.
The weather forecast and the October timing add an element of genuine unpredictability that makes this edition feel like something out of the ordinary. Paris-Roubaix has always demanded suffering, but the Queen of the Classics in autumn may demand something more again. Expect carnage, expect courage, and expect the kind of racing that reminds you why this monument sits apart from every other event on the cycling calendar.
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