2022 Paris-Roubaix Race Preview
The details of this year's 2022 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 tell their story once again as the Hell of the North returns for its 119th edition. The 2022 running of Paris-Roubaix promises to be one of the most anticipated editions in recent memory, with last year's dramatic and rain-soaked mud bath still fresh in the minds of fans and riders alike. Sonny Colbrelli's remarkable victory in 2021, celebrated with tears of exhaustion and joy in the Roubaix velodrome, set an almost impossibly high bar, but this cobbled classic always finds a way to deliver.
The route covers 257 kilometers from Compiègne to Roubaix and features 55 cobbled sectors totaling around 54 kilometers of rough, bone-shaking pavé. The most fearsome sections, including the Trouée d'Arenberg, Mons-en-Pévèle, and the Carrefour de l'Arbre, will once again serve as the decisive battlegrounds where races are won and lost, and where the dreams of lesser-prepared riders are shattered.
Mathieu van der Poel arrives carrying enormous expectation. The Alpecin-Fenix star has shown in previous editions that he has the physical tools and the instinctive racing intelligence to win here, and after a difficult start to his 2022 campaign he will be hungry to stamp his authority on the spring classics season. His ability to accelerate out of corners and maintain speed across the roughest surfaces makes him a constant threat from the moment the cobbles begin.
Wout van Aert is the other name on every expert's lips. The Belgian powerhouse has been in irresistible form throughout the spring, with victories at Strade Bianche and Milan-San Remo already secured. His consistency across different terrain types speaks to an engine that is simply operating at a different level to most of his rivals, and the Jumbo-Visma team around him is strong enough to control significant portions of the race.
Dylan van Baarle deserves serious consideration. The Ineos Grenadiers rider has developed quietly into one of the most complete cobbled classics specialists in the peloton, and his performance at the Tour of Flanders showed that he can compete with the very best when conditions suit. His ability to manage cobbled sectors efficiently and his strength late in races make him a genuine contender rather than merely a dark horse.
Florian Vermeersch, the young Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl rider, will be looking to build on his second-place finish from 2021 when he announced himself to the wider cycling world as a future star of this race. Stefan KĂĽng, Gianni Moscon, and Sep Vanmarcke all bring experience and pedigree to the start line and cannot be dismissed.
Weather will play its usual mysterious role. A dry and dusty Roubaix tends to favor punchy riders who can hold wheels and strike cleanly in the velodrome, while wet conditions turn the pavé into something truly treacherous and open the race up in unpredictable ways. Either version of this race will demand courage, technical skill, and a tolerance for suffering that goes beyond what most professional cyclists experience in an entire season.
Whatever unfolds on Sunday, Paris-Roubaix will deliver its usual mixture of chaos, heartbreak, and glory. It always does.
Get our full coverage of the Paris-Roubaix and every race we cover with our mobile app! The apps have over 100 additional exclusive features, including our award-winning Time Machine feature that lets you pause/rewind/replay the entire app to sync with delayed race video, integrated Fantasy Cycling, push notifications, an integrated news feed, live GPS tracking, world-class commentary, and our animated interactive maps and profiles.
