2025 Paris-Roubaix Race Preview
The details of this year's 2025 Paris-Roubaix are falling into place. Find the latest route profiles and maps below, followed by our strategic preview of the race.
Paris—Roubaix is an unusual race, taking place on a surface more suited for tanks and tractors. A perfect blend of positioning, bike handling, power, and tactical nous is essential to winning the Hell of the North. So, who are the favorites?
Lifting the famous cobblestone trophy awarded to the victor is a childhood dream for most riders in the peloton, but few can achieve it. It is extra special that Mathieu van der Poel won the last two editions in a row.
With his two consecutive wins, Van der Poel followed in the footsteps of Tom Boonen, who accomplished the same feat in 2008-2009. Together with Roger De Vlaeminck, Boonen is the only rider to have won the Hell of the North four times. Meanwhile, Francesco Moser is the only rider who has won Roubaix three times in a row. Thus, Van der Poel has the chance to match that achievement.
However, he faces stiff competition from an extraordinary Paris—Roubaix debutant, Tadej Pogacar. The Slovenian defeated Van der Poel last week in the Tour of Flanders after the Dutchman had bested him in Milan—San Remo. In Italy, another phenomenon, Filippo Ganna, joined the two in the finale, and he'll also be present in the Hell of the North.
With Mads Pedersen in excellent form this season and Wout van Aert starting to find his rhythm, this year's Paris—Roubaix is clearly a race not to be missed.
The Hell of the North is one of the toughest one-day races on the calendar, and it takes a resilient individual to win. After enduring a daunting gauntlet of cobbles, the riders arrive at the Roubaix Velodrome. A perfect blend of positioning, bike handling, power, and tactical nous is essential to win the Hell of the North. But let's not forget a large slice of luck, either. Given the conditions, mechanical issues are unavoidable in Roubaix, and the timing of such issues can make the difference between winning and losing.
In this season's classics, Søren Wærenskjold (Omloop Het Nieuwsblad), Jasper Philipsen (Kuurne- Brussels- Kuurne), Tadej Pogacar (Strade Bianche), Nils Eekhoff (Nokere Koerse), Sebastián Molano (Brugge- De Panne), Mathieu van der Poel (E 3 Saxo Classic), Mads Pedersen (Gent- Wevelgem), Neilson Powless (Dwars door Vlaanderen), and Tadej Pogacar (Tour of Flanders) have all been celebrating.
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