Paris-Roubaix history
Often described as the Queen of the Classics or the Hell of the North, Paris-Roubaix is the third Monument of the cycling season and arguably the most recognisable event in the sport after the Tour de France. The race dates back to 1896 and has taken place 120 times since then.
Compiègne – around 80km outside of Paris – has hosted the race start since 1977, while Paris played host from the very start up to 1967.
Belgians have dominated the cobbled Classic, with 57 winners over the years.
Two Belgians share the accolade of taking the most wins at the race, with Roger De Vlaeminck winning four times in the 1970s and Tom Boonen completing his quadruple between 2005 and 2012.
As you'd expect, the honour roll is replete with huge names from cycling history, from Eddy Merckx and Sean Kelly to Johan Museeuw and Fausto Coppi. Of the current peloton, no rider has won the race more than once.
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Paris-Roubaix route
On Sunday, April 7, 2023, riders will take on the Hell of the North – Paris-Roubaix on a route that is 259.9 kilometres long with 29 sections of cobblestone roads totalling 55.7 kilometres of suffering.
There have only been a few changes to the Paris-Roubaix route for 2024, which you can check out at our comprehensive guide.
Paris-Roubaix start list
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