Paris–Roubaix
Updated: 12/11/2025, 4:07:21 PM Wikipedia source
Paris–Roubaix [pa.ʁi.ʁu.bɛ] is a one-day professional bicycle road race in northern France, starting north of Paris and finishing in Roubaix, at the border with Belgium. It is one of cycling's oldest races, and is one of the 'Monuments' or classics of the European calendar, and contributes points towards the UCI World Ranking. From its beginning in 1896 until 1967, the race started in Paris and ended in Roubaix; in 1966 the start moved to Chantilly; and since 1977 it has started in Compiègne, about 85 kilometres (53 mi) north-east of the centre of Paris. Since 1943, the finish has for the most part taken place in the Roubaix Velodrome. The race is currently organised by the media group Amaury Sport Organisation, and takes place in early April, usually on the second Sunday. Paris–Roubaix is famous for rough terrain and cobblestones, or pavé (setts), being, with the Tour of Flanders, E3 Harelbeke and Gent–Wevelgem, one of the cobbled classics. It has been called the Hell of the North, a Sunday in Hell (also the title of a film about the 1976 race), the Queen of the Classics or la Pascale: the Easter race. Since 1977, the winner of Paris–Roubaix has received a sett (cobble stone) as part of his prize. The terrain has led to the development of specialised frames, wheels and tyres. Punctures and other mechanical problems are common and often influence the result. Despite the esteem of the race, some cyclists dismiss it because of its difficult conditions. The race has also seen several controversies, with winners disqualified. The course is maintained by Les Amis de Paris–Roubaix, a group of fans of the race formed in 1983. The forçats du pavé seek to keep the course safe for riders while maintaining its difficulty. Other than during the World Wars and, in 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic (the April 2021 race was postponed to October), it has taken place every year from its inception.
Infobox
Tables
| Year | Country | Rider | Team | |
| 1896 | Germany | Josef Fischer | Diamant | |
| 1897 | Italy | Maurice Garin | – | |
| 1898 | Italy | Maurice Garin | – | |
| 1899 | France | Albert Champion | – | |
| 1900 | France | Émile Bouhours | – | |
| 1901 | France | Lucien Lesna | – | |
| 1902 | France | Lucien Lesna | – | |
| 1903 | France | Hippolyte Aucouturier | Peugeot | |
| 1904 | France | Hippolyte Aucouturier | Peugeot | |
| 1905 | France | Louis Trousselier | Peugeot–Wolber | |
| 1906 | France | Henri Cornet | – | |
| 1907 | France | Georges Passerieu | Peugeot–Wolber | |
| 1908 | Belgium | Cyrille van Hauwaert | Alcyon–Dunlop | |
| 1909 | France | Octave Lapize | Biguet–Dunlop | |
| 1910 | France | Octave Lapize | Alcyon–Dunlop | |
| 1911 | France | Octave Lapize | La Française–Diamant | |
| 1912 | France | Charles Crupelandt | La Française–Diamant | |
| 1913 | Luxembourg | François Faber | Peugeot–Wolber | |
| 1914 | France | Charles Crupelandt | La Française–Hutchinson | |
| 1915 | No race due to World War I | |||
| 1916 | No race due to World War I | |||
| 1917 | No race due to World War I | |||
| 1918 | No race due to World War I | |||
| 1919 | France | Henri Pélissier | La Sportive | |
| 1920 | Belgium | Paul Deman | La Sportive | |
| 1921 | France | Henri Pélissier | La Sportive | |
| 1922 | Belgium | Albert Dejonghe | La Française | |
| 1923 | Switzerland | Heiri Suter | Gurtner–Hutchinson | |
| 1924 | Belgium | Jules van Hevel | Wonder–Russell | |
| 1925 | Belgium | Félix Sellier | Alcyon–Dunlop | |
| 1926 | Belgium | Julien Delbecque | Alcyon–Dunlop | |
| 1927 | Belgium | Georges Ronsse | Automoto | |
| 1928 | France | André Leducq | Alcyon–Dunlop | |
| 1929 | Belgium | Charles Meunier | La Française–Diamant–Dunlop | |
| 1930 | Belgium | Julien Vervaecke | Alcyon–Dunlop | |
| 1931 | Belgium | Gaston Rebry | Alcyon–Dunlop | |
| 1932 | Belgium | Romain Gijssels | Dilecta–Wolber | |
| 1933 | Belgium | Sylvère Maes | Alcyon–Dunlop | |
| 1934 | Belgium | Gaston Rebry | Alcyon–Dunlop | |
| 1935 | Belgium | Gaston Rebry | Alcyon–Dunlop | |
| 1936 | France | Georges Speicher | Alcyon–Dunlop | |
| 1937 | Italy | Jules Rossi | Alcyon–Dunlop | |
| 1938 | Belgium | Lucien Storme | Mercier–Hutchinson | |
| 1939 | Belgium | Émile Masson Jr. | Alcyon–Dunlop | |
| 1940 | No race due to World War II | |||
| 1941 | No race due to World War II | |||
| 1942 | No race due to World War II | |||
| 1943 | Belgium | Marcel Kint | Mercier–Hutchinson | |
| 1944 | Belgium | Maurice Desimpelaere | Alcyon–Dunlop | |
| Wins | Country |
| 57 | Belgium |
| 28 | France |
| 14 | Italy |
| 10 | Netherlands |
| 4 | Switzerland |
| 2 | Australia Germany Ireland |
| 1 | Luxembourg Moldova Slovakia Sweden |
| Rider | Avg. speed | Year | Distance |
| Mathieu van der Poel (NED) | mph) | 2024 | 259.7 km (161.4 mi) |
| Mathieu van der Poel (NED) | mph) | 2025 | 259.2 km (161.1 mi) |
| Mathieu van der Poel (NED) | mph) | 2023 | 256.6 km (159.4 mi) |
| Dylan van Baarle (NED) | mph) | 2022 | 257.2 km (159.8 mi) |
| Greg Van Avermaet (BEL) | mph) | 2017 | 257.0 km (159.7 mi) |
| Peter Post (NED) | mph) | 1964 | 265.0 km (164.7 mi) |
| Fabian Cancellara (SUI) | mph) | 2013 | 254.5 km (158.1 mi) |
| Rik Van Steenbergen (BEL) | mph) | 1948 | 246 km (153 mi) |
| Mathew Hayman (AUS) | mph) | 2016 | 257.5 km (160.0 mi) |
| Peter Sagan (SVK) | mph) | 2018 | 257.0 km (159.7 mi) |
| Pino Cerami (BEL) | mph) | 1960 | 262.5 km (163.1 mi) |
| Tom Boonen (BEL) | mph) | 2012 | 257.5 km (160.0 mi) |
| John Degenkolb (GER) | mph) | 2015 | 253.5 km (157.5 mi) |
| Tom Boonen (BEL) | mph) | 2008 | 259.5 km (161.2 mi) |
| Rider | Year |
| Heiri Suter (SUI) | 1923 |
| Romain Gijssels (BEL) | 1932 |
| Gaston Rebry (BEL) | 1934 |
| Raymond Impanis (BEL) | 1954 |
| Fred De Bruyne (BEL) | 1957 |
| Rik Van Looy (BEL) | 1962 |
| Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL) | 1977 |
| Peter Van Petegem (BEL) | 2003 |
| Tom Boonen (BEL) | 2005 |
| Fabian Cancellara (SUI) | 2010 |
| Tom Boonen (BEL) | 2012 |
| Fabian Cancellara (SUI) | 2013 |
| Mathieu van der Poel (NED) | 2024 |
References
- Paris–Roubaix is popularly known throughout the English-speaking world for its 'cobbled sectors', but this is a misnomer
- The Roman Catholic Church objected to the race being run on Easter Sunday, though who and at what level within the Churc
- "Hommage à Maurice Garin"https://web.archive.org/web/20131012070028/http://www.lesamisdeparisroubaix.com/Manifs%2004%20page.htm
- The Bordeaux–Paris race stayed with pacers until 1985.
- The regional and local councils are — The Conseil Général du Nord and the Communauté de la Porte du Hainaut
- Jean-François Pescheux is now the organiser of Paris–Roubaix
- La Maison is a combination of chamber of commerce, lobbying organisation and tourist office.
- 'Les forçats du pavé' is a reference to a newspaper article and book by Albert Londres which described the toiling rider
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- According to Chany
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- Roubaix is contiguous with Lille
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- L'Équipe, 23 July 2007
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- La Voix Des Sportshttp://www.lavoixdessports.com/Cyclisme/Paris_Roubaix/Audio_Video/2008/04/07/article_hommage-a-jean-stablinski.shtml
- L'Équipe, France, 8 April 2006
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- Dossier de Presse, journée organisée en l'honneur d'Émile Masson, les Amis de Paris–Roubaix, France
- Het Laatste Nieuws, Belgium, 21 April 2004
- "106th Paris–Roubaix – 1.HC, Hell's pavé strike its rhythm"http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/apr08/roubaix08/
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- Cyclingnewshttp://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/apr08/roubaix08/?id=/features/2008/quickstep_roubaix08
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