Our in-depth preview of Paris-Roubaix - the Queen of the Classics - which takes place on Sunday.
Queen of the Classics a race apart
There can be few more memorable images in cycling than a mud-splattered rider, teeth gritted, rattling his way over the rutted pavé of northern France. Scenes like this have come to epitomise Paris-Roubaix and have helped make it arguably the most iconic one-day race of the year.
The Hell of the North is one of the oldest events on the calendar and this year is celebrating its 108th edition. The route, actually run from Compiègne in the northern suburbs of Paris to Roubaix, is about as tough as road racing gets with 53km of its 259km being run over those bone-jangling cobbles.
Expect to see punctured tyres, snapped forks and broken dreams before the race culminates in front of legions of screaming fans inside the legendary Roubaix Velodrome.
The course will follow the same route as last year as the Wallers to Hélesmes section is out of action again due to resurfacing. Despite that absence, the parcours still looks a devilishly tough one and here we give an overview of the course the riders will face as they tackle the fabled Queen of the Classics:
The start:
Once the peloton rolls out to the north of Compiègne it's relatively straightforward for the first 97.5km so expect to see plenty of attacks as the rider look to gain an early advantage ahead of the 27 tricky sections to come.
Section 27: Troisvilles to Inchy - 2.2km at 97.5km
Once the riders pass the memorial to Jean Stablinski the action will really hot up as they make their way onto the cobbles for the first time. Starting at 136m, it's the highest section of the day and usually one of the muddiest. The tight right-hand bend towards the end has been known to cause plenty of problems, especially in the slippery conditions, and the cobbles are at their roughest as they arrive into Inchy.
Section 26: Viesly to Quiévy - 1.8km at 104km
This is commonly another muddy section but the cobbles this year are in fairly good condition right the way along the straight road, which has a slightly decreasing gradient.
Section 25: Quiévy to Saint-Python - 3.7km at 106.5km
Along with the Hornaing to Wandignies-Hamage section, this is the longest segment of the race and kicks up sharply after a tough right-hand corner halfway through. That rise will no doubt have the riders puffing and panting but the cobbles towards the end should at least be in good condition as they were re-laid in 2007.
Section 24: Saint-Python - 1.5km at 115.5km
The mud that sometimes accumulates on the early part of this section will be the only real concern as from then on it proceeds in a straight direction on well-maintained cobbles and the gradient drops gradually over the final kilometre into Saint-Python.
Section 23: Vertain to Saint-Martin-sur-Écaillon - 2km at 119km
Again, there should be no real problems on this slightly descending pavé other than a small left-hand bend towards the middle.
Section 22: Capelle-sur-Écaillon to Le-Buat - 1.7km at 126km
After dropping momentarily at the start the road then ramps back up over the final kilometre and an average gradient of 7% makes it the steepest cobbled section of the race. Mercifully the cobbles are relatively new and in a fairly good state of repair.
Section 21: Verchain-Maugré to Quérénaing - 1.6km at 138km
Another relatively easy section which is both level and straight. The only possible problem could be the small potholes which intersperse the cobbles at irregular intervals.
Section 20: Quérénaing to Maing - 2.5km at 141km
After a slight rise in the first kilometre there's a long descent of between 2.5-3.8% which follows for the remainder of the section, making it one of the quickest on the course. A muddy mid-section section has been known to catch riders out in the past but there should be no further headaches on here.
Section 19: Maing to Monchaux-sur-Écaillon - 1.6km at 144km
This is another long, straight section which is made considerably tougher by some really rough cobbles to contend with on the opening first kilometre. Conditions improve markedly over the final 600m though as the riders descend slowly back onto the asphalt.
Section 18: Haveluy to Wallers - 2.5km at 155.5km
Also known as the Bernard Hinault section in the great man's honour, the cobbles here are not in the greatest shape and the fact that they are often caked in mud could make for very slow and perilous progress.
Section 17: Trouée d'Arenberg - 2.4km at 164km
The daddy of them all, the Trench of Arenberg has become the symbol of Paris-Roubaix and has provided the launch pad for many memorable victories since its first inclusion in 1968. Despite being renovated in 2005, Filippo Pozzato still regards it as "the true definition of hell" and the section remains frought with danger due to the speeds the riders reach as they jostle for the best positions early on.
Section 16: Hornaing to Wandignies-Hamage - 3.7km at 176km
This long, flat section takes the shape of a reversed L which kinks right after 800m and continues in a straight line for the remaining 2.9km. The relatively well-maintained road surface means it should be one of the easier segments of the course.
Section 15: Warlaing to Brillon - 2.4km at 183.5km
The section is a smaller version of its predecessor, this time turning right after the first 400m. First used in 1983. The road is the D81, at 17m at each end, formed in an L shape. The surface is in good condition at first but the sunken sections which pepper the final stages could catch a few tired riders unawares.
Section 14: Tilloy to Sars-et-Rosières - 2.4km at 187km
The fact that this section is more used to accommodating tractors than bicycles means the mud could again be a problem here. It's a windy old segment as well with two 90-degree bends in the middle which will slow the progress significantly. Mercifully though, the cobbles are regularly maintained so they shouldn't be a further hindrance.
Section 13: Beuvry-la-forêt to Orchies - 1.4km at 193.5km
This is the newest addition of the course at just three years old, and the final 700m were laid especially for the race in honour of two-time winner Marc Madiot. After a slight rise during the first half the gradient then flattens out and it should be relatively plain sailing until the end.
Section 12: Orchies - 1.7km at 198.5km
Another L-shaped section which is usually pretty muddy on the flat first straight. After the bend though the route rises slightly and as the mud dissipates the cobbles descend in quality making for a tougher finish.
Section 11: Auchy-lez-Orchies to Bersée - 1.2km at 204.5km
This semi-circular section was missed out entirely in 2007 and 2008 due to the poor condition of the cobbles but it has since been repaired to somewhere near its former glory making for a much easier passage.
Section 10: Mons-en-Pévèle - 3km at 210km
Along with the Trouée d'Arenberg and Carrefour de l'Arbre this is always one of the most hotly-anticipated and punishing sections of the day. The first 1.1km is nothing too taxing, but once the riders make a 90-degree right-hand turn onto the rue du Blocus the pavé deteriorates markedly and mud is increasingly a problem as they continue around the next sharp bend and onto the ruelle Flamande. Attacks launched here have proved decisive in the past but most of the riders will be happy to merely make it over this section with body and bike intact.
Section 9: Mérignies to Le Prez - 0.7km at 216km
After the Mons-en-Pévèle this short, straight section should be a walk in the park as the cobbles are in good condition and there is nothing to hinder the riders' progress.
Section 8: Pont-Thibaut to Ennevelin - 1.4km at 219.5km
Two tight left-hand turns punctuate this segment and more grimy cobbles will slow up the action even further. The condition of the pavé on the closing straight has proved especially troublesome in the past, although work is scheduled to improve it.
Section 7: Part One - Templeuve to L'Épinette - 0.2km at 225km
This initial section is pretty much dead-straight and after some dodgy cobbles at the start conditions improve greatly towards the end.
Part Two - Templeuve to Moulin-de-Vertain - 0.5km at 225.5km
This section was dug out for the centenary race in 2002 and despite its relatively recent inclusion, its cobbles still remain difficult to negotiate.
Section 6: Part One - Cysoing to Bourghelles - 1.3km at 232km
This section is characterised by the peaks and troughs which run right the way along it. The poorly-maintained cobbles in the U-shaped middle segment could be cause for concern but, once they make it over, those conditions improve again at the finish.
Part Two - Bourghelles to Wannehain - 1.1km at 234.5km
A tale of two halves this one - the first segment is in relatively good condition but the irregular surface of the latter part will definitely make for some hard riding. Part of this section includes repaved cobbles which used to be used on the Péronne-en-Mélantois stretch from the 1950s.
Section 5: Camphin-en-Pévèle - 1.8km at 239km
The right-hand corner in the middle of this section is made more difficult due to the incessant mud and the disjointed cobbles are at their worst over the final 300m.
Section 4: Carrefour de l'Arbre - 2.1km at 241.5km
The first 1.2km is straightforward until the approach to the tight left-hand bend where the cobbles deteriorate markedly. Their quality continues to fluctuate from then on up the slightly uphill final segment.
Section 3: Gruson - 1.1km at 244km
The difficulty rating continues with a third tough section in quick succession and as one of the last opportunities for a decisive attack this is one of the most popular points for spectators.
Section 2: Willems to Hem - 1.4km at 250.5km
This section should be one of the easier ones but it always seems exposed to the wind and though the cobbles are generally in reasonable state there have been plenty of punctures, most notably the one suffered by Johan Museeuw in 2004 which ended his hopes of a record-equalling fourth triumph.
Section 1: Roubaix - 0.3km at 257.5km
The final stretch, first used in 1996 and in great condition, is unofficially known as the 'Chemin des Géants' [Road of the Giants] as placed among the cobbles are plaques to every race winner. The riders then head to the finish at the Roubaix Velodrome to make their own mark in the race's rich history.
