Paris-Roubaix 2026 preview | On cobblestones, roles of Pogacar, Van der Poel (and Van Aert?) may be reversed

Wednesday, 08 April 2026 at 06:45

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On to the next Monument. In the eyes of many fans it is the most exciting day of the cobbled spring. Paris-Roubaix is a monster of a race and for many an ordeal of suffering. Except for that one rider who gets to throw his hands in the air on the famous Roubaix Vélodrome. IDL Pro Cycling previews Paris-Roubaix 2026.

The third Monument of the year is known as 'The Hell of the North'. It's 30 cobbled sectors litter the 258.3 kilometres from Compiègne to Roubaix. The very first edition was won in 1896 by Josef Fischer and since then great names have appeared on the honours list. Roger De Vlaeminck and Tom Boonen are record holders with four victories.

In 2026, Mathieu van der Poel aims to join them in the 4 wins club. The Alpecin-Premier Tech team leader won the last three editions. However, the cobble specialist faces stiff competition. World champion Tadej Pogačar is making a second attempt after finishing runner-up in 2025.

Will we get another duel between two of the strongest from Milan-San Remo and the Tour of Flanders? If Pogačar wins, the Slovenian from UAE Emirates-XRG will be on course to win all five Monuments in a year. But does his dominance transfer to the flat, jagged cobbles of Northern France?

Latest winners Paris-Roubaix

2025 Mathieu van der Poel
2024 Mathieu van der Poel
2023 Mathieu van der Poel
2022 Dylan van Baarle
2021 Sonny Colbrelli
~~2020 Cancelled~~
2019 Philippe Gilbert
2018 Peter Sagan
2017 Greg Van Avermaet
2016 Matthew Hayman

Paris-Roubaix 2026: Route, weather and start times

The Paris-Roubaix routes holds few surprises for riders or fans, with the highlights falling in the same place each year. But everyone knows: having super legs is no guarantee of being at the front. Because every cobbled sector is a fight for position.

There are 54.8 kilometres of cobbles in total. The early kilometres from Compiègne are nothing but tarmac, allowing the early breakaway riders to establish a group. The first sector is from from Troisvilles to Inchy at kilometre 95.

Paris-Roubaix isn't often won on the first cobbled sectors, but it can certainly be lost there. Crashes, poor positioning, mechanical problems... a bit of luck in the first four sectors within 15 kilometres of each other can set a rider up for a great day.

New uphill sector to add fireworks?

The fifth sector of the day is new. It runs for 800 metres from Briastre to Solesmes and is, unusually for Roubaix, uphill. The organisation clearly hope for some early fireworks in this phase. Usually the show really begins in the Forest of Wallers, on the famous Trouée d'Arenberg sector.

The organisation places a few corners before the Forest, so that the riders do not arrive at one of the most uneven cobbled sectors at top speed. Whoever loses contact with the front of the race here usually doesn't find their way back. After the Forest there are still 95 kilometres to go, so it is often the starting point of the finale.

With eighteen sectors still on the menu, the cobbles follow each other in very rapid succession in the final two hours. The five-star cobbles of Mons-en-Pévèle and Carrefour de l'Arbre are the hardest, but the decisive move can be forced on any of the remaining sectors.

After Carrefour de l'Arbre there is roughly 20km to go, and in theory the truly tough sectors are out of the way. Now it is a race towards the Vélodrome in Roubaix.

In recent years, we have seen a reduced sprint from an elite group, or a solo hero who has broken away from the rest. How will it play out on Sunday?

Cobbled Sectors
95.8 km: Troisvilles à Inchy
102.3 km: Viesly à Quiévy
104.9 km: Quiévy à Fontaine au Tertre
111.1 km: Viesly à Briastre
114.9 km: Briastre

123.7 km: Solesmes à Haussy
130.5 km: Saulzoir à Verchain-Maugré
134.9 km: Verchain-Maugré à Quérénaing
137.5 km: Quérénaing à Maing
140.7 km: Maing à Monchaux-sur-Écaillon

153.6 km: Haveluy à Wallers
163.0 km: Trouée d'Arenberg *
169.1 km: Wallers à Hélesmes
175.9 km: Hornaing à Wandignies
183.3 km: Warlaing à Brillon

186.8 km: Tilloy à Sars-et-Rosières
193.2 km: Beuvry-la-Forêt à Orchies
198.2 km: Orchies
204.3 km: Auchy-lez-Orchies à Bersée
209.7 km: Mons-en-Pévèle *

215.7 km: Mérignies à Avelin
219.1 km: Pont-Thibault à Ennevelin
224.5 km: Templeuve
231.5 km: Cysoing à Bourghelles
234.0 km: Bourghelles à Wannehain

238.4 km: Camphin-en-Pévèle
241.2 km: Carrefour de l'Arbre *
243.5 km: Gruson
250.2 km: Willems à Hem
256.9 km: Roubaix

* 5-star sectors

Times
Start: 11:05 a.m.
Finish: Around 4:49 p.m.

Weather Paris-Roubaix 2026

It will be hot all week, from Compiègne to Roubaix. Temperatures above 20 degrees normally make the course completely dry. Still, the mercury will drop considerably on Sunday, to around 11 degrees.

Favourites Paris-Roubaix 2026

Please note that the list of participants is not yet complete, so this section is subject to change.

Paris-Roubaix was for years a race which could be won by different twenty riders. But if we are completely honest, that group of riders has shrunk considerably. Mathieu van der Poel is the big favourite, having already won three times in a row. And Alpecin-Premier Tech have Jasper Philipsen as their joker.

UAE Emirates-XRG provide the great challenger in Tadej Pogačar. The Slovenian will hope that he keeps Florian Vermeersch close for as long as possible. Visma | Lease a Bike put an impressive bloc against that. Wout van Aert will be team leader, but try riding Christophe Laporte and especially cobble specialist Per Strand Hagenes off your wheel.

Someone we also place among the outsiders is Filippo Ganna. The Italian from INEOS Grenadiers won Dwars door Vlaanderen and is picking his classics this spring meticulously. With his power he is very dangerous. The same naturally applies to Mads Pedersen at Lidl-Trek, but The Dane is still dealing with lingering injuries.

Continue reading below the photo

Mathieu van der Poel

Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe backed Remco Evenepoel in the Tour of Flanders, but now it is the turn of Tim and Mick van Dijke, together with Gianni Vermeersch. At Bahrain Victorious we look to Alec Segaert, who won the GP de Denain — the appetiser for Paris-Roubaix. Matej Mohorič also takes part.

Other powerhouses? Former winner Dylan van Baarle will hope that he finally shows his good legs, with Jasper Stuyven also on hand at Soudal Quick-Step. Daan Hoole is also in excellent form at Decathlon CMA CGM. And what about Jonas Abrahamsen at Uno-X Mobility?

We are also curious about Arnaud De Lie on behalf of Lotto-Intermarché. Lidl-Trek have Pedersen, but with Jonathan Milan, Mathias Vacek and Jakob Söderqvist in the team, they can also hope for a good day.

Not so small a group of potential winners then! However, against Van der Poel and Pogačar, winning will be a tall order for this group.

IDL Pro Cycling picks: Paris-Roubaix 2026

Top favourite: Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech)
Outsiders: Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates-XRG), Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike), Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) and Filippo Ganna (INEOS Grenadiers)

Longshots: Per Strand Hagenes and Christophe Laporte (Visma | Lease a Bike), Florian Vermeersch (UAE Emirates-XRG), Gianni Vermeersch, Tim and Mick van Dijke (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Intermarché), Daan Hoole (Decathlon CMA CGM), Jasper Philipsen(Alpecin-Premier Tech), Alec Segaert and Matej Mohoric (Bahrain Victorious), Dylan van Baarle and Jasper Stuyven (Soudal Quick-Step), Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility), Jonathan Milan, Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek)

Who will win Paris Roubaix?

Participants and race numbers: Paris-Roubaix 2026

Data powered by FirstCycling.com

TV Paris-Roubaix 2026

Paris-Roubaix, men (finish around 4:45 p.m.)
NPO 1: 12:45 p.m.
Eurosport: 10:30
HBO Max: 10:30
Sporza: 12:40

Paris-Roubaix, women (finish around 18:15)
NPO 1: 17:00
Eurosport: 17:00
HBO Max: 16:45
Sporza: 17:00

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