2025 Paris-Roubaix Preview: If this year’s Paris-Roubaix is as good as Sunday’s Tour of Flanders, there won’t be any complaints from the road/TV side. The cobbled Classic has two BIG favourites: World champion Tadej Pogačar and the winner of the last two Roubaix’s, Mathieu van der Poel. As we all know, anything can happen on the northern French pavé, but there is a queue of other riders who can step up. Here is the PEZ ‘Hell of the North’ preview:
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Paris-Roubaix 2024:
2024 Paris-Roubaix highlights
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Mathieu van der Poel won Paris-Roubaix for the second time in a row with a long solo ride. A week after his victory in the Tour of Flanders, his Alpecin-Deceuninck team split the race early, then the World champion went solo with 60 kilometres to go. He had three minutes to enjoy his win on the Roubaix velodrome. Jasper Philipsen sprinted far second place, Mads Pedersen finished third.
Mud and dust in 2024
The first hour of racing was at a high pace, over 54kph. The strong tail-wind and the riders wanting to be in the early break, made sure the speed was high. In that first hour, a group of seven broke away, with Per Strand Hagenes (Visma | Lease a Bike), Rasmus Tiller (Uno-X Mobility), Kasper Asgreen (Soudal Quick-Step), Liam Slock (Lotto Dstny), Marco Haller (BORA-hansgrohe), Gleb Syritsa (Astana Qazaqstan) and Kamil Malecki (Q36.5). They were not allowed to get too far ahead and so Dries De Bondt (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) and Dusan Rajovic (Bahrain Victorious) were able to join them. The peloton led by Alpecin-Deceuninck, didn’t let them take much over 1 minute. Before the Forest of Wallers, the break was caught by a group of favourites that had split the race on the first cobbled sector. Mathieu van der Poel and Jasper Philipsen with most of their teammates rode on the front through the first sections. Then the Alpecin-Deceuninck team formed a front echelon in a cross-wind, this completely split the peloton. Some riders were able to fight their way back to the front group, but most of the peloton was already out of the race with about 150 kilometres still to go. Joshua Tarling was disqualified from the race, due to a very long sticky bottle, but he had been waiting a long time for team service. The thinned peloton included most of the favourites. The next action point would be Wallers/Arenberg, the first 5 star sector of the day, with the chicane at its start. The lead group got through without any problem and it was Mads Pedersen who started the cobbled fun.
Pont Gibus
On the uneven cobbles of Arenberg, Van der Poel pushed hard with Pedersen, Philipsen and Mick van Dijke on his wheel. They left the forest with a small lead, but Philipsen had a slow puncture. The pace slowed, allowing a group with Stefan Küng, Laurence Pithie, Tom Pidcock, Nils Politt, Tim Wellens, Stefan Bissegger, Johan Jacobs, Jordi Meeus and Gianni Vermeersch to catch the leaders. Philipsen was also able to return after a quick bike change. Pedersen, Meeus and Wellens all had punctures one after another, but luckily were able to return to the leaders. Politt, Küng and Vermeersch jumped away in the lull and their teammates slowed the chase. They managed to take a 40 second lead, this meant Lidl-Trek had to start the chase. With 70 kilometres to go, the three escapees were caught by Pedersen’s workers. Then on the 3 star Orchies section, Van der Poel decided to attack again and he soon had a big lead. No one could follow the move of the World champion 59 kilometres from the finish. The chase couldn’t get organised as Philipsen and Vermeersch were doing their best to disrupt any work behind their team leader. Van der Poel soon had over 1 minute in 10 kilometres, his competitors would have to work hard to pull him back and they had Philipsen and Vermeersch along for a free ride. The pace of the chasers dropped on Mons-en-Pévèle and the World champion was able to take even more time. Van der Poel was going to repeat his solo victory of a week before in the Tour of Flanders.
Van der Poel solo
The battle for the podium continued on Mons-en-Pévèle. Pedersen, Küng, Pithie, Politt and Philipsen broke away from the group, but this was more than 1:40 minutes behind Van der Poel, who now had more than 2 minutes. Pithie crashed on a corner, messing up his top day on the Roubaix cobbles. The rainbow jersey battled on through the dust of the ‘Hell of the North’ setting another record speed for a Classic after last week in Flanders and last year in Paris-Roubaix. Van der Poel was putting more time between himself and the Pedersen and Philipsen. Twenty kilometres from the finish the gap was almost 3 minutes. Just before Carrefour de l’Arbre, Vermeersch and Pithie nearly got back to the Pedersen group, but they were stuck at 20 seconds and then started to lose time. Van der Poel was on his way to join Fabian Cancellara, Tom Boonen and Roger De Vlaeminck as Ronde/Roubaix winners in one season. Plus Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Peter Sagan, all winners of Roubaix as world champion. On the Gruson section, Philipsen put in an attack, which Küng couldn’t follow. Pedersen and Politt had to try very hard, but were able to pull the Belgian back. These three would sprint for the two podium places. The German was the first to start the sprint, but it was Philipsen who claimed second place, just like last year, ahead of Pedersen. Küng finished fifth, Vermeersch sixth and Pithie seventh.
Can Mathieu van der Poel equal Octave Lapize, Gaston Rebry, Rik Van Looy, Eddy Merckx, Francesco Moser, Johan Museeuw and Fabian Cancellara on three Roubaix wins?
2024 Paris-Roubaix Result:
1. Mathieu van der Poel (Ned) Alpecin-Deceuninck in 5:25:58
2. Jasper Philipsen (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck at 3:00
3. Mads Pedersen (Den) Lidl-Trek
4. Nils Politt (Ger) UAE Team Emirates
5. Stefan Küng (Sui) Groupama-FDJ at 3:15
6. Gianni Vermeersch (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck at 3:47
7. Laurence Pithie (NZ) Groupama-FDJ at 3:48
8. Jordi Meeus (Bel) BORA-hansgrohe at 4:47
9. Søren Wærenskjold (Nor) Uno-X Mobility
10. Madis Mihkels (Est) Intermarché-Wanty.
The 2024 Roubaix podium
The 2025 Parcours
The route of Paris-Roubaix 2025 has a few minor changes. This year, there are thirty cobblestone sections, one more than last year, and there are a few new sections, early in the race. The cobblestone section of Saint-Python is making its return after a year’s absence. The start in Compiègne has been the tradition since 1977. After 259.2 kilometres, the finish is on the Roubaix velodrome.
The start of hell in Compiègne
The first part of the route is on asphalt roads, until the first cobbles come after 95.8 kilometres. The first section is from Troisvilles to Inchy and has three stars. The cobbles from Quiévy to Saint-Python has four stars, and could be the first crucial passage. The early part has also been made a bit more difficult thanks to a detour near Quérénaing. The two new Artres section are not very difficult, but they start five sections, quickly one after another. These sections should thin out the peloton before the Arenberg, the first five-star section of the day.
2025 Paris-Roubaix profile
To increase safety, the approach has been changed again. Last year, a chicane was added to the route, so that the peloton would hit the cobbles of the Trouée d’Arenberg at a lower speed. “But now we have an alternative where the speed will be slowed down in a smoother way. We are making a small detour along the Arenberg mine site, including four right-angle bends in the kilometre before the Forest,” ASO announced.
Arenberg mine detour
The final should then kick in. Then there are eighteen cobbled sections to go, two of which are five stars. Mons-en-Pévèle comes with 48.6 kilometres to go and in the final, the Carrefour de l’Arbre, 17.1 kilometres from the velodrome. These are the toughest sections, but it is the accumulation of punishment that ends a rider’s hopes. After the Carrefour de l’Arbre, the toughest part of the race is behind them , although the sections of Gruson, Hem and Roubaix are still to follow, before the torture ends on the velodrome de Roubaix. The riders then have a lap and a half on the Vélodrome before the finish line.
2025 Paris-Roubaix map
2025 Paris-Roubaix Cobbled Sections:
30. Troisvilles à Inchy (163.4km to go) 2,200m – ***
29. Viesly à Quiévy (156.9km) 1,800m – ***
28. Quiévy à Saint-Python (154.3km) 3,700m – ****
27. Saint-Python (149.6km) 1,500m – **
26. Vertain à Saint-Martin-sur-Écaillon (142.5km) 2,300m – ***
25. Verchain-Maugre à Quérénaing (131.2km) 1,600m – ***
24. Artres à Quérénaing (128.3km) 1,300m – **
23. Artres à Famars (125.4km) 1,200m ***
22. Quérénaing à Maing (120.7km) 2,500m – ***
21. Maing à Monchaux-sur-Écaillon (117.6km) 1,600m – ***
20. Haveluy à Wallers (104.7km) 2,500m – ****
19. Trouée d’Arenberg (95.3km) 2,300m – *****
18. Wallers à Hélesmes (another 89.2km) 1,600m – ***
17. Hornaing à Wandignies (82.5km) 3,700m – ****
16. Warlaing à Brillon (75km) 2,400m – ***
15. Tilloy à Sars-et-Rosières (71.5km) 2,400m – ****
14. Beuvry à Orchies (65.2km) 1,400m – ***
13. Orchies (60.1km) 1,700m – ***
12. Auchy à Bersée (54km) 2,700m – ****
11. Mons-en-Pévèle (48.6km) 3,000m – *****
10. Mérignies à Avelin (42.6km) 700m – **
9. Pont-Thibault à Ennevelin (39.2km) 1,400m – ***
8. Templeuve (L’Épinette) (33.8km) 200m – *
8. Templeuve (Moulin-de-Vertain) (33.3km) 500m – **
7. Cysoing à Bourghelles (26.8km) 1,300m – ***
6. Bourghelles à Wannehain (24.3km) 1,100m – ***
5. Camphin-en-Pévèle (19.9km) 1,800m – ****
4. Carrefour de l’Arbre (17.1km) 2,100m – *****
3. Gruson (14.8km) 1,100m – **
2. Willems à Hem (8.2km) 1,400m – ***
1. Roubaix (Espace Charles Crupelandt) (1.4km) 300m – *
Paris-Roubaix 2025 – Tadej Pogacar POV ride through the iconic Trouée d’Arenberg
The Favourites
Tadej Pogačar is the big favourite for Paris-Roubaix, but lets not forget that this is the Slovenian’s first race on the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix. The World champion has the power, as he showed on the Oude Kwaremont last Sunday in De Ronde. Pogačar is clearly in his best form and it was his choice to ride the ‘Hell of the North’. Pogačar wants to win all five Monuments and now is the perfect time to add the cobbled Classic to his palmaès.It has been said that his weight is against him on the pavé. 2016 Roubaix winner, Matthew Hayman pointed out that Pogačar’s 66 kilograms is quite light for a Paris-Roubaix rider. “I cannot deny that he has a disadvantage with that. He can make up a lot in class, but I think he will clash with the Mathieus, Wouts and Gannas of this world. Perhaps his light weight means that he can pedal less pure wattage at the end of the race. That can play a role.” Sep Vanmarcke agreed: “That is also exactly the reason why I do not believe that Tadej will win. On the flat roads and on the cobblestones he will never ride away from Van der Poel. In terms of wattage per kilogram, his competitors can never match him, but that does not count on the flat. Paris-Roubaix is a race that is decided by absolute power and the others have more of that. And in the sprint he is normally also beaten.” There is also the question of the weather. The forecast for Sunday says there is a possibility of rain, that would be to the advantage of Van der Poel and Van Aert.
It’s hard to bet against Tadej Pogačar
There are also question marks over Mathieu van der Poel, the winner of the past two Roubaixs. The Alpecin-Deceuninck leader couldn’t hold Pogačar’s wheel at a decisive moment in the Tour of Flanders, but there are several explanations for that. He had crashed before the final started and hurt his shoulder. Van der Poel had also been ill for three days after the E3 Saxo Classic, which meant he wasn’t in top form last Sunday. He will have had a week of recovery before Paris-Roubaix, so we should expect a better Van der Poel. Pogačar will have to drop the strong Dutchman, otherwise the Slovenian will be beat in the sprint. Vanmarcke also pointed out that: “He has so much feeling for the cobblestones and the surface, because he has always been a cyclo-crosser. I expect that he can ride more economically over the cobblestones.” Van der Poel also has the advantage of knowing the roads, winning twice and finishing third and ninth on the other two occasions he has ridden.
A third-in-a-row Paris-Roubaix for Mathieu van der Poel?
Wout van Aert has all the same advantages as Van der Poel, except he has never won in Roubaix, although he has been second, third and seventh (plus 13th and 22nd). It has always been thought that Paris-Roubaix is the Classic that most suits his attributes. In the Tour of Flanders, the leader of Visma | Lease a Bike looked more like his old self after a less than good start to the season and his altitude training camp. There are no steep climbs in Roubaix, unlike in Flanders and the cobbled sections require much less explosiveness, something that Van Aert, who is more of a diesel engine, lacks. Van Aert, like everyone else, will have to avoid bad luck. In 2023, he could have been with Van der Poel all the way to Roubaix, until he punctured on the Carrefour de l’Arbre. Visma | Lease a Bike also has former winner, Dylan van Baarle, but the team has to get the tactics right, they don’t want a repeat of Dwars door Vlaanderen.
Van Aert seems to be coming out of the dark clouds
The other team that had options in the final of the Tour of Flanders was Lidl-Trek, they had Mads Pedersen and Jasper Stuyven. Like Van Aert, they should also have a better time on the flat cobbles than on the Flemish muurs. Add Jonathan Milan to the Lidl Trek roster and they have a very strong group.
Mads Pedersen – Another man on form
Van der Poel can also count on a strong teammate on Sunday: Jasper Philipsen. In the past two years, Philipsen has finished second to his Alpecin-Deceuninck leader. Behind Van der Poel’s solo wins, the fast Belgian controlled the chase and then won the sprint for second place on the track. No one will wan’t to have Philipsen with them at the finish. If Philipsen is in a front group, he could have his day… if Mathieu isn’t there, of course.
Philipsen should be up there
Pogačar is also not alone at UAE Emirates XRG, there is Florian Vermeersch in the wings. He sprinted to second place behind Sonny Colbrelli in 2021. In De Ronde, Pogačar lost half his team early on, but no Vermeersch, who then worked hard. Paris-Roubaix has always been his dream race and he believes that riding with Pogačar could be to his advantage. Nils Politt has also finished in second place, that was in 2019 behind Philippe Gilbert. You can also look out for Tim Wellens in a strong UAE team.
Worker or winner – Florian Vermeersch
A big engine is a must for Paris-Roubaix and multiple World time trial champion Filippo Ganna has one of those. The Italian is having a great spring, was the only rider able to follow Van der Poel and Pogačar in Milan-Sanremo. He is a bit heavy for the sharp climbs in the Flemish races, but in Roubaix he should be in his element. Ganna was strong in the 2023 Paris-Roubaix in 2023. If it hadn’t been for bad luck, he would have finished higher than sixth. The finish is on a velodrome and Ganna knows a thing or two about them.
The best Classic for Ganna
Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ) is also a man with a big engines, but unlike Ganna, he doesn’t have a sprint, but Küng can put the power and speed down and hold it for a long time. European time trial champion Joshua Tarling, a teammate of Ganna can also do the same, but he is young and doesn’t have the Roubaix experience that the others have. That said, the time trial specialists shouldn’t be given too much space off the front, or they won’t be seen again.
Küng is bound to be in the action
As there is no climbing, the list of contenders in the ‘Hell of the North’ is long. Domestiques who escape in an early break can hold out for a long time. XDS Astana have Davide Ballerini and Mike Teunissen, who was ninth in the Tour of Flanders and Movistar will be led by Ivan Garcia Cortina. Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe has the Van Dijke brothers Mick and Tim, Oier Lazkano, Laurence Pithie, Jordi Meeus and Danny van Poppel. There is also the Norwegian Uno-X Mobility riders: Søren Wærenskjold, Jonas Abrahamsen and Alexander Kristoff.
Girmay has had a quiet spring so far
Intermarché-Wanty’s Biniam Girmay is aiming at Paris-Roubaix for the first time, although Laurenz Rex could be their best man. Soudal Quick-Step will rely on Tim Merlier, and Lotto will have Alec Segaert and Brent Van Moer on the start line. Picnic PostNL will be hoping that Nils Eekhoff will recover in time, while Unibet Tietema Rockets will count on the Slovakian Lukas Kubis.
Van der Poel is our top favourite, but Pogačar is very close
Who Will Win?:
Top Favourites: Mathieu van der Poel (10/10) with Tadej Pogačar (9/10)
Very Close: Wout van Aert
Probable: Mads Pedersen, Jasper Philipsen and Filippo Ganna
Maybe: Jasper Stuyven, Matteo Jorgenson, Stefan Küng and Florian Vermeersch.
* The start list might change before Sunday
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