The rivalry between the Dutch Mathieu Van der Poel and the Belgian Wout Van Aertthe great protagonists of the season with the absent Tadej Pogacar, the main focus will be on the 120th edition of Paris Roubaixthe “Hell of the North” that will take place this Sunday between Compiègne and Roubaix with a route of 256.6 km, of which 54.5 is paved, divided into 29 sections.
Van der Poel and Van Aert, second and fourth last Sunday in Flanders, They are the undisputed favorites within a list of contestants where there is no shortage of candidates to get one of those victories that justifies an entire sports career.
In the company of defending champion, Dutchman Dylan van Baarle, Jumbo Visma presents heavy artillery. for the “pavé” battle, which also features runners like Laporte or Van Hooydonnk, who can play a decisive role taking advantage of Van Aert’s marking of the greats.
In the Alpecin range carte blanche for Van der Poel, winner in Sanremo and defeated in “De Ronde” only by Pogacar. The Dutch 5-time cyclo-cross world champion aims for his first golden paving stone, like Van Aert, despite the fact that the Belgian claims to be suffering from discomfort due to a fall he suffered in Flanders. A giant event that aroused enormous expectations in this edition.
van der poel you are not alone either, will have the support, among others, of Belgian sprinter Jasper Philipsenwinner of the Scheldt GP, where the Dutch phenomenon made a test while setting up his fellow sprinter.
In the battle for the “classic of the classics” other contenders for absolute glory will appear, or at least for the podium, in the case of the Slovenian Matej Mohoric (Bahrain), the Italian Filippo Ganna (Ineos), or Soudal with the double trick of Kasper Asgreen and Merlier.
The Trek Segafredo trio of Mads Pedersen, Stuyven and Theuns will also enter the cobblestone fray.
Among the Spanish options, eyes are on Movistar, this time without the American Matteo Jorgensonbut with the trust given to Iván García Cortina, who will be joined by Oier Lazkano, Johan Jacobs, Juri Hollmann, Mathias Norsgaard, Lluis Mas and Iván Romeo.
29 SECTIONS OF “PAVÉ” IN HELL
The “Hell of the North”, or the “Mother of all classics”, includes a total of 29 pavé sections along its 256.6 km routea whole survival exercise divided into three phases.
To begin with, almost 100 km is flat, where a breakaway will develop and the wind can play a leading role. In this chapter, you will reach the first of the 29 pavé sections, Troisvilles (2,200 meters).
In the second part, the first meaningful choice is usually made. in the sectors before the Arenberg (2,400 meters), the first “five-star” cobbled obstacle, located 95 km from the finish line, one of the most famous points of the route.
The final stage is truly hellish, as there are 18 cobblestone sections aheadamong them the two main points, the approach to Mons-en-Pévèle (3,000 meters, 49 from the finish line) of the highest difficulty and the successive Camphin-en-Pévèle, this year baptized as section of Eddy Merckx, (3,000 m , to 20 from the finish line) with the legendary sector of the Carrefour de l’Arbre (2,100 meters, 17 from the finish line), the last great difficulty.
paris roubaix
last winner
2022. Dylan van Baarle (PSB)
2021. Sonny Colbrelli (ITA)
2019. Philippe Gilbert (BEL)
2018. Peter Sagan (SVK)
2017. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL)
Source: La Verdad

I’m Robert Maynard, and I am a passionate journalist with experience in sports writing. For the last few years, I have been writing for Today Times Live. My main focus has been on sports-related stories and features. With my strong background in journalism and extensive knowledge of the industry, I am able to provide readers with well-crafted pieces that are both informative and engaging.