Organization Roubaix changes Trouée d'Arenberg's approach, two extra cobblestone sections and four tight turns

The Paris-Roubaix organization has announced the routes for its two races in 2025. This is not unimportant, given the commotion last year involving Trouée d'Arenberg and the chicane. All those comments did not go unnoticed, as steps were taken to improve the riders' safety.

On April 13, the men will take a new route to the dreaded Trouée d'Arenberg. The main change is the addition of two extra lanes and a detour around the Arenberg mine site. This should ensure that the peloton's speed slows down more naturally. As a result, we will not see the chicane again this year.

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The chicane that was so much talked about last year

Many changes leading up to Trouée d'Arenberg

Trouée d'Arenberg has been a crucial part of the 'Hell of the North' for decades but also has a reputation as a dangerous point in the race. Last year, a chicane was introduced to reduce the risk of crashes. Although this measure was initially criticized, the impact ultimately proved limited because the peloton had already broken up when it reached the narrow passage.

For 2025, however, course builder Thierry Gouvenou takes a different approach. Two new cobbled sections will be added to the course around Quérénaing's region: the strip of Artres (1,300 meters) and that of Famars (1,200 meters). "They are not especially difficult portions," the race director told the press release. "But introducing them here provides us with a sequence of five sectors without virtually any tarmac." After the two strips, it's about 30 kilometers toTrouée d'Arenberg.

In addition, in the last kilometer before the Trouée d'Arenberg, a detour with four tight turns is made through the Arenberg mining site. This should ensure a controlled reduction in speed before the riders reach the notorious cobbled section.

After these modifications, the rest of the course remains unchanged. The riders will be presented with 259.2 kilometers and 30 cobbled sections before the winner is crowned on the Roubaix cycling track.

The route for the women's fifth edition, which takes place a day earlier, remains unchanged. Their race begins in Denain and covers 148.5 kilometers. From Trouée d'Arenberg, they follow the same route as the men, with 17 cobbled lanes and 29.2 kilometers of stones toward the finish at the Vélodrome.

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