Paris-Roubaix changes approach to Wallers Forest again: Infamous chicane removed, new parallel road added

The infamous chicane leading into the Wallers Forest, which was introduced for the first time last year in Paris-Roubaix, has been removed from the course this year. However, the organizers have opted for a different approach—the straight run-in to the cobbles will not be making a comeback.

The approach to the Trouée d'Arenberg, the most notorious and challenging cobbled sector of the "Hell of the North," was traditionally completely straight. However, due to the increasing speeds, the section became increasingly dangerous, leading to severe crashes. Riders would hit the cobbles at speeds of 60 km/h, fighting for position, often shoulder to shoulder. Two years ago, defending champion Dylan van Baarle was one of the biggest casualties of this brutal stretch. As a result, a chicane was added to the course.

Right before entering the cobbled sector, riders had to navigate a tight sequence of turns, drastically reducing their speed. This adjustment also reduced pushing and shoving at the entrance to sector 19 of Paris-Roubaix. Last year, this change was implemented for the first time, and with relative success—there were fewer major crashes than in previous editions. It seemed like an effective solution, but in 2025, the approach will once again be different.

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New route runs parallel to the old one: "In the final kilometer, four 90-degree turns"

The organizers have chosen a small detour. Previously, riders would enter the cobblestone section at full speed via Avenue Michel Rondet. It was on that same road that the chicane was placed in 2024. However, a few hundred meters before the Forest, the course will now feature a short series of bends: from Avenue d’Arenberg the riders will turn onto Rue de Croy, which runs parallel to the old route. They will ride this stretch, after which the peloton takes a right turn onto Rue Desandrouins, before a left turn onto the cobblestones.

The organization explains why the chicane will no longer be used: “This year, we found an alternative that allows the peloton to slow down more smoothly, with a short detour that passes by the Arenberg mining site,” race director Thierry Gouvenou said in a press release. “Thanks to this tweak, there will be four 90-degree turns in the kilometer leading up to the Trouée.”

The hope is that this new approach will meet with the riders’ approval. The chicane was the main talking point during the most recent edition of Paris-Roubaix. Mathieu van der Poel, who later won the race for the second year in a row, called it a bad joke. Cycling reporter Thijs Zonneveld shared that opinion, but Van Baarle, who had crashed badly there the year before, was actually very positive about the decision.

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