This is the page for Paris-Roubaix. The classic is legendary for its many cobblestone sectors in Northern France and the finish at the velodrome. Paris-Roubaix is part of the five Monuments. In de Leiderstrui closely follows all the news regarding the Hell of the North.
History of Paris-Roubaix
Paris-Roubaix is one of the oldest cycling races. The first edition was organized in 1896. After World War I, the French race became known as a cobblestone classic. The roads destroyed by the war were repaired with cobblestones. A journalist following the race was so impressed by the war devastations that he dubbed Paris-Roubaix as the Hell of the North. To this day, that is still the nickname of the race. Due to its unique character, Paris-Roubaix quickly became one of the biggest races in cycling, making it one of the five monuments, along with Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and the Giro di Lombardia.
Most victories in Paris-Roubaix
Paris-Roubaix is a race of over two hundred kilometers and is known as one of the toughest races on the cycling calendar. This is due to the more than fifty kilometers that the riders have to cover over poorly laid cobblestones. Many greats from cycling have won this race, but there are also sometimes surprises. Riders who come from the early breakaway in the finale, or big names who wait too long and do not live up to their favorite status... In Roubaix, anything can happen!
4 victories: Roger De Vlaeminck and Tom Boonen
3 victories: Octave Lapize, Gaston Rebry, Rick Van Looy, Eddy Merckx, Francesco Moser, Johan Museeuw, and Fabian Cancellara
Recent winners of Paris-Roubaix
2023 Mathieu van der Poel
2022 Dylan van Baarle
2021 Sonny Colbrelli
2020 Not held due to pandemic
2019 Philippe Gilbert
2018 Peter Sagan
2017 Greg Van Avermaet
2016 Mathew Hayman
2015 John Degenkolb