The 112th edition of Paris-Roubaix will be 257 kilometres long. The race will include 28 sections of cobblestone and these sections will cover a total of 51.1 km. 9 sections or 15.4 km of cobblestone will also be a part of the Tour de France this year.

For many riders, the two coming months will be as a tunnel at the end of which the light is Compiègne, the venue for the start of Paris-Roubaix. Paris-Roubaix is and will always be one of the biggest events for a classic rider.

Every detail can turn out to be precious in preparation for the big race and this year, the race has undergone some modifications. The sequence of the first difficulties has been revamped, in order to visit some cobbled sections that had been left “fallow” for several years. Whilst the first vibrations will be felt as usual after approximately one hundred kilometres near Troisvilles, almost twenty kilometres further on, the pack will deviate from last year’s route to reacquaint itself with the sections at Haussy(800 m) and Saulzoir (1,200 m), re-integrated into the route after an absence of 10 years. As for the 1,200-m section at Famars, it has only been absent for two years.

However, reconnoitring this year may also involve riders in cycling’s elite beyond the circle of specialists on the Flanders classics that take place as spring’s first shoots emerge. The perspective of the 5th stage on the Tour de France, which will take place on 9th July between Ypres and Arenberg Porte du Hainaut, will surely incite the favourites to make several journeys to the Nord Pas-de-Calais region.

Why not test their mettle on the Queen of the Classics, since 9 sections on the programme of Le Tour will be visited by Paris-Roubaix? Nevertheless, in July, the pack will be making its return in the opposite direction, starting with the section at Gruson, where the riders on Paris-Roubaix will almost have the cycling stadium in sight. Only the section at Mons-en-Pévèle will be tackled in the same direction as on Le Tour, but only for a portion measuring 1,000 m in July. 

The cobbled sections featured in both Paris-Roubaix and the 5th stage of Le Tour 2014

1.     Gruson - Carrefour de l’arbre (1,100 m)

2.     Ennevelin - Pont-Thibaut (1,400 m)

3.     Mons-en-Pévèle (3,000 m on PR / 1000 m on the TDF)

4.     Bersée (2,600 m on PR / 1,400m on the TDF)

5.     Orchies - Beuvry (1,400 m)

6.     Sars-et-Rosières - Tilloy-lez-Marchiennes (2,400 m)

7.     Brillon - Warlaing (2,400 m on PR / 1,400 m on the TDF)

8.     Wandignies-Hamage - Hornaing (3,700 m)

9.     Hélesmes - Wallers (1,600 m)