The 123rd running of the men’s Paris-Roubaix, also known as the ‘Hell of the North’, is about to begin.
Riders Prepare for the Start
The riders have started the neutral zone in Compiègne. Sign on is well underway for the riders after the team presentation.
Just under 15 minutes to the official start.
Just over 5km to the official start.
Tech Innovations on Display
As usual, there is a lot of tech to look at with everyone going for slightly different methods to tackle to jagged cobbles of northern France.
Tadej Pogačar has thrown the kitchen sink at his bike for Paris-Roubaix.
- Will this different bike setup help Wout van Aert bag a Paris-Roubaix victory?
- Even more new prototype Dura-Ace parts spotted on Jasper Philipsen’s Canyon Endurace CFR for Paris-Roubaix.
The Favourites
The media has been focused on Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogačar before the start of this race.
It will likely come down to those two, but the likes of Mads Pedersen, Wout Van Aert, Filippo Ganna, and many more besides will be hoping to take the battle to the big two favourites.
Pogačar believes that he may not need to get away solo to take the Hell of the North.
Patrick Lefevere looked at the likely outcome and also a look back at the late Franco Ballerini.
‘I don’t see where Van der Poel can drop Pogačar. Or vice versa.’ – Patrick Lefevere predicts a velodrome showdown between two biggest stars.
‘I can pull off some kind of good sprint’ – Does Tadej Pogačar even need to arrive alone to win Paris-Roubaix?
The riders are ready to race.