PARIS — This year, the renowned cycling race Paris-Roubaix, famously known as the “Hell of the North,” will see the addition of new sections of cobblestones in its course. The grueling competition, scheduled to take place from April 12-13, will feature these new cobbled areas leading up to the notorious Trouée d’Arenberg, a particularly challenging, straight stretch known for testing the skill and endurance of cyclists.
Thierry Gouvenou, the race director, emphasized that these new additions would create a sequence of five sectors composed entirely of cobblestones, providing an even tougher test for competitors. The Paris-Roubaix has been captivating cycling fans since its inception in 1896 and remains infamous for the frequent punctures, accidents, and overall drama it presents during the race. The term “Hell of the North” was first used by a journalist in 1919, a reference to the desolate landscapes of the World War One battlefields the race navigated. Henri Pelissier, that year’s winner, took over 12 hours to complete the race, significantly longer than last year’s male champion, Mathieu van der Poel.
The 2023 men’s race will cover a distance of 259.2 kilometers (161 miles) from Compiègne to Roubaix, incorporating 30 cobblestone sections that span a total of 55.3 kilometers (34 miles). The organizing committee also announced that they have developed a new alternative to the controversial chicane that had been introduced the previous year for safety purposes. This chicane was meant to slow riders prior to entering the demanding Trouée d’Arenberg but faced criticism from several competitors, including van der Poel.
Gouvenou explained that the revised setup would enable a more gradual reduction in speed for the riders through a slight detour adjacent to the Arenberg mining site. This adjustment will introduce four right-angle turns in the kilometer leading up to the Tough Trouée d’Arenberg. Meanwhile, the route for the women’s race, which spans 148.5 kilometers, will remain unchanged. The women’s peloton will compete on the final 17 sections of the men’s course, which encompasses 29.2 kilometers of cobbles.
