The Tour of Flanders has just ended, and another thrilling classic is already on the schedule. On Sunday, April 13, cyclists will gather once again in northern France for the long-awaited Paris-Roubaix race. Read all about it in this article.
Paris-Roubaix 2025 Course
The 2025 Paris-Roubaix course has a few minor changes compared to previous years. This year, riders will face thirty cobbled sectors, one more than last year, with the new sectors primarily in the early phase. The start remains traditionally in Compiègne, after which the riders will cover approximately 259 kilometers in total. The finish is on the velodrome in Roubaix.
The first part consists of asphalt roads, with the first cobbled sector appearing after 95 kilometers. This is a three-star sector from Troisvilles to Inchy. The Quiévy to Saint-Python sector, rated four stars, is also significant and could be an early decisive moment. After that, the route leads through five short sectors in quick succession to the infamous Forest of Wallers, the first five-star sector. It is expected that the final battle will begin here, followed by eighteen more cobbled sectors, including two additional five-star sections: Mons-en-Pévèle and Carrefour de l’Arbre, about 17 kilometers from the finish.
The women’s race takes place a day earlier, covering nearly 150 kilometers, with 30 kilometers on cobblestones spread over 17 sectors. The start is in Denain, and like the men’s race, the finish is in Roubaix. This means they will also tackle the Forest of Wallers, with Mons-en-Pévèle and Carrefour de l’Arbre in the final phase.
Men’s Favorites
Last weekend, we witnessed another masterclass from Tadej Pogačar. The Slovenian exploded on the Oude Kwaremont, crossed the finish line with a thirty-second lead, and once again demonstrated his incredible form. He has stated that he aims to win all five Monuments. However, we cannot automatically assume that “Pogi” will win this classic, as there are some limitations. For example, he may not carry enough weight to generate the same wattage as Mathieu van der Poel or Wout van Aert. Fortunately, Pogačar has a strong team at UAE Emirates-XRG, including Florian Vermeersch, Nils Politt, and Tim Wellens.
That’s why Van der Poel might be the bigger favorite. He has won the last two editions, and although he struggled in the Tour of Flanders, this can be attributed to his crash and a brief illness. We can expect him to be in better form for Paris-Roubaix. As a skilled cyclocross rider, he can generate the required power and handle the cobblestones well. If the race ends in a sprint, MVDP has the advantage. He will be supported at Alpecin-Deceuninck by Jasper Philipsen.
A strong sprint and excellent cobblestone handling are also key qualities of Wout van Aert. Paris-Roubaix is a classic that suits his strengths, and in the Tour of Flanders, we already saw him improving since his altitude training camp. The steep climbs in Flanders posed a challenge for him, but they won’t be an issue in northern France. Van Aert’s main concern is avoiding bad luck—after all, a puncture in 2023 cost him the chance to ride to Roubaix with Van der Poel. At Visma / Lease A Bike, he can count on the support of former winner Dylan Van Baarle, but the team needs to play their cards right.
Potential outsiders include Filippo Ganna and Stefan Küng. Ganna, the powerful Italian who has been in great form this spring, particularly impressed in Milan-San Remo by keeping up with the “Big Two” until the end. He can generate the necessary wattage and has a strong sprint. Küng may lack sprinting ability but can maintain high speeds on flat sections. If these riders get some room, anything can happen.
Women’s Favorites
Lotte Kopecky will start as the defending champion. The Belgian clearly feels comfortable in her rainbow jersey, as she proved last weekend by winning the Tour of Flanders for the third time. That victory more than made up for her disappointing performance in Dwars door Vlaanderen. She has already shown that Paris-Roubaix suits her, so why not win it again?
At SD Worx-Protime, Kopecky is not the only strong contender—Lorena Wiebes is also a major threat. The Dutch rider stayed quiet in the Tour of Flanders but is now fully focused on Paris-Roubaix. She has already secured a Monument win this year with Milan-San Remo but is eager to end her spring campaign in style.
Marianne Vos narrowly missed out on victory last year at the Roubaix velodrome, and it’s clear that the Dutch legend is seeking redemption. She has all the qualities needed to win this classic, as she has proven before, but finishing second won’t satisfy her this time.
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