{"id":2001,"date":"2025-02-20T14:14:43","date_gmt":"2025-02-20T13:14:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/?p=2001"},"modified":"2026-10-04T18:01:16","modified_gmt":"2026-10-04T18:01:16","slug":"five-cobbled-lanes-paris-roubaix","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/en\/verhalen\/vijf-kasseienstroken-parijs-roubaix","title":{"rendered":"Five Paris-Roubaix cobbled sectors you have to ride"},"content":{"rendered":"
On the one hand, we fear them; on the other hand, they keep calling us \u2018kasseienstroken.\u2019 While the French region of Nord-Pas de Calais (on the border with Belgium) is known for its many farmer fields, that is not what we cyclists are looking for here. We come for the iconic kid-head caps from the classic Paris-Roubaix race, which takes place in mid-April again. Of course, the race is even more fun to follow when you\u2019ve experienced for yourself what a \u201chell\u201d it feels like to have kid-heads under your 28 mm tires. Therefore, we have already selected five tracks that you should try yourself this spring. Consider this your checklist for a bike weekend in Nord-Pas de Calais!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Photos by: Sander Kolsloot, Adobe, Thomas Bogaard<\/em><\/sub><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The cobbled sectors at a glance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Five stars: the hardest sectors get five stars. These are the Trou\u00e9e d'Arenberg (about 2.3 km), Mons-en-P\u00e9v\u00e8le (about 3 km) and the Carrefour de l'Arbre (about 2.1 km).<\/li>\n\n\n
Where: in northern France, between Valenciennes and Roubaix, a few hours\u2019 drive from the Netherlands and Belgium.<\/li>\n\n\n
Bike and tyres: ride wide tyres (30 mm or more) and lower tyre pressure. Double bar tape makes it a lot more comfortable.<\/li>\n\n\n
Sportive: the Paris-Roubaix Challenge, the day before the race, rides over the most famous sectors with a finish in the Roubaix velodrome.<\/li>\n\n\n
Respect the sectors: they are public farm roads; watch out for farm traffic and do not ride across fields.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Updated in October 2026 with the key facts, routes and practical tips.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The cobblestones of Paris-Roubaix; what can you expect?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The magic of \u2018Parijs-Roubaix\u2019 attracts many cycling tourists to this area every year. It\u2019s those cyclists who, despite the odds, still want to take the plunge and try it out. \u2018Mons-en-P\u00e9v\u00e8le\u2019<\/em> of \u2018Carrefour de L\u2019Arbre\u2019<\/em> We want to drive. Or well, drive? Maybe we should use the word \u2018shuddering\u2019. You already know in advance that the long stretches of gravel are \u2018hellish\u2019. Even as you\u2019re shaking, you\u2019ll wonder why you started this ride. But at the same time, you\u2019ll mostly experience pleasure; what a crazy thing these stretches are. And what a hassle, those pros who drive this gravel classic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tips for a gravel bike ride?<\/strong> Lower your tire pressure, keep the handlebars loose, and use your arms to absorb the bumps. Perhaps most importantly: make sure you keep up a steady speed. The faster you drive, the easier it will be. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\nBy the way, the crates are quite beautiful | \u00a9<\/strong>Sander Kolsloot<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
1. Bos van Wallers \u2013 Trou\u00e9e D\u2019Arenberg (5 stars)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
This is perhaps the most famous gravel section of Paris-Roubaix, and therefore an absolute \u2018must-do\u2019 for your ride in this area. This is really 2.4 kilometers of road, not for nothing this section is also called the \u2018King of the Road\u2019. the gate to hell <\/strong>The gravel is rough, uneven, and loose. In addition, there is a slight climb and descent in the section. This stretch is also known for many crashes during the race. The riders enter the forest after a slight descent, causing them to blast down the gravel at high speed. This is not always the case, but it is often the case. During the last edition in 2024, a chicane was added to the course to make the uphill stretch quieter. This was not something that not all riders and teams were enthusiastic about. Therefore, the entire uphill section in the 2025 edition will be adjusted to slow down the speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nSander races over the gravel roads of the Forest of Wallers\/Trouee d\u2019Arenberg (c) Thomas Bogaard<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Given the location of this stretch, about 45 kilometers before the finish, this is not necessarily a stretch where the race is decided. But with almost 3 kilometers of poor terrain (this one is also rated 5 stars), this is indeed a stretch where the first riders drop out. The stretch starts flat, slopes up, and pushes the riders towards a crucial bend where skill and positioning make the difference. A wrong line, a moment of inattention\u2026 And the Paris-Roubaix dream can be gone in a fraction of a second. This is how Johan Vansummeren was stopped on Mons-en-P\u00e9v\u00e8le in 2010 by a crash. A year later, despite a flat tire, he still managed to win the biggest victory of his career during Paris-Roubaix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nMons and P\u00e9v\u00e8le (c) Sander Kolsloot<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
A stretch that fits well in the Hell of the North, because it\u2019s usually not very good there. Where you can still find a (sort of) \u2018good line\u2019 on many gravel sections, it\u2019s really all bumpy and crooked here. During the race it\u2019s important that riders are in the front group on this stretch. This is often where the difference is made. Either because riders go for the attack here, but also because there\u2019s still the possibility of a crash here that leaves many riders behind. The riders also know: after just one kilometer past the Camphin-en-P\u00e9v\u00e8le stretch, the Carrefour de L\u2019Arbre awaits. It\u2019s important to take a good position here. If you want to try it yourself: good luck! There\u2019s no space for a stretch through the grass or a stretch of relief from the persistent hoofed traffic. 1800 long meters, with about halfway a sharp right-hand bend. If you want to cycle the Camphin-en-P\u00e9v\u00e8le yourself after a rain, you really have to be careful here. It can really be slippery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\u00a9 Strava \/ Bertrand Trichet | Camphin-en-P\u00e9v\u00e8le<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
4. Carrefour de l\u2019Arbre (5 stars)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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