The climb of Paris-Roubaix

 The course of the 123rd Paris-Roubaix, held on 12 April 2026, will include some interesting changes.  

Paris-Roubaix 2026 route map

The race will contain 30 sectors, and during sector 26,  relatively early in the race

 there will be a 800-metre climb.

According to the organizers this would help an early selection in the race. 

This sounds bit strange considering that Arenberg (sector 19) used to be the first big sector for "early selection", a cobbled route so important that in the recent years some riders (and their teams), like Wout van Aerts built their tactic around trying to make a decisive split in the peloton before the famous road in the forrest. 

Although I never rode Paris-Roubaix, or any professional cycling race, so I don't know the inner dynamics of it,  I still have the strange feeling that this addition won't matter too much. 


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