Best Odds Center
best odds centre button
Click here!
Sport TV
watch live tv button
Click here!
to watch
Live FootBall
NPFL
Click here!
Live Scores
play watch Live Score button
Click here!

Van der Poel Eyes Historic Fourth Paris-Roubaix Win as Riders Brace for “Hell of the North”

Posted : 11 April 2026

Paris-Roubaix, famously known as the “Hell of the North,” remains one of the most punishing races in professional cycling, with even the world’s best cobbled specialists struggling to master its brutal terrain. The race’s infamous cobblestone sectors are so demanding that many riders avoid training on them altogether to reduce the risk of injury and fatigue.

Reigning champion Mathieu van der Poel, who has dominated the event in recent years, revealed that he typically trains on cobbles only once a year. Instead, he relies on experience gained from other spring classics to prepare for what is often called the “Queen of the Classics.”

The Dutch star explained that while riding cobbles can be enjoyable during competition, they are far less appealing in training. He noted that most professional cyclists prefer to avoid rough roads and particularly the harsh cobbled sections whenever possible.

Paris-Roubaix stretches over 258.3 kilometers and features 30 cobbled sectors of varying difficulty, ranging from short 300-meter stretches to brutal 3.7-kilometer sections. In total, riders will face nearly 55 kilometers of cobblestones throughout the race, making it one of the most physically demanding events on the cycling calendar.

Van der Poel enters this year’s edition as the pre-race favorite, having won the previous three editions. A victory on Sunday would make him only the third rider in history to claim four Paris-Roubaix titles, joining Belgian legends Roger De Vlaeminck and Tom Boonen.

Beyond Paris-Roubaix, he has already built an impressive résumé in cobbled classics, including multiple victories at the Tour of Flanders, E3 Saxo Classic, Dwars door Vlaanderen, and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.

When asked about the key to excelling on cobbles, Van der Poel described it as a combination of raw power and exceptional bike-handling skills. As he chases history, he once again stands at the center of one of cycling’s most iconic and punishing challenges.

 

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics

close button
Please fill captcha :