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Controversial chicane removed from Paris-Roubaix course

Additional cobbles added, creating a tougher lead-up to Arenberg Forest

Controversial chicane removed from Paris-Roubaix course Photo by: Sirotti
February 5, 2025
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The 122nd edition of Paris-Roubaix is set to take place on Sunday, April 13, with riders rolling out from Compiègne for the gruelling 259.2-km journey to the Roubaix velodrome. This year’s route features some key changes, including a tougher lead-up to the infamous Trouée d’Arenberg. The approach to this crucial sector has also been modified to add an extra challenge with additional sections of pavé.

“By introducing them here, it provides us with a sequence of five sectors without virtually any tarmac,” race director Thierry Gouvenou said. “This allows us to slow down the riders in a more fluid manner, via a small detour that runs alongside the mining site in Arenberg. With this introduction, there will be four right-angle corners in the kilometre before the Trouée d’Arenberg.”

The unpredictable hell of Paris – Roubaix

In Paris-Roubaix, anything can happen. Over 259.2 km and 30 cobbled sectors, every stretch is an opportunity—or a disaster. In 2023, Derek Gee, riding his first Roubaix, was in the early break when they arrived in the Arenberg Forest section, and his wheel exploded.


The IPT rider said it was “probably one of the coolest moments of my life—being the first guy onto the Arenberg—before turning into one of the worst, standing there watching everyone go past.”
Gee called the race an incredible experience. “I was jumping in a lot of moves but at the end of the day, I think it’s a lot of luck that one of the ones I jumped across stuck. Then I had this surreal moment of knowing I’m in the breakaway at Roubaix,” he added.

Changes for 2025

For the 2025 edition, Gouvenou has added a new twist to the approach, introducing a small loop near Querenaing that adds two extra cobbled sectors: Artres (#24 / km 130.9 / 1,300 m) and Famars (#23 / km 133.8 / 1,200 m). These sections also feature in the Grand Prix de Denain and will be part of a stage finish in the Quatre Jours de Dunkerque. “They’re not particularly difficult,” the former pro said, “but adding them allows us to link five cobbled sectors almost back-to-back, with very little time on asphalt.”

After that, riders will have about 30 km to recover before reaching the dreaded Trouée d’Arenberg (#19 / km 163.9 / 2,300 m). Last year’s chicane, designed to slow riders before the sector, has been replaced with a smoother diversion that follows the Arenberg mining site.

“This new approach introduces four sharp right-hand turns in the final kilometre before the Trouée,” Gouvenou said.

After surviving Arenberg, the contenders still have to conquer two of the toughest cobbled sectors: Mons-en-Pévèle (#11 / km 210.6 / 3,000 m) and the Carrefour de l’Arbre (#4 / km 242.1 / 2,100 m), where the final battle for victory is often decided.