Cycling’s most famous monument, Paris-Roubaix is here! 257 kilometres and 55 on cobblestones across 29 sections. Can Tom Boonen retire a winner, or will we have another surprise winner? Join The Roar for live coverage from start to finish of the Hell of the North from 7:05pm (AEST).
Cast the mind back to 12 months ago and Boonen had it all to play for and was in perfect position to win until he was out-manoeuvred and out-sprinted by Matthew Hayman. While it still gives Australian fans goosebumps, the chance of Hayman defending the crown is minimal.
Boonen, in his final race will be out to finish his career with a fairy-tale. He has won the toughest race on the calendar four times and alongside Roger De Vlaeminck holds the record – a win here would make give him the most outright Paris-Roubaix victories.
Of course, it’s not that simple. Everything has to go right to win. From mechanicals, avoiding crashes, being well positioned, picking perfect tactics and then sprinting to the famous old showers in the Roubaix velodrome, a split second of bad luck or switching off could end the day.
Interestingly, there have been some changes to the route this year with an extra couple of kilometres, including five on the cobbles with an extra four sections added to the race.
Luckily for the riders, it’s due to be sunny. There has been next to no rain in the lead up and the cobbles shouldn’t have any moisture on them like last year, which brought Fabian Cancellara’s famous Roubaix career to its end.
The three fearsome sectors of the Trouee d’Arenberg (Forrest of Arenberg), Mons-en-Pavele and Carrefour d l’Arbre will once again be present, with those three likely to decide the race.
Arenberg, the first of the five-star sectors comes with nearly 100 kilometres to go, but rest for a moment and a split will be missed. It’s normally where the action starts and with the narrow and violent nature of the stones, there is often a split, crash or puncture.
From there, it’s 18 sectors inside 90 kilometres with Mons-en-Pavele coming just under 50 kilometres from the line before Larbre comes in a sequence of five within 15 kilometres. Pavele, with it’s hard right-hand turn could once again split the field in half, before Larbre is known for its brutal cobbles.
The final sector in Roubaix almost feels ceremonial as the peloton approach the velodrome, before a sprint on the track will once again decide the race.
For that reason, Peter Sagan and Tom Boonen are the favourites, although a smokey with track experience like Hayman could cause an upset once again.
Greg Van Avermaet, after missing out at the Tour of Flanders will be keen for redemption and is a good chance while Alexander Kristoff, John Degenkolb, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Sep Vanmarcke and Luke Durbridge also have to be considered.
| Sector | Name | Distance | Difficulty | Distance to go |
| 29 | Troisvilles à Inchy | 2.2km | *** | 160km |
| 28 | Viesly à Quievy | 1.8km | *** | 153.5km |
| 27 | Quiévy à Saint Python | 3.7km | **** | 151km |
| 26 | Viesly à Biastre | 3km | *** | 144.5km |
| 25 | Biastre à Solesmes | 0.8km | ** | 141km |
| 24 | Vertain à Saint-Martin-sur-Ecaillon | 2.3km | *** | 132.5km |
| 23 | Verchain-Maugré à Quérénaing | 1.6km | *** | 122.5km |
| 22 | Quérénaing à Maing | 2.5km | *** | 119.5km |
| 21 | Maing à Monchaux-sur-Ecaillon | 1.6km | *** | 116.5km |
| 20 | Haveluy à Wallers | 2.5km | **** | 103.5km |
| 19 | Trouée d’Arenberg | 2.4km | ***** | 95.5km |
| 18 | Wallers à Hélesmes | 1.6km | *** | 89km |
| 17 | Hornaing à Wandignies | 3.7km | **** | 82.5km |
| 16 | Warlaing à Brillion | 2.4km | *** | 75km |
| 15 | Tilloy à Sars-et-Rosières | 2.4km | **** | 71.5km |
| 14 | Beuvry-la-Forêt à Orchies | 1.4km | *** | 65km |
| 13 | Orichies | 1.7km | *** | 60km |
| 12 | Auchy-lez-Orchies à Bersée | 2.7km | **** | 54km |
| 11 | Mons-en-Pévèle | 3km | ***** | 48.5km |
| 10 | Mérignies à Avelin | 0.7km | ** | 42.5km |
| 9 | Pont-Thibault à Ennevelin | 1.4km | *** | 39km |
| 8 | Templeuve | 0.5km | ** | 33km |
| 7 | Cysoing à Bourghelles | 1.3km | *** | 26.5km |
| 6 | Bourghelles à Wannehain | 1.1km | *** | 24km |
| 5 | Camphin-en-Pévèle | 1.8km | **** | 19.5km |
| 4 | Carrefour de l’Arbre | 2.1km | ***** | 17km |
| 3 | Grusson | 1.1km | ** | 14.5km |
| 2 | Willems à Hem | 1.4km | *** | 8km |
| 1 | Roubaix | 0.3km | * | 1km |
Prediction
It’s going to be an epic and picking a winner is anyone’s guess, but Quickstep looked exceptionally strong last week at Flanders. As hard as it is to tip against Sagan, Tom Boonen is going to complete the fairy-tale.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of One Sunday in Hell from 7:05pm (AEST) and don’t forget to get involved by dropping a comment below.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this evening for The Roar's live coverage of the 2017 Paris-Roubaix as Greg Van Avermaet made his breakthrough victory. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. We turn our attention to the hill races next week and it's Amstel Gold next Sunday. The Roar will be live from about 9pm (AEST). Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
The King of the Cobbles retires in 13th. Tom Boonen, what a career. Take a bow.
Scott Pryde
Expert
TOP 10 1. Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) @ 5:41:07 2. Zdenek Stybar (Quickstep) + 0:00 3. Sebastien Langeveld (Cannondale) + 0:00 4. Jasper Stuyven (Trek) + 0:00 5. Gianni Moscon (Sky) + 0:00 6. Arnaud Demare (FDJ) + 0:12 7. Andre Greipel (Lotto-Soudal) + 0:12 8. Edward Theuns (Trek) + 0:12 9. Andre Petit (Direct Energie) + 0:12 10. John Defenkolb (Trek) + 0:12 _____________________________________ 11. Matthew Hayman (Orica) + 0:12 13. Tom Boonen (Quickstep) + 0:12
Scott Pryde
Expert
This race just never fails to disappoint. Top ten to come.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Looks like Langeveld came over in third place there ahead of Stuyven and Moscon.
Scott Pryde
Expert
That race had it all. The riders will love a shower after that. Van Avermaet is covered head to toe in dirt.
Scott Pryde
Expert
What an incredible victory for Van Avermaet. Playing the mind game almost caught them out, but at the end of the day the best rider of the race wins.
Scott Pryde
Expert
GREG VAN AVERMAET WINS PARIS-ROUBAIX He does it! He wins a monument. Moscon and Stuyven made it back to the front group and gave it a crack, but Stybar went for it at 300 metres to go. It caught Van Avermaet by surprise and he had to come around the outside, getting the lead with about 50 to go and got the win. Arnaud Demare comes through for sixth.
Scott Pryde
Expert
The three are going nowhere and it's Mozcon and Stuyven starting to come back as well. 300 metres to go and they HAVE MADE IT BACK! 5 RIDER SPRINT.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Looks like they are setting up for a sprint match race on the velodrome. Stybar goes at the top of the velodrome and comes to the front, leading them over for the bell. No pace in this.
Scott Pryde
Expert
The pace goes out of it. Three riders onto the velodrome. It's come down to a three up spring. Van Avermaet, Stybar and Langeveld.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Langeveld still sitting on the back and it's Stybar and Van Avermaet starting to play the mind games. Here we go. Into the velodrome!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Langeveld just watching on here. He is leaving it all to Van Avermaet and Stybar as we hit the final, ceremonial cobblestones in Roubaix. 1500 metres to go.
Scott Pryde
Expert
2km to go and suddenly the pace goes out of it. Stybar again takes over the lead.
Scott Pryde
Expert
2.5km to go and here comes Stybar again. Not sure if this is a turn of pace or move - just a turn of pace in fact. Van Avermaet hanging onto the wheel.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Inside 3km to go and Langeveld takes first wheel. Stybar at the back of the group and Van Avermaet in second.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Right then, order returns with Van Avermaet sitting on the front.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Langeveld now comes to the front and Stybar has to chase it down as a gap opens up. The Cannondale rider happy to work here - he just wants a spot on the podium.
Scott Pryde
Expert
4km to go now and the cat and mouse game is starting out there. And with good reason! Langeveld was looking over the shoulder and Stybar attacks! Van Avermaet closes it down and Langeveld has to hustle, but gets back into third wheel eventually.
Scott Pryde
Expert
5km to go. It's Van Avermaet still doinng a vast majority of the work. Can he win his first monument?