Same but different: Will course changes make any difference at Paris-Roubaix?

Back in February the organisers of Paris-Roubaix, ASO, announced several small but potentially significant changes to the 258.3-kilometre course for the 2026 men’s race which will be the 123rd edition of the Hell of the North, L’Enfer du Nord.

In an attempt to ‘accelerate the racing’ race director Thierry Gouvenou explained the initial gravel sectors have been modified in a return to the format first seen in 2024 with the opening four pavé sectors coming in rapid fire.

“All the ingredients will therefore be in place for an early pre-selection likely to trap outsiders and above all to harden the race ahead of the decisive moments to come,” Gouvenou said.

“The first four sectors follow one another in quick succession with almost no asphalt in between, creating an unmatched density of cobbles.”

Gouvenou then dropped in something else that raised eyebrows across the cycling world.

“At the end of this sequence we are adding Sector 26, even more rarely used and featuring an 800-metre climb.”

Yes cycling fans, on top of 30 brutal sectors of cobbles (54.8km) there will be a climb in Paris-Roubaix this year.

It isn’t the first time this has happened, mind you.

The punchy 830-metre sector from Briastre to Solesmes features an incline of 71 metres and was actually used back in 2017 when the race was won in a five-man sprint by Belgium’s Greg Van Avermaet.

What the addition of one reasonably-moderate ramp actually means for the complexion of the racing is unclear. It certainly isn’t the Tour of Flanders and the impact may well be negligible, particularly given there will still be more than 140km to negotiate before the riders reach the iconic Roubaix velodrome.

But credit to the organisers for trying something a little different, and who knows? It may provide the launch pad for someone to do something unexpected before the real fun begins in the final 100km.

Despite tinkering with the course in the middle stages of the race, fans can rest assured the final 20 cobbled sectors—including the infamous Trouée d’Arenberg and the chicane that now precedes it— remain unchanged. Chaos is pretty much assured, just as it always is.

When the peloton rolls out of Compiègne on Sunday evening (Australian time), Mathieu Van Der Poel will be aiming to create history by becoming the first rider to win four consecutive Paris-Roubaix titles.

Standing in his way is last year’s second place-getter, Tadej Pogačar, who is on a publicly-stated mission to become just the fourth man in history to win all five Monuments—joining Eddy Merckx, Rik Van Looy, and Roger De Vlaeminck—and the first to win them consecutively.

Oh, and just one final bit of paperwork. Like several other Spring Classics in recent times, Paris-Roubaix has a new name.

In 2026 the race will be officially known as Paris-Roubaix Hauts-de-France, a naming rights change made to reflect ASO’s sponsorship partnership with the Hauts-de-France regional government.

Paris-Roubaix 2026 will be broadcast live and free in Australia on SBS and SBS On Demand.

Streaming coverage of the Men’s race begins on Sunday 12 April at 6:45pm (AEST) with the Women’s race following immediately after.