The 2023 cobbled Classics season reaches its spectacular conclusion on Sunday with the 120th edition of the Queen of the Classics, Paris-Roubaix.
It will be difficult for riders to top the thrilling editions of the Tour of Flanders where Tadej Pogačar and Lotte Kopecky triumphed in Oudenaarde. However, Roubaix is the biggest one-day race of the season and brings a month of racing over the cobbles of Flanders and northern France to an end with an action packed exclamation point.
In the 120th edition of the Hell of the North, 175 riders will take the start in Compiègne on Sunday morning with dreams of lifting the famous cobblestone trophy above their head six hours and 257km later in the Roubaix velodrome.
The iconic and brutal cobbles of the Trouée d’Arenberg, Carrefour de l’Arbre, and Mons-en-Pévèle, among others, lie in their way, while a peloton packed with star names only increases the challenge.
Cyclingnews will be on the ground in the build-up to the race and through the weekend to provide all the news and analysis from the men’s and women’s races, while we also have all the information on the Paris-Roubaix route and how to watch Paris-Roubaix, too.
As the anticipation ramps up ahead of what will no doubt be a gripping weekend of action, we’ve taken a look at the best of the best that will be lining up to do battle in the Hell of the North, picking out five big favourites and five slight outsiders for glory on Sunday afternoon.
Paris-Roubaix favourites
Van der Poel may have only taken on two cobbled races so far this spring, but the Dutchman has unsurprisingly shown that he’s among the very strongest and the top favourite for glory on Sunday.
After winning Milan-San Remo, Van der Poel took second place at both the E3 Saxo Classic and the Tour of Flanders – edged out by Wout van Aert in a sprint at the former and by Tadej Pogačar on the Paterberg at the latter.
With no Pogačar on the start list in Compiègne and Van Aert so far being unable to cope with Van der Poel’s attacks in this Spring Classics season, the 28-year-old is the rider to watch.
Van der Poel has only taken part in two editions of Paris-Roubaix, finishing third on his debut at the wet 2021 race and trailing home in ninth last time out. He doesn’t have the strongest support squad in the race for Sunday, though the in-form Jasper Philipsen will…
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