Changes made to layout of Hell of the North Classic
Rejigging the race route in order to preserve the distance to be covered on the cobblestones, Paris-Roubaix organisers ASO have announced the net addition of two additional sectors of pavé to this year’s event.
“With the double aim of preserving the 70 kilometres of cobbles available in the north and to avoid immobilising the route, the race, which will take place on 10th April, will make a significant incursion into the area around Valenciennes and will pass through the sectors of Aulnoy-lez-Valenciennes and Famars,” ASO said in a statement. “The riders will also discover the Millonfosse section (1,400 m) 4,500 metres from the exit from the Trouée d’Arenberg. This sequence positioned at 70 kilometres away from the finishing line should be one of the strategic moments of the race.”
The 2011 race will have 31 sectors in all, an apparent increase of four over the 2010 total. However this is a little misleading: last year’s edition officially had 27 sectors, but two of these – Templeuve – L’Épinette/Templeuve – Moulin-de-Vertain and Cysoing à Bourghelles/Bourghelles à Wannehain have been separated out into four sectors on the latest route.
The comparison is therefore 31 sectors versus 29. The 2011 route will comprise 53.4 kilometres of pavé, half a kilometre more than last year. The race itself will be practically the same length, dropping fractionally from 257.5 to 257 kilometres.
Specifics:
The changes will see the removal of three sectors, namely Verchain-Maugré à Quérénaing (km 138, 1.6 km in length), Hornaing à Wandignies-Hamage (sector 18, km 176, 3.7 km in length) and Warlaing à Brillon (sector 17, km 183.5, 2.4 km in length).
The new additions are:
Sector 25: Km 137:Artres à Préseau, 1.9 km
24: Km 142.5:Aulnoy-lez-Valenciennes – Famars, 2.6 km
23: Km 146:Famars à Quérénaing, 1.2 km
18: Km 179:Millonfosse à Bousignies, 1. 4 km
17: Km 183.5:Brillion à Tilloy-lez-Marchiennes, 1.1 km
Today’s route announcement creates a little confusion as two sectors are listed with small name changes from last year. These are Capelle-sur-Ecaillon à Ruesnes, (km 126.5, 1.7 km in length) and Mérignies à Avelin (km 2.15.5, 0.7 km).
In 2010, sectors of an identical length were included and called Capelle-sur-Écaillon – Le-Buat and Mérignies à Le Prez.
The identical distance of pavé suggests that these may well be the same as before.
The organisers have long been battling against changes with the route, with recent decades seeing farming tracks being resurfaced and the options for cobblestone sectors being reduced. This has relented somewhat in recent years due to preservation orders on many of the sectors, introduced as a recognition of the race’s cultural value.
ASO also announced today that the 2011 Paris-Roubaix Challenge will take place one day before, travelling between Saint-Quentin (Aisne) and the velodrome in Roubaix cycling stadium. Approximately 4,000 fans will ride over last 16 sectors of the professional race.
Fabian Cancellara dominated the 2010 edition of the Classic, breaking clear over 50 kilometres from the finish and reaching the line two minutes clear of Thor Hushovd and Juan Antonio Flecha. It was a staggering display and once which will heighten interest in this year’s contest.
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Paris-Roubaix route changes:
2010 :
29: Km 97,5: Troisvilles à Inchy, 2.2 km
28: Km 104: Viesly à Quiévy, 1.8 km
27: Km 106.5: Quiévy à Saint-Python, 3.7 km
26: Km 115.5: Saint-Python, 1.5 km
25: Km 119: Vertain à Saint-Martin-sur-Écaillon, 2.3 km
24: Km 126: Capelle-sur-Écaillon – Le-Buat, 1.7 km (either changed or renamed)
23: Km 138: Verchain-Maugré à Quérénaing, 1.6 km
22: Km 141: Quérénaing à Maing, 2.5 km
21: Km 144: Maing à Monchaux-sur-Écaillon, 1.6 km
20: Km 155,5: Haveluy à Wallers, 2.5 km
19: Km 164: Trouée d’Arenberg, 2.4 km
18: Km 176: Hornaing à Wandignies-Hamage, 3.7 km
17: Km 183.5: Warlaing à Brillon, 2.4 km
16: Km 187: Tilloy à Sars-et-Rosières, 2.4 km
15: Km 193.5: Beuvry-la-forêt à Orchies, 1.4 km
14: Km 198,5: Orchies, 1.7 km
13: Km 204,5: Auchy-lez-Orchies à Bersée, 2.6 km
12: Km 210: Mons-en-Pévèle, 3 km
11: Km 216: Mérignies à Le Prez, 0.7 km (either changed or renamed)
10: Km 219,5: Pont-Thibaut à Ennevelin, 1.4 km
9: Km 225: Templeuve – L’Épinette, 0.2 km
8: Km 225.5: Templeuve – Moulin-de-Vertain, 0.5 km
7: Km 232: Cysoing à Bourghelles, 1.3 km
6: Km 234.5: Bourghelles à Wannehain, 1.1 km
5: Km 239: Camphin-en-Pévèle, 1.8 km
4: Km 241.5: Carrefour de l’Arbre, 2.1 km
3: Km 244: Gruson, 1.1 km
2: Km 250.5: Willems à Hem, 1.4 km
1: Km 257,5: Roubaix, 0.3 km
Total distance of cobblestone sectors : 52.9
2011 :
Sector 31 : Km 98: Troisvilles à Inchy, 2.2 km
30: Km 104.5: Viesly à Quiévy, 1.8 km
29: Km 107.5:Quiévy à Saint-Python, 3.7 km
28: Km 112: Saint-Python, 1.5 km
27: Km 120: Vertain à St-Martin-sur-Ecaillon, 2.3 km
26: Km 126.5:Capelle-sur-Ecaillon à Ruesnes, 1.7 km * ?
25: Km 137:Artres à Préseau, 1.9 km *
24: Km 142.5:Aulnoy-lez-Valenciennes – Famars, 2.6 km *
23: Km 146:Famars à Quérénaing, 1.2 km *
22: Km 149.5:Quérénaing à Maing, 2.5 km
21: Km 152.5:Maing à Monchaux-sur-Ecaillon, 1.6 km
20: Km 164:Haveluy à Wallers, 2.5 km
19: Km 172.5:Trouée d’Arenberg, 2.4 km
18: Km 179:Millonfosse à Bousignies, 1. 4 km*
17: Km 183.5:Brillion à Tilloy-lez-Marchiennes, 1.1 km*
16: Km 186.5:Tilloy à Sars-et-Rosières, 2.4 km
15: Km 192.5:Beuvry-la-forêt à Orchies, 1.4 km
14: Km 197.5: Orchies, 1.7 km
13: Km 204:Auchy-lez-Orchies à Bersée, 2.6 km
12: Km 209.5:Mons-en-Pévèle, 3 km
11: Km 215.5:Mérignies à Avelin, 0.7 km *?
10: Km 218.5:Pont-Thibaut à Ennevelin, 1.4 km
9: Km 224:Templeuve – L’Epinette, 0.2 km
8: Km 224.5:Templeuve – Moulin-de-Vertain, 0.5 km
7: Km 231:Cysoing à Bourghelles, 1.3 km
6: Km 234:Bourghelles à Wannehain, 1.1 km
5: Km 238.5:Camphin-en-Pévèle, 1.8 km
4: Km 241:Carrefour de l’Arbre, 2.1 km
3: Km 243.5:Gruson, 1.1 km
2: Km 250:Willems à Hem, 1.4 km
1: Km 257:Roubaix, 0.3 km
Total distance of cobblestone sectors : 53.4km
* = new sectors