Paris-Roubaix Challenge

The Paris-Roubaix Challenge is the amateur sportive that lets you ride the cobbled sectors of the Paris-Roubaix classic, organised by A.S.O. The 17th edition takes place on Saturday 10 April 2027 in northern France, with starts in Busigny and in Roubaix, in the Hauts-de-France region. Every route ends with a U-turn on the track of the Roubaix velodrome. It is a ride rather than a race: the organiser describes it as a randosportive held on public roads, where the Highway Code applies.

Routes and distances

There are three routes, and the difference between them is above all the number of cobbled sectors you face.

L’Enfer du Nord covers 170 km with 30 cobbled sectors, about 50 km of cobbles in total. It starts in Busigny and finishes in the Roubaix velodrome.

La Mythique covers 145 km with 19 cobbled sectors, including the Trouée d’Arenberg. It starts at the Parc des Sports in Roubaix and finishes in the velodrome.

La Découverte covers 70 km with 8 cobbled sectors and is presented as the accessible entry distance. It starts at the Parc des Sports in Roubaix and finishes in the velodrome.

The 170 km L’Enfer du Nord is the full experience. The organiser suggests planning for target averages of around 28 km/h on tarmac and 14 km/h on the cobbles, which explains why the day feels much longer than the distance suggests: on pavé you ride slower, with tighter focus and sore hands.

All three routes finish the same way: a U-turn at the Roubaix velodrome, where riders enter the track on the left for safety.

Explore the route on Cycling Friendly: Paris-Roubaix Challenge – L’Enfer du Nord

Explore the route on Cycling Friendly: Paris-Roubaix Challenge – La Mythique

Explore the route on Cycling Friendly: Paris-Roubaix Challenge – La Découverte

Practical notes: the 170 km start is in Busigny (rue Pasteur) between 07:00 and 08:30, and the 145 km start is at the Parc des Sports in Roubaix in the same window; the 70 km starts at the Parc des Sports between 09:00 and 10:30. A shuttle to Busigny for 170 km riders leaves from the Auchan Leers car park in Roubaix at 04:30 on the Saturday and must be booked through timeto.com. Mandatory kit is a helmet, a water bottle or hydration pack, a repair kit with two spare inner tubes (or tubeless or tubular-specific sealant), a pump and a charged phone. Shimano mechanical assistance points are located at the feed stations, and first-aid posts are along the course and at the finish. Official GPX files for all three routes are available on the event website. Time limits were not stated on the pages we could read; check the regulations and road book before you go.

Registration

Registration for the 2027 edition is open on the official website. Entries are made through the registration platform linked from the site, and individual accident insurance is optional but strongly recommended. The pages we read do not mention a medical certificate or timing. Riders who raise at least €400 for the Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque charity can take a charity bib and receive the Coureurs du Coeur jersey.

Bibs and plates are collected on presentation of your confirmation and a photo ID: on Friday 9 April from 14:00 to 19:00 at the Parc des Sports in Roubaix for all routes, and on Saturday 10 April from 06:15 at the Parc des Sports (70 km until 10:15, 145 km until 08:45) or at the Busigny salle des fêtes (170 km until 07:30).

Full details are on the official website.

Why ride it

The 170 km route has 30 cobbled sectors and about 50 km of pavé, and the 145 km route includes the Trouée d’Arenberg. Every distance ends with a U-turn inside the Roubaix velodrome. The organisers have also put the event in a village at the Parc des Sports in Roubaix, which acts as the hub for bib collection and the finish.

Where to stay

None of our certified cycling-friendly hotels are within 40 km of the start yet, as our coverage in France is still small. Riders typically base themselves in or around Roubaix and Lille, close to the Parc des Sports, where bibs are collected and the shorter routes start; 170 km riders need to plan for the early shuttle to Busigny or the Busigny bib collection. Browse more cycling-friendly accommodation and book early, as rooms around the event weekend fill quickly.