Resolves YES if the 2025 edition of Paris-Roubaix includes the Trouee d'Arenberg sector, ridden from northwest to southeast, the opposite direction it is ridden in 2024.
Resolves NO if the 2025 edition of Paris-Roubaix does not use the Trouee d'Arenberg, or if it is ridden in the same direction as 2024 (southeast to northwest).
Due to the whims of the UCI and race organizers, this will not resolve immediately on a course announcement, we will wait until the actual race happens.
1,000
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@strutheo There is an ongoing drama requiring the 2024 edition to route the riders around this 'chicane' because they thought it was too fast at the entry of the sector on a downhill at 40 mph / 60km/h, on the bumpiest cobbled road any cycling race ever goes on.
This annotated version from Brian Smith shows the new route in yellow and potential issues with arrows. Normally they would just go straight:
Here were some issues encountered on the start of the sector last year:
Officially, the 2,300 meters of cobbles were laid in the time of Napoleon I, in the late 18th century, crossing the large forest of Saint-Amand-Wallers, close to Wallers and just west of Valenciennes.
The Trench of Arenberg was first included in Paris–Roubaix in 1968 and has become an iconic location of the cobbled classic. It is one of three "five star" sections of pavé, together with the sections of Mons-en-Pévèle and Carrefour de l'Arbre which come later in the race.
@Eliza Here is a short video clip showing what it is like to ride on this sector of cobbles. The rider's arms are bouncing up and down in a way that is hard to describe.
@strutheo I wouldn't say one is better. Going in the opposite direction would mean a slower, safer ride, which is less entertaining and not the traditional path.
The Trouée d'Arenberg defines this race and holds iconic status. Any changes would upset many traditionalists and local volunteers. As strange as it sounds, PR exists because of the crashes and the danger.
In the end, it's essentially a struggle between French traditionalists, retired riders and the newly formed rider's organization CPA, led by Adam Hansen who seeks to expand his influence. It's more like a display of a political battle between different interests within the sport than anything else.
[Changing this one sector wouldn't alter much in the grand scheme. There are far more dangerous sections in this race. These just lack the iconic status. If you truly advocated for rider safety, you might as well skip the entire race.]