Paris-Roubaix is a one-day professional bicycle road race in Northern France, beginning north of Paris and concluding in Roubaix, near the Belgian border. It is one of cycling's oldest races, first run in 1896, and is considered one of the five "Monuments" or classics on the European calendar. The race contributes points towards the UCI World Ranking. This grueling race is known for its challenging terrain and cobblestone roads, called pavé. Due to its difficulty, Paris-Roubaix has earned nicknames such as "The Hell of the North" and "Queen of the Classics".
The race was conceived by textile manufacturers Théodore Vienne and Maurice Perez to promote their new velodrome. The first race was from Paris to Roubaix. The start was moved to Chantilly in 1966 and then to Compiègne in 1977. The race is roughly 260 km long, with over 50 km of cobblestone sections. The winner receives a cobblestone mounted on a plinth and has their name placed on a plaque in the velodrome's showers. Mathieu van der Poel holds the record for the fastest win, finishing the 2024 race with an average speed of 47.80 km/h.
