Analysis: The key moments of 2023 Paris-Roubaix

Paris-Roubaix 2023 will feature a total of 29 pavé sectors that will make up 54.3 kilometers of the 256.6 kilometers that the riders will have to cover between Compiègne and Roubaix. On those just over 50 km of cobblestones, as always, the favorites will be playing for the race.

Unlike the Tour of Flanders, it has no climbs, no hills to increase the difficulty of the route. It doesn't need to, since the pavé of the roads of northern France is much "harder" than that of its Belgian border colleague. They are irregular marble cubes of approximately 18 cm and are 4 to 8 centimeters apart, which is what makes the test so terrible. The sectors are graded in stars (those with 5 stars are of maximum difficulty and those with one star are of minimum difficulty).

The first of the sectors, the 2.2-kilometer Troisvilles à Inchiy, will be faced after 96.3 kilometers in their legs and, shortly after, at km 105 of the race, they will have to face the first serious four-star sector: 3.7 km on the Quiévy à Saint-Python.

The first key moment of the race will come as always on the Trouée d'Arenberg, at km 161 of the race (around 15:10 CET). As always, it is the first key moment for the favorites of the race, where the real strengths of all will be seen in 2.3 km brutal that at full pace only the best and those who are in the best shape will endure.

From then on, it's non-stop with several 4-star sectors combined with 3-stars after Arenberg: Hornaing à Wawndignies (3.7 km), Tilloy à Sars-et-Rosières (2.4 km) and Auchy-lez-Orchies à Bersée before tackling the second 5-star sector at km 208: the 3-km Mons-en-Pévèle (around 4:15 p.m.).

From the end of Pévèle to the Carrefour de l'Arbre, the definitive moment of the race for those who are still alive, there are 28.5 kilometers and 7 more sectors. Those who pass l'Arbre together will play for victory at the Roubaix Velodrome (around 17:20 CET).

We'll see what happens and if the big favorites Wout van Aert or Mathieu van der Poel have their day or, as has happened in recent years, end up being overtaken by riders who are better adapted to the 'Hell of the North'.