Can Tadej Pogacar challenge two-time defending champion Mathieu van der Poel in his debut at the 'Hell of the North'

As the cobbled Spring Classics season reaches its thrilling climax, all eyes turn to the 2025 Paris-Roubaix Femmes and Paris-Roubaix, scheduled for April 12-13

This year’s event marks the 122nd edition of the men’s race and the fifth edition of the women’s, featuring a fierce showdown between defending champion Mathieu van der Poel and debutant Tadej Pogacar, who is eager to claim one of cycling's most coveted Monuments.

Paris-Roubaix, often referred to as the 'Hell of the North,' is renowned for its challenging terrain, with riders facing 30 grueling cobbled sectors packed into the last 165 kilometers of the men’s race, spanning a total distance of 259.2 km. The race begins in Compiègne and culminates at the iconic Roubaix velodrome.

Van der Poel, who secured back-to-back victories in 2023 and 2024, is poised to defend his title against a competitive field. With aspirations to match the legendary Francesco Moser and Octave Lapize, who each hold three titles, van der Poel's experience and tactical prowess make him the rider to beat.

However, the spotlight also shines on Tadej Pogacar, the Slovenian superstar making his Paris-Roubaix debut. Pogacar, a two-time Tour de France champion, is on a mission to fill the gap in his illustrious trophy cabinet, with Paris-Roubaix and Milan-San Remo being the only Monuments yet to be claimed. His participation adds an exciting dynamic to the race, as fans and competitors alike eagerly anticipate how his climbing skills will translate to the cobbled roads of Roubaix.

In the women’s race, defending champion Lotte Kopecky will face stiff competition from a diverse field, including Olympic medallists Chloe Dygert and Marlen Reusser, as well as the multi-terrain specialist Puck Pieterse from the Netherlands. With four different winners in the event's four-year history, the women's race is shaping up to be an unpredictable battle.

The men’s course will introduce two new sectors—Artres (1.3 km) and Famars (1.2 km)—around the 130 km mark, alongside a revised section before the notorious Forest of Arenberg, while remaining largely unchanged from last year. The women's race will follow the same route as in 2024, starting in Denain and featuring nearly 30 km of cobbles, including the challenging Mons-en-Pévèle and Carrefour de l’Arbre sectors.

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