Tour Type
Granfondo
Riding Level
Avid
Location
France & Belgium
Duration
5 days | 4 nights
Length
25 to 145+ km daily
Climb
400 to 1,500+ m daily
Known as one of cycling's five Monument classics, Paris-Roubaix stands alone as the most unique and brutal race on the calendar. Nicknamed "The Hell of the North," this race is defined by its infamous cobblestone sectors, or pavé, which transform a cyclist's greatest test into a battle against the elements and unforgiving terrain.
It’s a race where luck, courage, and sheer brute strength are as crucial as fitness, and where legendary riders like four-time winners Tom Boonen and Roger De Vlaeminck have made their mark. The most successful nation in the race’s history is Belgium, while in recent years, winners have included Peter Sagan, Mathieu van der Poel, and Dylan van Baarle.
This is your chance to ride the same hallowed roads as the pros, to feel the history under your wheels, and to conquer famous pavé sections like the Trouée d’Arenberg and the Carrefour de l’Arbre. Are you ready to face the challenge and earn your place among the ranks of those who have conquered the cobbles?
Looking to expand your cycling adventure? Combine this tour with the De Ronde Gran Fondo Weekender for the ultimate Spring Classics experience. This is your opportunity to take on both the legendary We Ride Flanders sportive AND the Paris-Roubais Challenge, conquering the fabled cobblestones and finishes in Oudenaarde and the Roubaix Velodrome.
To learn more about how to join this unforgettable journey, we invite you to contact us today.
The Grand Tours Project team will meet you at the Lille train station and take you to your hotel. After you’ve checked in, our team will be on hand to assist with bike setup and fitting. For those who are renting, your bikes will be ready for you to collect after midday. Once everyone is ready, we’ll head out for a relaxed welcome ride – the perfect chance to test your equipment, warm up your legs, and get a first taste of the unique cycling culture and flat roads of the region.
After an early breakfast at our hotel in Lille, we will transfer to the start of today’s ride on the iconic roads of the Tour of Flanders and the We Ride Flanders sportive. Just days after the professionals have made history here, you will write your own, conquering the same legendary hills and cobblestones. Your journey will take you over challenging climbs and punishing pavé, each one a piece of cycling history. At the end of the ride, we will celebrate your accomplishment at the Centrum Ronde van Vlaanderen, where a final coffee (or a celebratory Belgian beer!) at the nearby Peloton Café is highly recommended before returning to Lille.
While today’s elevation profile may look easy, the reality is far from it. Today, you will test yourselves (and your bikes) by riding the official cyclo-sportive of Paris-Roubaix, arguably the most brutal and harshest race of the year. After an early transfer to Roubaix, you will take on one of three legendary distances: the 70 km, 145 km, or 170 km loop. The amount of cobblestones increases with each route, culminating in the longest ride which features the most iconic sectors, like the Carrefour de l’Arbre. Tie your shoelaces and let out some air from your tyres – this is the “Hell of the North”. PLUS the ultimate prize awaits you: a victory lap on the same Roubaix Velodrome as the pros.
Today is the day! After experiencing the gruelling pavé and climbs for yourself yesterday, you’ll have a newfound appreciation for the pros as they take on the legendary Paris-Roubaix race. Our team will transfer you to the heart of the action – the iconic Roubaix Velodrome. Here, you will enjoy an exclusive VIP experience, watching the drama unfold on the big screen before the riders make their heroic entrance. The atmosphere inside the stadium is electric, building to a fever pitch as you witness a triumphant, but exhausted, dusty or muddy peloton enter the track, their bodies pushed to the absolute limit. It’s an unforgettable day filled with immense drama and the emotional spectacle of watching riders push for ultimate glory.
Depending on road closures, the team will scout out a prime position to watch the pros on the cobbles before whisking you to the Velodrome.
The final and departure day of our Spring Classics tours. No matter the weather, you will be guaranteed cobbles, adventure and test of your skills on routes that remain popular amongst the professional riders. After a final breakfast, our team will be on hand to assist with packing your bike before taking you to Lille train station for your onward journey.
If you seek a short escape of adventure and fun, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
What’s not included?
