The Paris-Roubaix Challenge offers amateur cyclists the possibility of getting as close as possible to the professional race: Paris-Roubaix.
24 hours before the professionals, amateurs from around the world will have the opportunity to measure themselves against the legend of the Hell of the North with its mythical cobbled sections like the “Carrefour de l’Arbre” or the “trouée d’Arenberg”.
There are three increasingly difficult routes on offer, on roads which are open to traffic but secured by numerous volunteers and motorcyclists.
You’ll have to tackle the most legendary cobbled sections in the world on your own. But the spirit of the Paris-Roubaix is to take up the challenge with friends and to cross the finish line at the velodrome in Roubaix together. The shared experience can continue the next day as you cheer on the best cyclists in the world, fighting it out to ensure their name goes down among the winners of Paris-Roubaix.
The same roads, the same dreams, the same joy, the same pain: you, the amateur cyclists of the world, can experience the same emotions as Merckx, Boonen & Mr Roubaix Roger de Vlaeminck you to can emulate other professionals on the Queen of the Classics: Paris-Roubaix!
Spend an entire weekend dedicated to this mythical race, pedalling along the same roads as the pros on the Saturday and watching their passage over the cobbles in the forest of Arenberg on the Sunday.
Arrive 1100-1200 Put bikes together. Lunch discussion on itinerary for the weekend. Ride PM 1430 – 1600; discover 3 sectors of Pave and test that the bikes are OK (47kms). Dinner 1930.
Breakfast from 0630 Ride leaves from the front of the hotel 0900 to just after midday, discover 2 sectors of Pave plus the Arenberg Forest (30 kms) - watch the Pros training! Lunch. PM collect numbers from the Roubaix Velodrome Dinner 1930. Pack bikes in vehicles for early departure Saturday.
Breakfast will be provided by the hotel 0500. The minibuses will leave for 0530 for the start at 0700. There is a staggered start until 0900. One of our minibuses will be stopped just after the Arenberg Forest, roughly halfway through the event, if you have any major mechanicals; and the broom wagon will be on hand as with any sportive. Make sure you have all you need in a day bag - kit list below. Once every one is in, showered in the legendary Roubaix showers, we will return to Valenciennes. Dinner can be taken in the hotel but is not included in the weekend - there are other restaurants are available close by, or we can all eat as a group within the hotel or elsewhere.
Late breakfast until 1000. Departure for 1100 to the start of the Arenberg forest - there is a big TV screen where you can watch the whole Race. Previously we have moved from place to place, however the police are actively discouraging people from doing this as there have been may accidents from people driving too quickly. So we can stay in one place and get the atmosphere of the Arenberg, including beer tents, burger stands and cycling memorabilia for sale.
Departure day breakfast from 0630 – 0930, latest checkout 1030.
Arrival and bike test on the 10th, departure on the 15th.
10th - 15th
Single Supplement for this tour is £150.00 / €195.00
