Paris-Roubaix 2026: Men and women start on the same day for the first time

For the first time, men and women will start the Paris-Roubaix cycling race on the same day in 2026. The organiser of the spring classic over cobblestones in the north of France made this public yesterday (12.2.26). "The queens of the cobbles are entering the big stage," reads a statement from the ASO ahead of this year's sixth edition of the women's race. Both competitions will now take place on Sunday, 12 April 2026. Most recently, the women's pro riders started on Saturday and the men on Sunday. This time, the men's route will cover 258.3 kilometres over 30 sections with cobblestones (54.8 kilometres in total). A total of five competitions will take place over the weekend, for men, women, U23 class, juniors and amateur cyclists. In future, the event will officially be called Paris-Roubaix Hauts-de-France. Hauts-de-France is the name of the region in the north of France where the race is held between the starting point in Compiègne (men) and the city of Roubaix on the border with Belgium.

Last year, Mathieu van der Poel had won the duel with Tadej Pogacar in the final of the race when the Slovenian took a corner too fast on his debut in this spring classic and crashed. In the women's race, the later Tour de France winner Pauline Ferrand-Prevot prevailed after a long solo. The Olympic mountain bike champion from Paris 2024 had only recently switched back to road cycling.

More cobblestones, more safety?

There are also new features for the men in the 123rd edition of their race. The route planners are returning to the 2024 design, when an early, dense sequence of sections with cobblestones tore the peloton apart around 100 kilometres after the start in Compiègne. "The first four sectors follow each other closely. Two years ago, Alpecin-Deceuninck broke up the peloton at this early stage," emphasises race director Thierry Gouvenou. New is sector number 26, which has rarely been used in the past and is 800 metres uphill. With these changes, the organisers obviously want to ensure that a reduced field reaches the first very difficult and five-star section, the Arenberg forest, where the arrival of the large peloton has repeatedly led to serious crashes in the past. In total, the ride through the "Hell of the North" covers 258.3 kilometres, which is almost one kilometre less than last year. The 30 paved sectors add up to 54.8 kilometres. The route will be slightly shorter, but more demanding than last year. Like the forest of Arenberg (at kilometre 163, 2,300 metres in length), the Mons-en-Pevèle (km 209.7 / 3,000 metres in length) and Carrefour de l'Arbre (241.2 / 2,100 metres) sections also have the highest level of difficulty with five stars.

New: The fastest women set the final point

The women start in Denain. Although the course is five kilometres shorter than last year, it has three new cobbled sections, which add up to a total of 33.7 kilometres. That's 4.5 kilometres more than in 2025. The women will bypass the infamous sector in the Arenberg forest. It has never been on the programme since the first edition in 2021. "We have cancelled the loops around Denain," explains race director Thierry Gouvenou. "This allows us to take the peloton a little further south and integrate more cobbles. Haveluy is one of the sectors that could prove decisive for the race." Paris-Roubaix thus continues the equalisation - the women's course in the finale runs over the same 17 sectors as the men's course. Now the fans can cheer on the men and women in quick succession. The dust from the men's race has probably only just settled when the female cycling pros pass. The first woman is expected to cross the finish line in the cycling stadium at around 18:00, around 90 minutes after the first men.

24 men's teams - premiere for Hincapie racing team

A total of 25 teams are to compete in the men's event. The 18 teams that qualify automatically are World Tour teams (including Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe) and the three best pro teams (Cofidis, Pinarello-Q36.5 and Tudor). Race organiser ASO also awarded four wildcards to the French team TotalEnergies, the French-licensed team Unibet Rose Rockets, Flanders-Baloise from Belgium and the US team Modern Adventure Procycling. The latter will be competing for the first time. It is led by former pro George Hincapie, who is the record participant in the race and came second in the classic in 2005. With 17 starts and 16 finishes, he is level with Australian Mathew Hayman. "It's unique and extremely exciting that we have the chance to ride Paris-Roubaix in our first year as a professional team," said Hincapie in a press release from his racing team. "It's a race that's close to my heart and one that I have great memories of as a racer." There will be 21 women's teams at the start, including Canyon-SRAM-zondacrypto from Germany and Visma-Lease a bike, with whom last year's winner Pauline Ferrand-Prévot is under contract.

Starting opportunity for amateur cyclists

There is also an event for amateur cyclists at Paris-Roubaix. On Saturday, 11 April 2026, men and women can try their hand at the pavé sectors. Three course lengths are on offer. However, the total of around 6,500 starting places are largely sold out. According to the organisers, there are still places left on the 170-kilometre distance. Info at www.parisroubaixchallenge.com