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The cobbles to Roubaix
A detailed look at the 52.9km of pavé that distinguish the Hell of the North
Published: Apr. 11, 2009
The 259 kilometers between Compiègne and Roubaix are largely flat, but the Hell of the North has never been distinguished by climbs. What sets the so-called Queen of the Classics apart are the 52.9 kilometers of pavé, the often rough cobbles dating back as many as 200 years and carefully maintained by fans, promoters and local governments in northern France.
What follows is a detailed look at the 27 secotions of cobbles that any rider who hopes to enter the Roubaix velodrome ahead of the competition must handle with skill and finesse. The difficulty of each portion is rated on a scale of 1 to 5, with the latter being the most brutal.
| No. | Km. | Name | Length | Rating |
| 27 | 98 | Troisvilles à Inchy | 2.2 | *** |
| 26 | 104.5 | Viesly à Quiévy | 1.8 | *** |
| 25 | 107 | Quiévy à Saint-Python | 3.7 | **** |
| 24 | 112 | Saint-Python | 1.5 | ** |
| 23 | 119.5 | Vertain à Saint-Martin-sur-Écaillon | 2.3 | *** |
| 22 | 126.5 | Capelle-sur-Écaillon - Le-Buat | 1.7 | *** |
| 21 | 138.5 | Verchain-Maugré à Quérénaing | 1.6 | *** |
| 20 | 141.5 | Quérénaing à Maing | 2.5 | *** |
| 19 | 144.5 | Maing à Monchaux-sur-Écaillon | 1.6 | *** |
| 18 | 156 | Haveluy à Wallers | 2.5 | **** |
| 17 | 164 | Trouée d’Arenberg | 2.4 | ***** |
| 16 | 176.5 | Hornaing à Wandignies-Hamage | 3.7 | *** |
| 15 | 184 | Warlaing à Brillon | 2.4 | *** |
| 14 | 187.5 | Tilloy à Sars-et-Rosières | 2.4 | *** |
| 13 | 194 | Beuvry-la-forêt à Orchies | 1.4 | *** |
| 12 | 199 | Orchies | 1.7 | *** |
| 11 | 205 | Auchy-lez-Orchies à Bersée | 2.6 | ** |
| 10 | 210.5 | Mons-en-Pévèle | 3.0 | ***** |
| 9 | 216.5 | Mérignies à Pont-à-Marcq | 0.7 | ** |
| 8 | 219.5 | Pont-Thibaut à Ennevelin | 1.4 | *** |
| 7 | 225.5 | Templeuve - L’Épinette | 0.2 | * |
| 7 | 226 | Templeuve - Moulin-de-Vertain | 0.5 | ** |
| 6 | 232.5 | Cysoing à Bourghelles | 1.3 | **** |
| 6 | 235 | Bourghelles à Wannehain | 1.1 | **** |
| 5 | 239.5 | Camphin-en-Pévèle | 1.8 | **** |
| 4 | 242 | Carrefour de l’Arbre | 2.1 | ***** |
| 3 | 244.5 | Gruson | 1.1 | ** |
| 2 | 251 | Willems à Hem | 1.4 | * |
| 1 | 257.5 | Roubaix | 0.3 | * |
| Total length of cobbled sections | 52.9 |
