Entries have officially opened for the Paris-Roubaix Challenge, the cyclosportive event organised by Queen of the Classics organisers ASO on the day before the race. For a number of years there has been a cycle tourist event held in June in every even year, but for the first time there will be an event held on the same weekend as the WorldTour race, meaning that fans will be able to ride one day and watch the race the next.
The course will follow 162km of the race route, over 18 sectors of cobbles, for a total of 31.6km of the pavé du Nord, between the town of Saint-Quentin and the hallowed vélodrome at Roubaix. Although the course will not cross the mythical Arenberg Forest it will cover a number of the race’s most iconic sectors, including the Chemins des Prières at Orchies, Mons en Pévèle and the Carrefour de l’Arbre.
As a cyclosportive the event will officially be a race and so all riders will be individually timed on closed roads for most of the distance. Presumably due to traffic levels on the major roads on the outskirts of Roubaix, the timed section of the course will end after 147km at the Carrefour de l’Arbre. Riders will then ride, on open roads, to the vélodrome where they will receive their official ranking.
The first 3000 entries will be at a reduced price of €75, although it is not stated how much the price will be once this number has been reached.
The online entry form, and all other information on the event, can be found at www.parisroubaixchallenge.com.