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Independent Cycling Media

Paris-Roubaix Wrap Up

History has been written and the 2023 Paris-Roubaix winners, Mathieu van der Poel and Alison Jackson, are now amongst the legends and legacy that is L’Enfer Du Nord.

This year’s race did not disappoint, the men and women raced spectacularly and gave the fans more than their money’s worth in thrills and spills. The men’s race was notable not only for the two superstars – Van der Poel and Van Aert – but for being the fastest edition on record with an average speed of 46.84 kph (29.11 mph), beating the record set in 2022. The women’s race was equally noteworthy for it’s Canadian winner, and for the fact that the winning breakaway went early at kilometer 15 and held on for 130 kilometers right to the finish. Incredible!

For the women especially, Paris-Roubaix Femmes has become one of the best opportunities to showcase and grow women’s professional cycling. This event, along with the Tour de France Femmes, may be one of the most important events for the future of women’s cycling. As for the men, their race has increased in popularity year after year, with more in-person fans and TV viewers, and will continue to grow in popularity as it attracts more fans worldwide.

The organizers of Paris-Roubaix, Amaury Sports Organization (A.S.O.), which also organizes the Tour de France and many other renowned international sporting events, continues to innovate and be at the forefront in ensuring that Paris-Roubaix is a top notch event. In the future, we hope to see more fan-based interactive technologies like the augmented reality, Augmented Race 2022, introduced at last year’s Tour de France, as well as gaming experiences like the 2023 TdF “Collectibles” contest.

Until next year, here’s a wrap up and a look at some of the things that went on behind the scenes at the 2023 Paris-Roubaix.

Photo Gallery

Some fans make their own autograph cards for the race each year.
Even the TV race motorcycles test out the pavé beforehand.
Giant screens in the velodrome ensure that you don’t miss anything
Every section of pavé has signage.
Background: the coal mine towers of the village of Wallers.
UCI regulations require the doping control to be nearby.
Coal mine tower circa 1900 in village of Wallers (Arenberg pavé).
Team caravan buses start on their way to the finish in Roubaix.
The Vélodrome André-Pétrieux (Roubaix velodrome)
“The hell of the north leads to heaven.“
Carré Pelouse – the patch of grass (lawn) – where press and VIP are allowed.
Identifications stickers for all press vehicles are mandatory to gain access.
The press center inside the new velodrome next door to the Roubaix velodrome.
The podium motif is pavé – of course.
Pavé gets repaired each year by a club of volunteers, The Friends of Paris-Roubaix.
The Arenberg section of pavé is 2.3 kilometers long and rated 5 stars in difficulty.
The pavé can take on many hues.
Most pavé sections are better suited to a mountain bike.
Every section of pavé has signage for riders and fans.
The Arenberg pavé: 2300 meters long.
Legends get their portrait on the wall outside the velodrome.
A memorial to the cyclist, Jean Stablinski, who proposed the inclusion of the Arenberg in 1968.
The neutral service, Shimano, makes last minute preparations.
Keeping up with the latest tech. isn’t always so easy for the media.
A drone operator provides aerial footage of the crowd at the start.
A drone flies down the Arenberg pavé.
All pavé is not created equal.
Fans raise all sorts of flags over their campers.
Camper caravans turn parking lots into small villages.
Team EF Education wait for Alison Jackson to appear.
Watch the Femmes! Zwift handed out swag before the start of the race.
Kate Verroneau of Zwift was on hand at the podium presentations.
Photographers jockey for the best shots at the Paris-Roubaix Femmes start.
Stuffed puppets sit in the window of a team bus.

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