Rules
Before going out to face the cobblestones, you need to get to grips with the rules to make the most of the race and beat the time limit.
Check your mandatory equipment: a helmet, a bottle (or hydration pack), a repair kit with 2 inner tubes or a tyre sealant kit made specifically for tubular tyres or tubeless tyres, and a pump to deal with punctures. Keep a charged mobile phone on you at all times during the event. You may need it to contact the medical or technical support services.
While technical support will be available, you may have to ride for several kilometres before reaching the closest support point. Fixed Shimano support points will be set up at the refreshment stations. There will also be several mobile points.
A tip for the cobblestones: use twice as much handlebar tape as usual and wear gloves!
For your own safety, we urge you to keep the following points in mind:
Follow the rules of the road: the Paris–Roubaix Challenge is a cyclosportive event held on roads open to traffic. You have to follow the rules of the road at all times (e.g. stopping at red traffic lights, heeding stop signs, yielding to vehicles coming from the right and leaving enough room for vehicles to overtake you).
Be cautious and follow the safety rules:
- Stick to the right when being overtaken.
- Overtake exclusively on the left side.
- Signal when overtaking.
- Adjust your speed to the weather conditions, especially in the cobbled sectors.
- Bring clothes for every weather. Expect both cold and hot weather.
- Eat before you get too hungry to avoid bonking.
- Do not overestimate your form.
If you witness a serious accident, call the emergency number and tell the operator at what kilometre point it has taken place. This emergency number will be made known at a later date and also appears on your race number. You can also call this number to alert the race CP if there are any problems with the course.
Remember that there will be first aid stations along the course and at the finish where you can seek assistance if you get hurt.
Paris–Roubaix Femmes will be taking place on the same course and on the same day as the Paris–Roubaix Challenge.
Review the schedule of your race to be sure to beat the time limit. You are advised to start as early as possible.
You need to reach the Roubaix Velodrome by 4:30pm. Otherwise, members of the organisation (marshals, motorbike riders…) will guide you towards a different return course to take you to the Parc des Sports de Roubaix without getting caught by the Elite Women's race.
