71:
150:, the voluntary association which takes care of the race's cobblestones, said that "objectively speaking, it’s the worst-maintained sector of cobbles in the whole race", giving three reasons: the rough and grooved surface of the stones, resulting from poor cutting; the wide gaps between the stones; and the uneven laying of the cobbles. These difficulties mean that riders have to carefully balance the need to avoid accidents and mechanical problems with riding at high speed.
166:
63:
143:. The road is straight and narrow (3 m), dropping slightly when entering the forest from the village of Arenberg, then rising in the second half. The altitude is 25m at the start and 19m at the end. The cobbles are extremely difficult to ride because of their irregularity. Many fans have taken away cobbles as souvenirs, leading to a regular check-up of the road.
300:
after falling at the beginning of the Trouée when leading the peloton and never returned to racing at the highest level. Consequently, the Trouée d'Arenberg was left out in 2005, as conditions had deteriorated beyond safety limits. Regional and local councils spent €250,000 to restore the road and
241:) and the cobbled passage is now classified. Although almost 100 km from Roubaix, the sector usually proves decisive and as Stablinski stated, "Paris–Roubaix is not won in Arenberg, but from there the group with the winners is selected". A memorial to Stablinski stands at one end of the road.
244:
Despite his desire to increase the difficulty of the race, Goddet was initially reluctant to include the
Arenberg due to its extreme difficulty. However it was included in the 1968 race, and the field raced through it without any problems. It was immediately dubbed the "Trouée d'Arenberg" by
327:
are placed, as the road is narrow and fans gather in large numbers to see the race. In the earlier years of the section's inclusion, riders were often able to avoid riding on the cobbles by using the verges on the edge of the road - Gouvenou claimed that riders only had to ride 400 of the
566:
Organisers ASO have increased the total race distance for the third edition of Paris-Roubaix Femmes avec Zwift but have not added the mythical five-star Trouée d'Arenberg, saying that it is still "too dangerous" to include it in the women's parcours due to its proximity to the start in
312:, twice a winner of the race, has said that "when you leave the Arenberg badly placed or in the red it’s then that you know that you won’t be in the mix in the final... Once out of the forest you may not have won the race, but you’ll certainly know if you have lost it".
320:, suggested that "the race can clearly be split between what happens before and what happens after the Arenberg. Because until you have crossed the threshold of the Trench it’s not even worth thinking about what comes next".
339:
noted they consider it "too dangerous" to include the Trouée d'Arenberg due to its proximity to the start in Denain, but they also noted that they "do not rule out that we will pass through ... in the future".
139:
Officially, the 2,300 meters of cobbles were laid in the time of
Napoleon I, in the late 18th century, crossing the large forest of Saint-Amand-Wallers, close to Wallers and just west of
208:: by the 1965 edition of Paris-Roubaix cobbled sections only accounted for 22 km of the 265.5 km route. As a result the race was becoming easier, with the 1967 edition being won by
332:
s 2300 metres on the cobblestones - however in the 1990s the barriers were introduced to prevent crashes. According to
Doulcier, over 10,000 fans watch the race on the Arenberg every year.
407:
257:
that were scattered across the area of northern France where the race is held. Despite the lack of complications, it was removed from the race in 1974 and only returned in
637:
464:
608:
437:
157:: Doulcier has stated that "it gives the impression that you’re standing in a cathedral. Even if it were tarmacked over, it would be impressive".
261:
as a generally permanent fixture on the parcours. The race's passage through the
Arenberg was broadcast on live television for the first time
580:
551:
304:
Because of its difficulty, it is considered a crucial site of the race, although at 85 kilometers, it is relatively far from the finish in
482:
682:
595:'I do not rule out that we will pass through the Arenberg Forest in the future' states course director on possible route changes
510:
32:
638:"Belgium's King Philippe and former Belgian cycling champion Merckx attend the start of the 5th stage of the Tour de France"
153:
It has been noted that the road's layout, as a long straight surrounded by trees, is unique among Paris-Roubaix's cobbled
707:
702:
317:
274:
336:
231:, who had worked in the mine under the woods of Arenberg. The mine closed in 1990 (later being used by director
697:
106:
177:
in 1968 and has become an iconic location of the cobbled classic. It is one of three "five star" sections of
309:
186:
403:
262:
258:
79:
70:
616:
536:
383:
665:
352:, but three stages of the Tour have finished in the village of Arenberg, at the forest's entrance. In
237:
182:
220:, a recently retired rider who had been appointed course designer for the race, to find new cobbled
380:
361:
353:
125:
487:
285:
581:"Five-star Arenberg 'too dangerous' due to proximity to start at Paris-Roubaix Femmes, says ASO"
552:"Five-star Arenberg 'too dangerous' due to proximity to start at Paris-Roubaix Femmes, says ASO"
174:
128:
165:
651:
313:
293:
205:
201:
372:
228:
62:
368:
349:
250:
213:
691:
281:
217:
376:
357:
270:
266:
246:
232:
140:
196:
was in response to the resurfacing of many cobbled roads after World War II with
478:
254:
209:
17:
324:
197:
280:
The abandonment of the mines caused sections of the road to subside. In 1998
47:
34:
442:
364:
131:
held in April, where it is one of the most difficult passages of the race.
367:
won the fifth stage of the Tour near the entrance of the Trouée ahead of
212:
in a small group sprint of 15 riders. In reaction to this race director
305:
289:
227:
The site was proposed for Paris–Roubaix by former professional cyclist
98:
301:
add 50 cm to its width. The section was included again in 2006.
102:
297:
164:
69:
61:
386:
won the fifth stage of the Tour from the day's early breakaway.
66:
Location of the cobbled road (in red) in the Forest of
Arenberg
666:"Tour de France: Simon Clarke conquers cobbles to win stage 5"
465:"Video of the inauguration of the memorial to Jean Stablinski"
292:, nearly spelling the end of his career. In 2001 French rider
204:. This change had a significant effect on the parcours of the
97:) is a 2.3 km long cobbled road in the municipality of
483:"The Arenberg Forest: the Making of a Paris-Roubaix Legend"
277:
team and who both finished in the top five of the race.
379:
crash out in a memorable day in inclement weather. In
360:won the third stage with seven cobbled sectors. In
348:The Trouée d'Arenberg was never included in the
406:. Radio Television Belgium RTBF. Archived from
288:, crashed heavily on the Trouée and broke his
652:"Tour de France: Boom the master of the pavé"
173:The Trench of Arenberg was first included in
8:
537:"Tales from the pavé on the road to Roubaix"
615:. Future Publishing Limited. Archived from
511:"The Course: Paris–Roubaix and its cobbles"
431:
429:
427:
425:
423:
421:
419:
417:
323:It is also the only site of the race where
683:Cyclingnews: the sectors of Paris–Roubaix
640:. Yahoo! Sport Deutschland. 10 July 2014.
438:"Arenberg: a trip to the heart of hell"
395:
120:, outside France better known as the
7:
404:"Les pavés classés de Paris–Roubaix"
146:François Doulcier, the president of
118:Forêt de Raismes-Saint-Amand-Wallers
375:. The stage saw defending champion
273:, who were team-mates on the local
124:. It is best known from the annual
27:Cobbled road used in Paris-Roubaix
25:
509:Beaudin, Matthew (5 April 2013).
74:The straight cobbled road in the
579:Frattini, Kirsten (2023-04-05).
550:Frattini, Kirsten (2023-04-05).
181:, together with the sections of
668:. cyclingnews.com. 6 July 2022.
654:. cyclingnews.com. 9 July 2014.
189:which come later in the race.
109:. The road's official name is
1:
535:John Stevenson (2004-04-11).
265:, where the field was led by
91:Tranchée de Wallers-Arenberg
607:Cycling News (2010-07-06).
335:In 2023, organisers of the
111:La Drève des Boules d'Hérin
724:
609:"Carnage on the cobbles!"
148:Les Amis de Paris-Roubaix
114:("Bullet Alley of Hérin")
436:Vergne, Laurent (2017).
249:, as an allusion to the
224:to add to the parcours.
192:The introduction of the
310:Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle
170:
82:
67:
467:. La Voix Des Sports.
318:Paris–Roubaix Espoirs
316:, a former winner of
169:Surface of the Trouée
168:
73:
65:
337:Paris–Roubaix Femmes
187:Carrefour de l'Arbre
269:and Roubaix native
44: /
708:Nord-Pas-de-Calais
356:cobble specialist
263:the following year
235:to shoot his film
171:
122:Forest of Arenberg
95:Trench of Arenberg
83:
80:2008 Paris–Roubaix
76:Forest of Arenberg
68:
481:(11 April 2022).
87:Trouée d'Arenberg
48:50.399°N 3.4125°E
16:(Redirected from
715:
670:
669:
662:
656:
655:
648:
642:
641:
634:
628:
627:
625:
624:
604:
598:
597:
592:
591:
576:
570:
569:
563:
562:
547:
541:
540:
532:
526:
525:
523:
521:
506:
500:
499:
497:
495:
475:
469:
468:
461:
455:
454:
452:
450:
433:
412:
411:
400:
314:Thierry Gouvenou
294:Philippe Gaumont
206:cobbled classics
116:and crosses the
107:Département Nord
59:
58:
56:
55:
54:
49:
45:
42:
41:
40:
37:
21:
723:
722:
718:
717:
716:
714:
713:
712:
698:Cobbled streets
688:
687:
679:
674:
673:
664:
663:
659:
650:
649:
645:
636:
635:
631:
622:
620:
606:
605:
601:
589:
587:
585:cyclingnews.com
578:
577:
573:
560:
558:
556:cyclingnews.com
549:
548:
544:
534:
533:
529:
519:
517:
508:
507:
503:
493:
491:
477:
476:
472:
463:
462:
458:
448:
446:
435:
434:
415:
402:
401:
397:
392:
373:Vincenzo Nibali
346:
229:Jean Stablinski
163:
137:
135:Characteristics
126:cycling classic
52:
50:
46:
43:
38:
35:
33:
31:
30:
28:
23:
22:
18:Arenberg Trench
15:
12:
11:
5:
721:
719:
711:
710:
705:
700:
690:
689:
686:
685:
678:
677:External links
675:
672:
671:
657:
643:
629:
619:on 7 July 2010
599:
571:
542:
539:. Cyclingnews.
527:
501:
470:
456:
413:
410:on 2008-06-19.
394:
393:
391:
388:
369:Jakob Fuglsang
350:Tour de France
345:
344:Tour de France
342:
284:, leading the
214:Jacques Goddet
183:Mons-en-Pévèle
162:
159:
136:
133:
53:50.399; 3.4125
26:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
720:
709:
706:
704:
703:Paris–Roubaix
701:
699:
696:
695:
693:
684:
681:
680:
676:
667:
661:
658:
653:
647:
644:
639:
633:
630:
618:
614:
610:
603:
600:
596:
586:
582:
575:
572:
568:
557:
553:
546:
543:
538:
531:
528:
516:
512:
505:
502:
490:
489:
484:
480:
474:
471:
466:
460:
457:
445:
444:
439:
432:
430:
428:
426:
424:
422:
420:
418:
414:
409:
405:
399:
396:
389:
387:
385:
382:
378:
374:
370:
366:
363:
359:
355:
351:
343:
341:
338:
333:
331:
326:
321:
319:
315:
311:
307:
302:
299:
295:
291:
287:
283:
282:Johan Museeuw
278:
276:
272:
268:
264:
260:
256:
252:
248:
242:
240:
239:
234:
230:
225:
223:
219:
218:Albert Bouvet
215:
211:
207:
203:
199:
195:
190:
188:
184:
180:
176:
175:Paris–Roubaix
167:
161:Paris–Roubaix
160:
158:
156:
151:
149:
144:
142:
134:
132:
130:
129:Paris–Roubaix
127:
123:
119:
115:
112:
108:
104:
100:
96:
92:
88:
81:
77:
72:
64:
60:
57:
19:
660:
646:
632:
621:. Retrieved
617:the original
613:Cycling News
612:
602:
594:
588:. Retrieved
584:
574:
565:
559:. Retrieved
555:
545:
530:
518:. Retrieved
515:velonews.com
514:
504:
492:. Retrieved
486:
479:Fife, Graeme
473:
459:
447:. Retrieved
441:
408:the original
398:
384:Simon Clarke
377:Chris Froome
358:Thor Hushovd
347:
334:
329:
322:
303:
279:
271:Alain Bondue
267:Gregor Braun
247:Pierre Chany
243:
236:
233:Claude Berri
226:
221:
193:
191:
178:
172:
154:
152:
147:
145:
141:Valenciennes
138:
121:
117:
113:
110:
101:in Northern
94:
90:
86:
84:
75:
29:
325:guard rails
255:World War I
210:Jan Janssen
51: /
692:Categories
623:2010-07-06
590:2023-04-05
561:2023-04-05
390:References
296:broke his
275:La Redoute
93:(English:
36:50°23′56″N
443:Eurosport
365:Lars Boom
286:World Cup
105:, in the
39:3°24′45″E
494:25 April
330:secteur'
251:trenches
238:Germinal
222:secteurs
155:secteurs
567:Denain.
488:Rouleur
449:9 April
306:Roubaix
290:kneecap
202:asphalt
194:secteur
99:Wallers
520:8 June
216:asked
198:tarmac
103:France
298:femur
185:and
522:2015
496:2022
451:2017
381:2022
371:and
362:2014
354:2010
259:1983
179:pavé
85:The
253:of
200:or
89:or
78:in
694::
611:.
593:.
583:.
564:.
554:.
513:.
485:.
440:.
416:^
308:.
626:.
524:.
498:.
453:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
