This weekend brings the spring return of one of the best races on the international calendar: Paris-Roubaix. This “monument” is known for its gnarly and narrow cobbled roads that guarantee the thinning out of the peloton before arriving at the famous Roubaix Velodrome for a dramatic finale. Taking place in northern France, Roubaix is called the “Hell of the North” for a reason: it’s one of the longest, hardest, and toughest races of the year.
This year will see the second women’s Paris-Roubaix and the 119th edition of the men’s event. The women’s race has been a long-overdue addition to the calendar that we got to experience for the first time last October when Lizzie Deignan made history as the first winner of the legendary course.
If you’re going to set aside time to watch any more races this year, make it these. Here’s a run-down of everything you need to know:
Women’s Paris-Roubaix
Date: Saturday, April 16, 2022
Distance: 124.7km
Start: Denain
Finish: Roubaix
2021’s winner: Lizzie Deignan
Men’s Paris-Roubaix
Date: Sunday, April 17, 2022
Distance: 257.2km
Start: Compiègne
Finish: Roubaix
2021’s winner: Sonny Colbrelli
How to Watch Paris-Roubaix 2022 in the United States and Canada
If you are subscribed to NBC’s Peacock Premium streaming platform ($4.99/month), you’ll be able to watch Paris-Roubaix. Coverage of the men’s race will begin at 5:20 a.m. ET, and a replay of the previous day’s women’s race broadcast will begin at 6:25 a.m. ET on the same morning as the men’s race live coverage.
Other ways to watch:
Women’s
Eurosport Player and GCN+: Saturday 16th April, 7:15–10:10 a.m. ET
Eurosport 1: Saturday, April 16, 9:00–11:15 a.m. ET
Flo Bikes: Saturday, April 16, 7:20–10:10 a.m. ET (Canada only)
Men’s
Eurosport Player and GCN+: Sunday 17th April, 03:30–11:30 a.m. ET
Eurosport 1: Sunday, April 17, 5:30–12:45 a.m. ET
Flo Bikes: Sunday, April 17, 4:45–11:30 a.m. ET (Canada only)
The Peacock app is available on Roku, Apple devices, Android and AndroidTV devices, Google platforms, Chromecast, Xbox devices, Playstation 4 and 4 Pro, VIZIO SmartCast TVs, and LG Smart TVs. You can also watch online via the Peacock website. Comcast Xfinity X1 and Flex customers and Cox Contour customers can already access Peacock Premium for free.
How to Watch Paris-Roubaix 2022 in Europe
In Europe, Eurosport+, GCN+, and Discovery+ will be live broadcasting Paris-Roubaix. Coverage on Eurosport is scheduled to begin at 12:15 CET on Saturday for the women, and from 09:30 on Sunday for the men.
The Weather Forecast
Riders will be pleased with the warm temperatures and light wind forecasted for this weekend, especially after last year’s cold rain and slippery cobbles that took many riders out of contention.
The women will race under partly cloudy skies, temperatures in the mid-60s, and a meager chance of rain. Fingers crossed. And ten mph winds from the northeast in the afternoon. On Sunday, the men will enjoy similarly cool temperatures in the morning, with temperatures in the high-60s by the afternoon.
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The Route
The race starts in Denain for 124.7 kilometers and 17 sectors of cobbles before arriving at Roubaix, adding 6.2km to the distance of the inaugural edition. The only other change from 2021, which took place in October due to COVID19, is the inclusion of an additional opening lap in Denain, an 8km circuit that will be completed four times. Then the peloton will face nearly 30km of cobbled sectors before finishing in the famous Roubaix Velodrome.
The Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) confirmed that Zwift signed a four-year deal to sponsor the Paris-Roubaix Femmes through 2025. The new contract builds on the global online fitness platform’s investment in women’s cycling after signing on as presenting sponsor of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.
On Easter Sunday, the men will embark on the 257.2km course, which starts further south—in Compiègne—96.3km before the first cobbled sector at Troisvilles. The men will tackle 30 sectors in total, including Sector 19, the infamous Arenberg Forest, which is about the point where the race usually explodes.
Both races finish with 1.5 laps inside Roubaix’s legendary velodrome, where riders with a bit of track racing experience will have an advantage—if a small group arrives together. And if the winner does arrive alone, the velodrome provides one of cycling’s most historic and iconic settings for the race’s first and next champions to be crowned.
Click here to view a complete map of the Paris-Roubaix route.
Riders to Watch
Last year’s winner, Lizzie Deignan, won’t be present to defend her title this year as she’s expecting her second child, so all eyes will turn to riders like Marianne Vos and Elisa Longo Borghini, who completed the podium in 2021. But they’re not the only ones with a shot at Roubaix’s iconic cobblestone trophy; speedy riders like Emma Norsgaard, Lorena Wiebes, Marta Bastianelli, and Lotte Kopecky are also set to line up this year and could add a race like Paris-Roubaix Femmes to their palmares.
As for the men, with defending champion Sonny Colbrelli out due to a heart scare last month, Mathieu van der Poel is the clear favorite for Sunday’s cobblestone trophy, but it is not a guarantee. Especially after proven beatable in 2021's edition and at last week's Amstel Gold Race.
Other favorites are Wout van Aert, who was caught out by COVID, and it is still yet to be known whether he will take to the line. Alongside Stefan Kung, Mads Pedersen, and Filippo Ganna.
