Training plan · Hauts-de-France, France
Paris-Roubaix Challenge training plan 2027
Saturday 10 April 2027, Busigny. 170 km with 735 m of climbing.
In short
Give yourself 12 to 16 weeks for the Paris-Roubaix Challenge on Saturday 10 April 2027, which means starting between mid-December and mid-January. The 170 km from Busigny to the Roubaix velodrome crosses 30 sectors of cobbles, among them the Trouée d'Arenberg, Mons-en-Pévèle and the Carrefour de l'Arbre, and the organiser asks for 28 km/h on the road and 14 km/h on the cobbles. The 145 km and 70 km start in Roubaix. Places go on sale on 14 October 2026 for riders who pre-registered and on 15 October for everyone. Build long steady rides, practise holding your power on rough roads, and fit wider tyres. On WattPlan's model of the course, a rider with an FTP of 230 watts weighing 75 kg rides it in about 7 h 52 min, 3 h 49 min of it on the cobbles at 14 km/h.
The Roubaix Challenge at a glance
| Date | Saturday 10 April 2027source |
|---|---|
| Start and finish | Busigny to the Roubaix velodromesource |
| Distance (Hell of the North) | 170 km (105.6 miles), 735 m of climbingsource |
| Distance (Legendary) | 145 km (90.1 miles), 594 m of climbingsource |
| Distance (Discovery) | 70 km (43.5 miles), 246 m of climbingsource |
| Registration | Riders who pre-registered get priority access to places on 14 October 2026, and sales open to everyone on 15 October. Places are limited, and the 2026 edition sold out.source |
| Entry fee | Not published for 2027 yet. In 2026 a place cost €84 to €94 on the 170 km, €74 to €84 on the 145 km and €45 to €59 on the 70 km, rising in three steps from September.source |
| Starts | The 170 km starts in Busigny, and the 145 km and 70 km at the Parc des Sports in Roubaix. All three finish with half a lap of the Roubaix velodrome.source |
| Start times (2026) | Riders set off when they liked within a window from 07:00, or from 09:00 on the 70 km. The 2027 times are not out yet.source |
| Cobbles | 30 sectors on the 170 km, 19 on the 145 km and 8 on the 70 km. The pro race's figures put the 170 km's sectors at 54.8 km; by the same lengths, the 145 km's come to about 33 km and the 70 km's to about 10 km.source |
| Pace | The organiser says the 170 km is only for experienced riders, and gives the average speed it requires as 28 km/h on the road and 14 km/h on the cobbles.source |
| Time limit (2026) | Nine hours on the 145 and 170 km and six on the 70 km, counted from the last rider over the start line. A rider the end-of-event vehicles pass is out of the event.source |
| Time barriers (2026) | Templeuve 16:00, Camphin-en-Pévèle 16:30, Willems 17:00 and the velodrome 17:15. Riders who arrive later are sent straight to the Parc des Sports.source |
| Roads | Open to traffic. Riders follow the French Highway Code, and police on the course can fine those who don't.source |
| Feed stations (2026) | On the 170 km, Verchain-Maugré, Beuvry-la-Forêt and Templeuve, at about km 49, 107 and 140. There are no cups, so carry a bottle.source |
| Compulsory kit | A fastened helmet, a bottle, a repair kit with two inner tubes or a sealant, a pump and a charged phone.source |
| Bikes (2026) | No handlebar extensions of any kind, no recumbents and no e-bikes.source |
| Format | Not timed and no ranking, so no medical certificate. Riders must be 18 by 31 December of the year of the event (2026 rules).source |
| Field (2026) | 6,500 riders.source |
| Shuttle (2026) | A paid coach to the start in Busigny left the Auchan car park in Leers at 04:30, with bikes in trucks.source |
| Route file | The course on this page follows the organiser's 2026 route file for the 170 km and its sector markers. The 2027 route is not out yet.source |
The course and its cobbles
Profile from the organiser's route with SRTM heights (173.8 km), split into climbs, flats and descents by WattPlan. The shaded bands are the cobbled sectors. The organiser's figures are in the table above, and their route is the one that counts on the day.
Your time on the roads and the cobbles
Enter your FTP and weight, and the speed you expect to hold on the cobbles. WattPlan's route model rides the roads between the sectors for you at an effort you can hold to the finish, and each sector at your speed: nobody has published what the pavé costs in watts, so the calculator asks rather than guesses. The figures below are for 230 W, 75 kg and 14 km/h until you change them.
| Checkpoint | km | Cut-off | Your riding time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Templeuvesourceabout km 140, cut-off 16:00 in 2026 | ~140 | 16:00 (2026) | 6 h 22 min |
| Camphin-en-Pévèlesourceabout km 152.5, cut-off 16:30 in 2026 | ~152.5 | 16:30 (2026) | 6 h 55 min |
| Willemssourceabout km 165, cut-off 17:00 in 2026 | ~165 | 17:00 (2026) | 7 h 31 min |
| The velodromesourcethe finish, km 170, cut-off 17:15 in 2026 | 170 | 17:15 (2026) | 7 h 52 min |
Your riding time from the start, without stops and at an even effort all day: add your start time and your stops to see where you would stand.
| Climb | Summit (km) | Length | Average | Steepest | Your power | Your time |
|---|
| Sector | Starts (km) | Length | Rating | Your time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Troisvilles à Inchysource2.17 km, starts at km 11 ★★★ | 11 | 2.17 km | ★★★ | 9:19 |
| Viesly à Quiévysource1.77 km, starts at km 18 ★★★ | 18 | 1.77 km | ★★★ | 7:34 |
| Quiévy à Fontaine-au-Tertresource3.71 km, starts at km 20 ★★★★ | 20 | 3.71 km | ★★★★ | 15:55 |
| Viesly à Briastresource3.03 km, starts at km 26 ★★★ | 26 | 3.03 km | ★★★ | 13:00 |
| Briastresource0.84 km, starts at km 30 ★★★ | 30 | 0.84 km | ★★★ | 3:37 |
| Solesmes à Haussysource0.86 km, not marked in the route file ★★ | n/a | 0.86 km | ★★ | n/a |
| Saulzoir à Verchain-Maugrésource1.21 km, starts at km 46 ★★ | 46 | 1.21 km | ★★ | 5:11 |
| Verchain-Maugré à Quérénaingsource1.58 km, starts at km 51 ★★★ | 51 | 1.58 km | ★★★ | 6:46 |
| Quérénaing à Maingsource2.48 km, starts at km 53 ★★★ | 53 | 2.48 km | ★★★ | 10:38 |
| Maing à Monchaux-sur-Écaillonsource1.56 km, starts at km 56 ★★★ | 56 | 1.56 km | ★★★ | 6:42 |
| Haveluy à Wallerssource2.5 km, starts at km 68 ★★★★ | 68 | 2.5 km | ★★★★ | 10:43 |
| Trouée d'Arenbergsource2.33 km, starts at km 78 ★★★★★ | 78 | 2.33 km | ★★★★★ | 9:59 |
| Wallers à Hélesmessource1.64 km, starts at km 84 ★★★ | 84 | 1.64 km | ★★★ | 7:01 |
| Hornaing à Wandigniessource3.68 km, starts at km 91 ★★★★ | 91 | 3.68 km | ★★★★ | 15:46 |
| Warlaing à Brillonsource2.46 km, starts at km 98 ★★★ | 98 | 2.46 km | ★★★ | 10:32 |
| Tilloy à Sars-et-Rosièressource2.38 km, starts at km 102 ★★★★ | 102 | 2.38 km | ★★★★ | 10:12 |
| Beuvry-la-Forêt à Orchiessource1.31 km, starts at km 109 ★★★ | 109 | 1.31 km | ★★★ | 5:38 |
| Orchiessource1.73 km, starts at km 114 ★★★ | 114 | 1.73 km | ★★★ | 7:25 |
| Auchy-lez-Orchies à Berséesource2.66 km, starts at km 120 ★★★★ | 120 | 2.66 km | ★★★★ | 11:23 |
| Mons-en-Pévèlesource3.0 km, starts at km 125 ★★★★★ | 125 | 3.0 km | ★★★★★ | 12:51 |
| Mérignies à Avelinsource0.65 km, starts at km 131 ★★ | 131 | 0.65 km | ★★ | 2:48 |
| Pont-Thibault à Ennevelinsource1.38 km, starts at km 135 ★★★ | 135 | 1.38 km | ★★★ | 5:56 |
| Templeuve (L'Épinette)source0.22 km, not marked in the route file ★ | n/a | 0.22 km | ★ | n/a |
| Templeuve (Moulin-de-Vertain)source0.56 km, starts at km 141 ★★ | 141 | 0.56 km | ★★ | 2:25 |
| Cysoing à Bourghellessource1.28 km, starts at km 147 ★★★ | 147 | 1.28 km | ★★★ | 5:29 |
| Bourghelles à Wannehainsource1.11 km, starts at km 148 ★★★ | 148 | 1.11 km | ★★★ | 4:44 |
| Camphin-en-Pévèlesource1.79 km, starts at km 152 ★★★★ | 152 | 1.79 km | ★★★★ | 7:40 |
| Carrefour de l'Arbresource2.11 km, starts at km 155 ★★★★★ | 155 | 2.11 km | ★★★★★ | 9:02 |
| Grusonsource1.08 km, starts at km 158 ★★ | 158 | 1.08 km | ★★ | 4:38 |
| Willems à Hemsource1.39 km, starts at km 165 ★★ | 165 | 1.39 km | ★★ | 5:58 |
| Roubaix (Espace Charles Crupelandt)source0.26 km, not marked in the route file ★ | n/a | 0.26 km | ★ | n/a |
Eat at about km 19, 32, 51, 68, 84, 100, 115, 131, 149, 165. Riding something else? The free pacing calculator does this for any route from its GPX. In the app, Route analysis adds your own fade over a long day, the wind on the day and a pacing file for your bike computer.
How long to train for the Roubaix Challenge
Twelve to sixteen weeks of structured training suits most riders for the 170 km, which means starting between mid-December and mid-January for Saturday 10 April. The 145 km asks much the same of you, and the 70 km, with 8 sectors, needs about ten weeks.
Enter first: places go on sale on 14 October 2026 for riders who pre-registered and on 15 October for everyone, and the 2026 edition sold out. WattPlan then builds the weeks from today to 10 April around the days you can ride, runs the indoor sessions on a smart trainer in the app, and adjusts the plan when a week goes wrong.
The cobbles
The 170 km crosses 30 sectors of pavé, counting down from Troisvilles à Inchy, 11 km after the start, to the last in Roubaix. The pro race rates three of them five stars: the Trouée d'Arenberg, 2.3 km at about km 78, Mons-en-Pévèle, 3 km at about km 125, and the Carrefour de l'Arbre, 2.1 km at about km 155. The 145 km rides the last 19 sectors, from the Arenberg, and the 70 km the last 8.
The organiser's cobbles guide says to enter each sector fast and hold the speed, push a big gear, stay seated, steer the bar rather than pull on it, and keep your hands and shoulders relaxed. Ride the crown of the road where you can, brake and steer gently, and watch for potholes and other riders.
The ratings and lengths in the table are the pro race's for the same sectors, from 2026. The organiser's route file marks every sector but Solesmes à Haussy, Templeuve (L'Épinette) and the last one in Roubaix, so the course model rides those 1.3 km as road.
Tyres, pressure and kit
The organiser's guide suggests tyres of 28 to 32 mm at 4 to 5.5 bar, depending on your weight, the weather and the tyre, and a little less in the wet, where lower pressure grips better. Check your frame clears a wider tyre before you fit one.
Double your bar tape, wear gloves with padded palms, and check every bolt before the day: the vibration loosens them and can shake a bottle out of its cage. Carry two inner tubes or a sealant, a pump and a charged phone, which the rules make compulsory.
Pace and the time barriers
The organiser says the 170 km is only for experienced riders, and gives the average speed it requires as 28 km/h on the road and 14 km/h on the cobbles. In 2026 the time limit was nine hours on the 145 and 170 km, counted from the last rider over the start line, with barriers at Templeuve at 16:00, Camphin-en-Pévèle at 16:30, Willems at 17:00 and the velodrome at 17:15. We'll update these when the 2027 rules are out.
The calculator above rides the roads between the sectors for your FTP and weight, on your own, and each sector at the speed you set, starting from the organiser's 14 km/h. Nobody has published what the pavé costs in watts, so it asks rather than guesses: put in the speed you hold on rough roads, and check its time against the barriers.
Training for the cobbles
The cobbles reward steady power in a big gear, a strong core and relaxed hands. Build long rides towards five or six hours, and include efforts of 5 to 15 minutes close to threshold: at 14 to 20 km/h, the longest sectors take that long.
Ride rough roads or gravel when you can. The organiser's guide also suggests training on cobbles or a track if possible, a mountain bike ride once a week, and watching footage of past editions so the sectors are no surprise.
Getting there and the start
Roubaix is 13 km from Lille, and the organiser gives London to Roubaix by train as about 1 hour 50 through Lille. The 170 km starts in Busigny: in 2026 a paid coach took riders from the Auchan car park in Leers at 04:30, with the bikes in trucks. The village at the Parc des Sports in Roubaix had number collection, a secure bike park and left luggage.
Your plan to 10 April
WattPlan builds the weeks from today to Saturday 10 April 2027 around the days you can ride, and eases off before the day. Take a rider with 230 W of FTP who rides 3 to 5 hours a week now and has an hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays and up to 6 hours on Saturdays: a 16-week plan starting Monday 21 December 2026 has 6 weeks of base, 6 of build, 3 of peak and 1 of taper. It opens at 4 hours a week and builds to 11, with a longest ride of 6 hours. Pick your own days below to see yours.
Free to start, and the Paris-Roubaix Challenge is filled in for you. Premium adds the whole plan to race day and adjusts it when you miss a session or ride harder than planned.
Questions riders ask
How long should I train for the Paris-Roubaix Challenge?
Twelve to sixteen weeks suits most riders for the 170 km, so start between mid-December and mid-January for Saturday 10 April 2027. The 70 km needs about ten weeks.
How many cobbles are on the Paris-Roubaix Challenge?
The 170 km has 30 sectors, the 145 km 19 and the 70 km 8. By the pro race's figures, the 170 km's sectors come to 54.8 km of cobbles.
When does registration open for the 2027 Paris-Roubaix Challenge?
On 14 October 2026 for riders who pre-registered, and on 15 October for everyone. Places are limited, and the 2026 edition sold out.
What tyres should I use for the Paris-Roubaix Challenge?
The organiser's cobbles guide suggests 28 to 32 mm tyres at 4 to 5.5 bar, depending on your weight, the weather and the tyre, and a little less in the wet. Check your frame clears the width first.
What is the time limit on the Paris-Roubaix Challenge?
In 2026 it was nine hours on the 145 and 170 km and six on the 70 km, with barriers at Templeuve, Camphin-en-Pévèle, Willems and the velodrome, the last at 17:15. The 2027 rules are not out yet.
Is the Paris-Roubaix Challenge on closed roads?
No. The roads stay open to traffic, and riders follow the French Highway Code.
More event training plans
Sources
- Paris-Roubaix Challenge, official site
- Paris-Roubaix Challenge: the route
- 2027 registration dates
- Paris-Roubaix Challenge rules (2026)
- Road book (2026, in French)
- The organiser's guide to the cobbles
- Paris-Roubaix 2026: the sectors
- Route file, 170 km (2026)
- Start and finish
- Roads
- Field (2026)
- Shuttle (2026)
WattPlan is not connected with the Paris-Roubaix Challenge or its organiser. We've done our best to make sure everything here is accurate, from the details the organiser had published when we checked on Friday 9 October 2026, and we'll update this page as more details come out. Confirm dates, routes and rules on the official site. Times and power figures come from a physics model and are estimates, not predictions of your result.