Who Are the Favourites for the Paris-Roubaix Race?

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Who Are the Favourites for the Paris-Roubaix Race?
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Another “Classic” comes to us this Sunday. The 120th edition of Paris-Roubaix is the third monument of the season. It is one of the oldest races in cycling, is well known for its cobblestone sections and takes place in France. 

Usually, the weather is inclement. The race goes from Compiegne to Paris to Roubaix and spans 256.6 kilometers (159.4 miles).

The first 100 kilometers of racing will feel like last Sunday afternoon’s stroll, and then the intensity fires upward quickly. It is more than just cobbles; usually, miserable weather gets thrown into the mix. 

At gambling.com, we look ahead at this Classic, which could be a friendly battle between Mathieu van der Poel, Wout Van Aert, and several other riders. Then we'll look at how the cycling betting sites sites think this race will unfold.

The Hell Of The North

Last week, Tadej Pogacar did something that almost only a Pogacar could do. He ran away on one of those brutal cobblestone ascensions and coasted to a 16-second victory over Mathieu van der Poel. Another monument (The Tour Of Flanders) went into the belt buckle of the Slovenian. 

The fun thing with these races is how fast the turnover comes. From Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, we see two of the most hellacious monuments. Paris-Roubaix is called “The Hell Of The North” for a reason. It is an event that some glowingly feel like this is their Tour Of France. 

Some riders skipped Flanders for this. The van der Poel and van Aert battle continues. Will there be twists?

Figuring out who is in the best form is like trying to hit the lottery. This event is a pure, inexact science.


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Those Quick Paris-Roubaix Points

Although the first few cobbled sections are haymakers, that is not even the worst. Several kilometers of brutality await the riders. With temperatures approaching 12-15 degrees, it won't be the coldest Paris-Roubaix. On the other hand, even calmer conditions are not all that calm.

Riders will have their legs and minds beaten considerably. The next challenging sector is the 11th at Arenberg. By then, there will only be about 95 kilometers to go. Cyclists say this 2.3-kilometer stretch is not fit to walk, let alone ride — the feeling of jostling around like a washer machine on a high-spin cycle. Arenberg is where one knows who is doing well and could contend. Pevele is the next five-star cobble that spans 3 kilometers. This usually sorts out a few more riders, but Carrefour d’Arbre at 17 kilometers to go is the decisive blow. This is the final opportunity if a rider or small group leaves the peloton. 

Carrefour d’Arbre is a 2.1-kilometer stretch which is a reckoning because of the culmination of punishment as much as the cobbles themselves. There are a few more sections before the Roubaix Velodrome.

The good news is that easier run to the finish. Will there be a sprint? Will someone be solo? That’s the fun part. 

Paris-Roubaix Race Odds

Rider Projected Odds
Wout van Aert4.50
Mathieu van der Poel5.00
Mads Pedersen7.00
Dylan Van Baarle10.00
Filippo Ganna11.00
Christopher Laporte15.00
Matej Mahoric23.00

Yes, this classic takes almost six hours to complete. Could Jumbo Visma try to go all-in for van Aert again with a better cast? That’s a great question. Mathieu van der Poel finished second last week. How much does he have left? 

The top riders on the board are there for a reason. Tom Boonen is the last multiple winner (in 2011). No one in the peloton has won this race more than once. 

Again, lots of things are possible.   

The race begins after 5 a.m. ET on Sunday and ends a little before lunchtime in North America.


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Paris-Roubaix Predictions

This day's race is another fight between the big duo and maybe an Asgreen, Mohoric, or Kung. Some want to focus on Dylan Van Baarle, but last year’s winner is playing domestique for van Aert. After all, the Belgian missed the previous two events (including Flanders) because of the crash at E3 Harelbeke. 

Again, van der Poel at 5.00 is intriguing. Has van Aert recovered enough? Was he saving something in the tank? At 4.50, there may be a chance. This one is challenging to gauge but unbelievable to watch. If Kung survives, he has the kick to beat van Aert if there is a sprint. At 23.00, we take the plunge. 

Get another early breakfast and follow us on social media for more wagers and carnage. Good luck, and thanks for reading!

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Chris Wassel

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