1 Atypical winners
The defending champion in the women’s race, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, will not be present this year, but she set a template for a different kind of rider to win Paris-Roubaix. The Frenchwoman won Roubaix and the Tour de France Femmes in the same year, and will inspire Tadej Pogačar to think that he can do the same thing this season. The Slovenian finished second last year, and is returning with the aim of going one better.
2 Denain and Compiègne, not Paris
The men’s race begins in Compiègne, 80km north of Paris, with the first cobbles coming after about 100km. The women’s race, meanwhile, begins in Denain, with the first cobbles coming after about 65km. There are 30 sectors for the men, and 20 for the women. For…