Paris-Roubaix 2016

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It's finally here. The riders are signing on and the start of Paris-Roubaix is almost upon us. 

The sun is shining in Compiegne and it's expected to be a dry day but there was rain yesterday and we could have some mud. 

There were some concerns that the Troisville pavé sector could be removed because of mud but it has been washed and scrubbed and will remain in the race. 

World champion Peter Sagan will be riding his custom Tarmac for the first part of today's race. He will switch to the Specialized Roubaix before they hit the cobbles. 

Throughout the week we have been taking a look at the bikes of some of today's favourites. Click on the names to take a look at the bikes of Peter Sagan, Tom Boonen and Fabian Cancellara.

The UCI are checking the bikes of 10 teams this morning. Those that aren't being checked this morning have already been checked at recent races. 

After missing out on the podium at the Tour of Flanders, Alexander Kristoff is looking to make his first podium at Paris-Roubaix. The Norwegian is looking at the fine details today and after giving his tyres a little squeeze this morning he tells his mechanic that the pressure in them is too high. Riders want lower pressures for a better ride over the cobbles. 

Less than 10 minutes to the start in Compiegne. Take a look at the start list here. 

Niki Terpstra and Mark Cavendish shake hands at the start. Cavendish is only riding his second ever Paris-Roubaix.

Fabian Cancellara riding to sign on. All the riders are at the start and ready to get going. 

And they're off

Today's start was bumped back 10 minutes due to an expected tailwind. Organisers want to make sure the race finishes at the right time for TV purposes but they also want to avoid train issues of last year. 

A problem for Alexandre Pichot in the neutral zone. It looks like he's lost his saddle. He's riding along holding onto it and waiting for a replacement bike. 

Fabian Cancellara is near the front. He was the picture of focus at the start. The Swiss rider let the emotions of his final Tour of Flanders get to him last weekend and he's hoping to avoid that at Paris-Roubaix. 

Away from the racing and there's some good news for Greg Van Avermaet as he gets back to training. The Belgian would have been a favourite for today's race but he crashed and broke his collarbone at the Tour of Flanders. He underwent surgery early in the week and you can read the full story here. 

The riders are still in the neutral section but we can expect fireworks as soon as the flag drops.

Here are all the 27 cobbled sectors the riders will face today. 

27 Troisvilles (km 98.5 - 2200 m) 3 stars
26 Viesly (km 105 - 1800 m) 3
25 Quievy (km 108 - 3700 m) 4
24 Saint-Python (km 112.5 - 1500 m) 2
23 Vertain (km 120.5 - 2300 m) 3
22 Capelle-Ruesnes (km 127 – 1700 m) 3
21 Quérénaing - Maing (km 133.5 - 2500 m) 3
20 Monchaux-sur-Ecaillon (km 136.5 - 1600 m) 3
19 Haveluy (km 149.5 - 2500 m) 4
18 Trouée d’Arenberg (km 158 - 2400 m) 5
17 Wallers - Hélesmes. dit « Pont Gibus » (km 164 - 1600 m) 3
16 Hornaing (km 170.5 - 3700 m) 4
15 Warlaing - Brillon (km 178 - 2400 m) 3
14 Tilloy - Sars-et-Rosières (km 181.5 - 2400 m) 4
13 Beuvry-la-Forêt - Orchies (km 188 - 1400m) 3
12 Orchies (km 193 - 1700 m) 3
11 Auchy-lez-Orchies - Bersée (km 199 - 2700 m) 4
10 Mons-en-Pévèle (km 204.5 - 3000 m) 5
9 Mérignies - Avelin (km 210.5 - 700 m) 2
8 Pont-Thibaut (km 214 - 1400 m) 3
7 Templeuve - Moulin de Vertain (km 220 - 500 m) 2
6a Cysoing - Bourghelles (km 226.5 - 1300 m) 3
6b Bourghelles - Wannehain (km 229 - 1100 m) 3
5 Camphin-en-Pévèle (km 233.5 - 1800 m) 4
4 Le Carrefour de l’Arbre (km 236.5 - 2100 m) 5
3 Gruson (km 238.5 - 1100 m) 2
2 Hem (km 245.5 - 1400 m) 2
1 Roubaix (km 252 - 300 m) 1

Don't forget to take a look at our riders to watch video and let us know on twitter who your favourites are. You can find me on @SadhbhOS.

The flag is waving and we've got racing.

Lots of attacks coming, including one from French champion Stephen Tronet. He's got about 10 riders with him but they've not got a very big gap. 

This week we took a look back at the 2002 Paris-Roubaix, the edition that announced Tom Boonen as a future star, in a Cyclingnews Podcast special. You can listen to it here as we wait for the first break to get away. 

The peloton is in a very long line as riders continue to try and snap the elastic. None have been successful yet. 

It looks like we've got a proper break forming now. Two riders are bridging across to a four-man group out front to make a six-man break and it looks like the peloton is happy with this at the moment. 

IAM Cycling obviously wanted to make that move and they missed it. They've now got a man on the front pushing the pace. 

We now appear to have a chase group of about six riders trying to bridge across to the leaders but the peloton isn't having it and Lotto-Soudal are pulling it back. 

The six out front are Niels Polit (Katusha), Gedeminas Bagdonas (AG2R-La Mondiale), Benoit Jarrier (Fortuneo Vital Concept), Kenneth Van Bilsen (Cofidis), Robin Stenuit (Wanty Group Gobert), Evaldas Siskevicius (Delko Marseille Provence KTM).

They've got just 10 seconds on the peloton as the chasers are brought back. 

These six men out front aren't being given much rope at the moment. Their advantage is just 12 seconds at the moment. A lot of teams will want to get men into this move. 

The peloton have brought the escapees back and we've got another flurry of attacks coming off the front now. 

The riders have completed 23km thus far and we've got one of the Lampre riders trying a move off the front. 

232km remaining from 257km

Devolder is now pushing on the front and he has Van Keirsbulck in his wheel. Having a man in the break will mean that Trek and Etixx won't have to do the work in the peloton. 

The rest of the breakaway hopefuls are struggling to keep up with Devolder at the moment. We've got about 10 riders out front and more still trying to bridge across. 

BMC, Etixx, Trek, LottoNL-Jumbo and Tinkoff all have riders in this move. The peloton will not want to let this go and we can see the pace is still very high in the peloton as riders struggle to keep up. 

Devolder looking very displeased with the other breakaway riders not helping him out. He throws his arm up in frustration and now he finally gets a little assistance. 

No surprise that this group has been brought back. It was way too strong for the peloton to even consider letting it away. We're back to square one and I reckon it's going to be quite some time before something finally sticks. 

223km remaining from 257km

There are gaps forming in the peloton as they try to bring back the escape moves. It's a very fast start to the race and this latest break has just 18 seconds. 

Astana leading the peloton at the moment. They were very active at the start and appear to have missed this move.

It looks like the escapees have won this tug of war and the gap is going out now. It's currently 29 seconds. 

Some of the riders in this move: Stijn Devolder, Jasper Stuyven (Trek Segafredo), Christian Knees (Team Sky), Jelle Wellays (Lotto-Soudal), Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Etixx-QuickStep).

Notably, Trek has some very strong riders out front. Two riders that Cancellara can link up with in a later attack if he so wishes.

Dimension Data report that Mark Cavendish is one of the men in this big break.

The peloton are making headway again and the gap is coming down very quickly. The pace means that the bunch has split with around 40 riders in this first peloton.

Just nine seconds for this leading group and it is now beginning to break apart. Three riders are now trying to break clear. They are Viviani, Coledan and Porsev. 

Apologies it is Van Poppel not Coledan who is in this three-man move. 

These three have just 14 seconds on the peloton, which is chasing hard. The peloton is growing in numbers again as riders latch back on. 

23 seconds for the escapees but the peloton is not giving up just yet. IAM Cycling are keen to get a man into the break today. 

We've already seen Mark Cavendish in the break. He is riding his second ever Paris-Roubaix and he told British television that he is relishing the opportunity. 

"I’m here more to support the team. I’ve always wanted to do Paris-Roubaix, I grew up watching this race. As you can see, when we’ve raced on the cobbles in the Tour de France I haven’t done so badly. I always wanted to do it, the problem was that I often had the Giro d’Italia a few weeks after Paris-Roubaix and the teams I was racing for had stronger rosters. With Dimension Data, I can fit into the team and we work really well. We’ve got a god group of guys and we’ve got a good chance with Edvald and gives me a chance to give something back to the riders that help me in the sprints."

201km remaining from 257km

Mathias Brandle has been very active this morning and has been trying to get away for the past 10km. He's finally making a gap and using his TT skills to bridge the gap. 

We've put together a some photos and quotes from this morning's start. You can flick through the gallery and read what the riders had to say right here. 

Brandle has had to give up on his attempt as he is brought back. We've now got a group of five trying to bridge the gap that has gone up to 30 seconds. 

Topsport Vlaanderen has two riders in this chase. There are also riders from Wanty, Cofidis and Dimension Data but yet again the peloton is not happy with this and after almost 60km of racing we've got no serious break.

If you missed it, there was controversy over the weekend as Eddy Merckx snubbed four-time Paris-Roubaix winner Roger de Vlaeminck in his dream team. 

Cyclingnews spoke to Patrick Lefevere, who has won 21 Tour f Flanders and Paris-Roubaix in his time as a team manager, and he picked his dream classics team. Who made the cut? Find out here. 

189km remaining from 257km

Still around 30km until the first pave sector. The three out front have been brought back in and it's gruppo compatto once again. 

It has been a quick start to Paris-Roubaix and the average speed over the first hour has been a zippy 47.5kph. 

Want to get a sense of what it is like to ride over the cobbles, follow Peter Sagan and Tinkoff team on-board during their recon on Friday. 

Peter Sagan chasing back onto the peloton with teammate Adam Blythe. Looks like he may have had a mechanical issue. 

Actually, it appears he was keen to get rid of some extra clothing. It's getting a bit warmer out there and there's no need for too many layers.  

182km remaining from 257km

Up front we've got another move, which includes Sylvain Chavanel, trying to get away. They've got 20 seconds on the peloton. 

Chavanel told reporters yesterday that he was hoping to get into the break and avoid any bad luck. Two difficult goals.

"I’m getting a little bit better. I was sick in Paris-Nice and didn’t feel too well after it. It was hard in Flanders, the last few hours were difficult and I hope to be better in Paris-Roubaix.

I would like to get into the breakaway. It’s really difficult to get into the break in Paris-Roubaix, it’s a very difficult race. I just want to have a Paris-Roubaix without any problems, without any punctures or crashes. I haven’t ridden Paris-Roubaix in a couple of years and whenever I do I seem to have bad luck."

174km remaining from 257km

A full list of the riders in the breakaway. They've got 25 seconds on the bunch at the moment. 

Marko Kump (Lampre-Merida), Borut Bozic (Cofidis), Magnus Cort Nielsen (Orica-GreenEdge), Jelle Wallays (Lotto-Soudal), Johan Le Bon (FDJ), Yannick Martinez (Delko Marseille), Yaroslav Popovych (Trek-Segafredo), Tim Declarcq (Topsport Vlaanderen), Matt Hayman (Orica-GreenEdge), Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (Dimension Data), Salvatore Puccio (Team Sky), Frederick Backaert (Want Groupe Gobert) Imanol Erviti (Movistar), Michael Morkov (Tinkoff), Sylvain Chavanel (Direct Energie) and Maxime Daniel (AG2R-La Mondiale).

Tony Martin is pushing the pace at the front of the peloton along with Bora Argon and there has been a split in the bunch. 

About 20 seconds between the first and second pelotons while the leaders have 30 seconds on the first of those groups. 

Remember to check out our riders to watch here and let me know on twitter via @SadhbhOS who are your picks for victory, the podium or any notable performances. 

165km remaining from 257km

The two pelotons have come back together as the break continues to forge on. Bike changes for Lars Boom and Sep Vanmarcke.

162km remaining from 257km

Less than 4km until we hit the first cobbled sector and the leaders now have a minute on the bunch.

The riders are in Troisvilles and the cobbles are looming, let the games begin. 

Crash

Lots of jostling in the peloton and some riders go down near the back. Oliveira seems to be the worst affected.

Representatives from Trek, Sky and Etixx all on the front. Position is key here. 

The break are onto the first cobbled sector. It's a 2.2km ride rated 3 stars. 

Plenty of people waiting with spare wheels. Teams don't have enough people to cover all the sectors so employ the help of fans and others to provide some assistance. 

Sky are on the front of the peloton through Troisvilles with Etixx-QuickStep just behind.

Troisvilles was the sector that was under threat because of the mud but there was lots of work put in to clear it and scrub the cobbles. Still some mud but it is mostly on the side of the road. 

Etixx-QuickStep probably have the strongest team in terms of depth with Boonen, Terpstra and Stybar all potential winners today. Stybar finished second last year and he told Cyclingnews that he hopes his cyclo-cross skills will give him a small advantage. 

151km remaining from 257km

A puncture for Michael Morkov and he has been dropped as the leaders head onto the second pave sector. 

Some gearing problems for Sylvain Chavanel. The cobbles are not the bike's friend. 

Peter Sagan has opted to go for mechanical gearing today for that reason. It's not a fail-safe but it reduces the chances of a mechanical issue. He suffered one towards the end of last year's race when his shifter broke. 

A crash in the peloton and it is Phil Gaimon. He slips out on a corner. 

We're on sector 25 and Morkov is about to be caught by the peloton. Bad luck for him, suffering a puncture. 

Morkov's teammate Alexander Kristoff is aiming for the podium today and he said a small bunch sprint is his best shot. You can also watch Kristoff talk through his Canyon Aeroad, which he used for Flanders and is using today. 

145km remaining from 257km

The break are out of the Quievy sector, the most difficult sector so far at 3.7km. They've got just 48 seconds on the peloton. 

The average speed is a swift 45.8kph. The fastest ever Roubaix was 45.1kph in 1964 and was won by Peter Post. We can expect this to slow down in the latter stages. 

Floris Gerts has had a big season so far, winning his first race as a pro in Limburg but he's being dropped off the back of the peloton at the moment. Michal Kolar is also getting dropped.