How do the Flanders cobbles rate on the Paris-Roubaix scale?

buckmulligan

It’s that time of the year again, counting down the days to the fantastic spectacle that is Paris-Roubaix on Sunday!

Having just ridden the Tour of Flanders sportive, it’s clear even out there that the cobbled sectors vary significantly in difficulty. I found it easy to get into a rhythm on say the Paddestraat or Mariaborrestraat cobbles, where the surface is relatively good and you can keep up a nice high cadence and just power along. On the other hand, the Haaghoek was pretty brutal and I found myself coasting sections just to keep my speed and vibrations to a tolerable level!

I know everyone says that the Roubaix cobbles are much worse than Flanders, so how would the Flandrian cobbles rate on the Paris-Roubaix five-star rating system? Having just done an extremely unscientific Google Street View assessment, I’d take a stab that the good sectors in Flanders are around a 2* rating and the bad sectors are pushing a 3* rating?

How do you guys that have ridden them both rate them? I’m talking primarily about the flat sections in Flanders here, I don’t think comparing cobbled climbs to flat sectors is particularly relevant.

colinsmith123

You know that road in your neighbourhood you wouldn't dream of taking your precious steed down because it is a bit too rutted. That would be a 1* sectuer in P-R!

I've ridden both events. The cobbles are so different,it is hard to compare.

We're doing the 130km route again. You turn right on to the Arrenberg and all hell breaks loose. No warning, no preparation. After three or four secteurs you kind of get used to it and it becomes funny, getting shaken to bits. Then you reach Carrefour de l'Arbre and it ceases to be fun, you have a small inclination as to what it must be like to ride P-R as a pro. Just a small incling, mind.

ugo.santalucia

The difference is that in the Flanders they are roads that connect villages, while in France they are farm tracks, often badly damaged

MickTheMove

I have ridden both and can confirm the post above, Flanders are cobbled roads that are well worn and rideable if you have to, roubaix cobbles are farm tracks that will let you experience the hardest time in a saddle you will ever have, I have done roubaix twice and love it! And will definitely go back again next year for another day in hell!

Monty Dog

I've ridden and raced in Flanders plus ridden the full P-Rx course a few times - the roughest Flemish cobbles would rate 2-3* in P-Rx IMO. It's mainly down to the size and setting of the stones - French pave stones are rougher granite, about twice the size of Flemish kaissen and set wider apart. In Flanders you can often negotiate the gutters and pavement, whereas in France it's either the pave or the dirt verge and you have to constantly move around to find the best lines and avoid the potholes. Arenberg and Carrefour are absolutely brutal the first time you hit them.

LegendLust

Monty Dog wrote:

I've ridden and raced in Flanders plus ridden the full P-Rx course a few times - the roughest Flemish cobbles would rate 2-3* in P-Rx IMO. It's mainly down to the size and setting of the stones - French pave stones are rougher granite, about twice the size of Flemish kaissen and set wider apart. In Flanders you can often negotiate the gutters and pavement, whereas in France it's either the pave or the dirt verge and you have to constantly move around to find the best lines and avoid the potholes. Arenberg and Carrefour are absolutely brutal the first time you hit them.

Arenberg is awful. I can only descibe it as a load of bricks chucked onto a sodden bridle way

dnwhite88

LegendLust wrote:

Monty Dog wrote:

I've ridden and raced in Flanders plus ridden the full P-Rx course a few times - the roughest Flemish cobbles would rate 2-3* in P-Rx IMO. It's mainly down to the size and setting of the stones - French pave stones are rougher granite, about twice the size of Flemish kaissen and set wider apart. In Flanders you can often negotiate the gutters and pavement, whereas in France it's either the pave or the dirt verge and you have to constantly move around to find the best lines and avoid the potholes. Arenberg and Carrefour are absolutely brutal the first time you hit them.

Arenberg is awful. I can only descibe it as a load of bricks chucked onto a sodden bridle way

Plus a heap of mud to make it even more dangerous! I just hit it as hard as I could and hoped for the best

durhamwasp

I also road both last year, and if I was to give Roubaix a 10/10 for badness, I would give Flanders a 6.

Roubaix cobbles are just terrible, and as pointed out the Flanders ones are proper roads. Also made a difference to me that the Roubaix ones are on the flat, and generally cycling fairly fast over them, while in Flanders they are generally on the hills meaning I was cycling relatively slowly.