Motorhome Parking for Paris Roubaix Challenge

kitersteve

OK, Doing Flanders then PR challenge a week later. After Motorhome parking in the vicinity of Roubaix for the Friday evening and Saturday of the event? We will then move away Saturday evening to watch the pros somewhere else on the Sunday. My wife and son will remain with the van (my son at 14 is unfortunately not allowed to ride PR). Although i have ridden over fro Ypres to ride the Roubaix velodrome a few times have never driven around there. I also did not feel that Roubaix was the best of areas when riding through it so am after safe close parking or a campsite and i dont mind an additional 10 or so miles riding in and out for the event. The organisers have bookable parking but not notorhome sized. Anyone got any advice? Cheers

cruff

You can park on the road leading to the Velodrome - done this the past couple of years to make a sharp getaway, but that was in the morning after driving from hotel. Wouldn't recommend parking in the street overnight (Roubaix is an abject sh1thole of a place). If you go out of the city towards Hems there's loads of little suburbs you could park in that are much nicer

kitersteve

Thanks Cruff, I agree, having ridden through Roubaix i agree and my "it is not the best of areas" over rates it!

mrc1

It sounds like you have already made the decision not to, but I definitely wouldn't park up near the finish line.

Last year we saw several cars/vans that had been broken into during the day of the sportive on the roads around the velodrome - smashed windows etc, including Alex Dowsett's parent's car (he put pics up on twitter), so we had guides with/in the vehicles all day. With a motorhome full of valuables I wouldn't be keen to leave it alone even for five minutes, for example if your wife and son walk over to watch you finish or meet you etc.

The French side to the west and south is reasonably built up a fair way out, so if looking for a quiet camping place you are probably better off going into Belgium.

kirkee

Possibly try the area around Hem, the pave sectors nearby and close enough for you to ride to start for your ride on the Saturday. From what I remember its a nice enough area.