Paris–Roubaix 2026 A unique race, a unique preparation!

BY THE NUMBERS 

7 riders 
20 staff members 
6 vehicles 
31 energy gels 
130 water bottles 
56 energy gels 
45 sets of wheels

It’s going to look stunning on the cobbles! For this year’s Paris–Roubaix, two Cofidis riders Benjamin Thomas and Marion Borras  will be riding a special edition of the Look 795 Blade RS bike. Named ‘Ciel du Nord’, it features a grey-blue and pink gradient inspired by the colours worn by Laurent Jalabert in 1992 during his first stage victory at the Tour de France, following a legendary Roubaix-Brussels stage. The hand-painted frames make these two bikes unique works of art that will delight enthusiasts. 

In addition to the Look bikes, which are accustomed to withstanding repeated exertion and impacts on the cobbles, the riders will be able to rely on 30 and 32 mm Vittoria Air-Liner Road tyres. “It’s the only time of the season we use them,” explains Nicolas Daniel, a mechanic. It’s a long-term project: wheel testing and pressure adjustments were carried out last December. In the race department, preparations for Paris-Roubaix begin well in advance: “the 45 specialist wheels have been ready for a month now”. The bikes have already been set up in “race simulation” mode for Thursday’s reconnaissance. Before the big start on Sunday morning, tyre pressures are checked several times. And during the “Hell of the North”, the mechanics are on high alert to react as quickly as possible and provide the riders with as much assistance as possible. 

When it comes to nutrition, the race begins well before Sunday. “

The calorie expenditure is so significant that we start preparing the athletes’ bodies as early as Friday,”

 explains Fabrice Jeandeboz, one of the team’s nutritionists. From Friday onwards, meals and snacks are therefore higher in carbohydrates, as are the drinks and gels provided during the race. “Our partner 226ERS supplies gels with a higher carbohydrate content (55 grams), which is invaluable for the riders,” says Fabrice. Gels are also favoured throughout the race as they are quicker to consume, making them ideal for regaining strength between cobbled sections. 

With Soline Lamboley on board, the Cofidis team is the only French squad to have a full-time mental coach. Her work has focused in particular on supporting the Cofidis riders who will be competing in Paris-Roubaix. Soline travelled to Spain to attend their training camp and has joined the team on site for the Tour of Flanders, where she will remain throughout the week. Through regular discussions with the riders, she aims to 

“strengthen their warrior mindset”. “We’re working hard on this mindset, on the ability to never give up, to accept the ups and downs, and to give it our all as a team.

” Soline adds that the riders are 

“particularly receptive”

 to this approach and will do everything they can to rise to the challenge. 

“

At Paris–Roubaix, you never know what might happen

.” As a team assistant, Frédéric Bourdon has competed in the Hell of the North more than twenty times and knows that this race is unlike any other. So, for such an exceptional race, exceptional preparations are required. After the GP Escaut, the team heads to Valenciennes. Reconnaissance takes place on Thursday before heading to Compiègne on Friday to “

take a breather and recover properly before the start

”. On the morning of the start, the riders are “taped up” around their ankles, hands and fingers to protect against potential injuries. During the race, an unprecedented support system is put in place. At almost every cobbled section, an assistant and a mechanic are on hand to provide water bottles and change wheels. 

“With the crowds out in force, the breaks are really difficult; it’s important to have a precise knowledge of the route.”

 The team members’ experience is therefore invaluable in carrying out their mission throughout a day that is decidedly unlike any other.