Paris-Roubaix, or “Hell of the North”, as it is also known, is renowned for being a hotbed of technological experimentation. The unique and testing demands that the mix of asphalt and pavement put on bikes and riders opens the door for equipment choices that you won’t see anywhere else on the road calendar.
The 2024 edition of the women’s race proved to be different. While there were no gravel bikes on display, unlike the men’s race, Israel-Premier Tech will use the Ostro Gravel FactorThere were many interesting technological choices, including a general trend towards thicker tires in excess of 32mm.
Here are all the interesting trends and set-up choices we saw in the race.
Several teams opt for 35mm tires
In the weeks leading up to Roubaix, there was little debate about which tires the riders would use for the race, with the general consensus settling on 32mm. On race day, however, the teams using 32mm tires seemed a bit outdone by the many teams that ventured up to 35mm.
both SD Worx-Protime and AG Insurance-Soudal they were spotted with Specialized’s S-Works Mondo endurance tires in widths up to 35mm. Not only is it trespassing into gravel bike territory, but it also pushes Specialized’s Tarmac clearance to the limit with the manufacturer only officially qualifying the frame for use with a maximum tire width of 32mm .
SRAM teams use one for one almost exclusively
With the exception of Human Healthall the teams running SRAM at the race had opted to run the brand AXS Red Group with a single chain. With the Paris-Roubaix course as close to the floor as the Spring Classics, the decision makes a lot of sense. By ditching the internal chainring and front derailleur, teams can make more of a concerted effort to pursue chain retention.
Movistar were among the teams that had replaced their front derailleur Canyon bikes with a chain guide in the hope that this will prevent the chain from slipping off the chainring on the floor.
Canyon-SRAM Schwalbe gravel tires
Another team sponsored by Canyon, Caynon-SRAMwent a step further than the 35mm tires used by some teams through his Schwalbe G-One gravel tires that have been fitted to some of their riders’ bikes. The lightly treaded gravel tire was used by some riders based on the increased traction and confidence they gave on the pavement.
The high-volume G-One tire allowed riders to run pressures that wouldn’t seem so out of place on a mountain bike, with some riders running their tires up to 2.5 bar (35 psi) . Running pressure so low with a high volume tire can take away a lot of the harshness of the cobbled sectors. When asked about the choice of gravel tires, one of the team’s mechanics said: “I think the combination of having more comfort means you need less watts to go over the cobbles.”
Unreleased Prologo strips
Other Paris-Roubaix fans will remember the era of double-bar tape wrapped to try to help riders keep control of their bikes. At this year’s edition, the double wrapped tape seemed to have disappeared, but in its place was the use of specific gel or gravel tape. The knights from EF Education-Cannondale, including last year’s winner Alison Jacksonused unedited Prologue bar tape.
The new tape features the brand’s CPC (Control Power Control) texture which aims to increase grip and control on the bars. The inclusion of CPC material acts as part of a dual-density solution, providing a soft, grippy outer surface paired with a firm tape underneath. Prologo has been using CPC on some of their performance saddles for over a decade now and this new bar tape looks to be an alternative to adhesive tape for riders looking for a more secure feel on the bars.
Endurance bikes are now outliers in Paris-Roubaix
Walking around the paddocks, things were surprisingly normal in terms of bike selection. The teams of SD-Worx Protime, AG Insurance-Soudal, Movistar, Canyon-SRAM and Fenix-Deceuninck all had the choice to ride an endurance bike, which in previous years would have been the natural choice, but instead they all opted for his standard. road racing machines.
No racer in the race who had access to Specialized’s Roubaix bike chose to use it, with SD-Worx Protime saying: “When you see how fast the Tarmac is a bike aerodynamically, that makes a big difference on tarmac and in racing in general.This bike [Specialized Tarmac SL8] It’s so good, it’s worth a try.”
After testing the Tarmac SL7 last year alongside the Roubaix, the team decided to go for the Tarmac SL8 with high volume tires over the less aerodynamic Roubaix.
The only exception to this rule was Lidl-Trek, where most riders chose to use Trek’s Domane endurance bike. This uses Trek’s IsoSpeed decoupler system to increase vertical compliance at the rider’s points of contact with the bike.
Carbon bottle cages do not compete with metal or plastic
On any other race day, you’d be hard-pressed to find a Women’s WorldTour pro bike that wasn’t equipped with carbon fiber bottle cages. They offer some weight savings, but they’re also just an incredibly “pro” finishing touch to a bike.
For Paris-Roubaix, aesthetics have been put aside with functionality much higher in the list of importance. The pavement between Denain and the Roubaix velodrome is known to claim riders’ bottles as they rush forward trying to keep in touch with the riders around them. In an attempt to keep their precious bottles, a significant number of teams used plastic or metal cages. These more solid options keep bottles firmly in place, reducing the potential of losing vital fluids to the cobbles.
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