Is Paris-Roubaix on This Year?

By Michael Ferguson

Paris-Roubaix is one of the most prestigious and challenging one-day bike races in the world. Known as the “Hell of the North,” it’s a grueling test of endurance and skill that takes riders along 29 cobbled sectors, covering a total distance of over 250 kilometers. The race has been held annually since 1896, except for during the two World Wars.

However, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many sporting events around the world have been canceled or postponed. So, is Paris-Roubaix on this year

Postponement of Paris-Roubaix 2021

The 2021 edition of Paris-Roubaix was originally scheduled to take place on April 11th. However, in early February, it was announced that the race would be postponed due to concerns over COVID-19.

In a statement released by the organizers, they stated that “The decision was taken in consultation with relevant authorities and French Cycling Federation (FFC). The unpredictable health situation linked to Covid-19 and current restrictions put in place by French authorities make it impossible to organize [the race] on its scheduled date.”

No new date has been set for Paris-Roubaix at this time. However, organizers have said that they are working to find a suitable date later in the year.

The History of Cancellations

This is not the first time that Paris-Roubaix has been canceled or postponed. As mentioned earlier, the race was not held during both World War I and II.

In addition, during World War I, several editions were shortened or altered due to conflict. For example, in 1915 and 1916, the race was held on a shorter circuit due to the German occupation of northern France.

Paris-Roubaix has also been affected by other events in the past. In 2020, the race was canceled for the first time since World War II due to COVID-19. The outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in 2001 also led to the cancellation of several cycling events, including Paris-Roubaix.

Conclusion

While it’s disappointing that Paris-Roubaix won’t be happening as scheduled this year, it’s important to prioritize public health and safety during these challenging times. We can only hope that conditions improve soon and that we’ll be able to witness this iconic race once again later this year.

In the meantime, we can look back on the history and tradition of Paris-Roubaix and appreciate what makes it such a unique and special event in the world of cycling.