Paris-Roubaix 2016: a little longer, a little hillier

The route of the 2016 Paris-Roubaix, to be held on Sunday April 10 and broadcast live here on SBS, will be a little longer and hillier organisers announced.

Led by Australia's Heinrich Haussler, the peloton rides the Trouee d'Arenberg secteur during the 2015 edition of Paris-Roubaix (Getty) Source: Getty Images

The 2016 Queen of the Classics will return largely unchanged but with 52.8kms of cobblestones, a total distance of 257.5km and the inclusion of the uphill Hameau du Buat sector.

Returning are key sectors like the “Trouée d’Arenberg”, the Mons-en-Pévèle sector and the “Carrefour de l’Arbre” where the contenders usually make their moves on the way to the finish in the Roubaix Velodrome.

As usual the other 24 cobblestone sectors will combine to induce fatigue fatigue or crush the hopes of many in the peloton.

The Hameau du Buat, back after a three-year absence, will be tackled by the riders at the start of the cobblestone programme after 127km.

Luckily for the field several of the cobbled sections have been partially renovated after work done by the Pays de Pévèle Community of towns, notably the Bersée (203.5km), Mons-en-Pévèle (209km) and Bourghelles (231km).