The Forest of Arenberg is an iconic moment of Paris-Roubaix - indeed of the pro cycling season - but now a new chicane has been erected to slow riders down as they approach the infamous 'trench'.
This video, below, offers the first look at the chicane, which is effectively crowd control barriers constructed in a manner that brings the riders right just before the entrance to Arenberg.
They then must round a hairpin to their left and finally turn right again, into Arenberg, rather than the traditional route of flying straight onto the pavé, which was judged so dangerous the pace had to be slowed.
However, one of the big favourites - Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) - is clearly not sure, posting a tweet saying: "Is this a joke?"
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"For safety reasons and following a request from CPA (the riders' union) the Paris Roubaix organisation is modifying the approach to the Trouée d'Arenberg," the race organisers said.
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"The route will take a chicane just before the entrance to the sector in order to slow the speed at which the riders enter the sector and limit the risk of crashes on the cobbles."
Adam Hansen, the former pro rider now head of the CPA, welcomed the changes and he believed the chicane would add to the race, not detract from it.
"Riders reached (out) and we acted on their behalf," he said. "Now, with a slower entrance to Arenberg, riders won't hit it with speed and momentum. It's going to make this sector even harder than before."
Is this a joke? ? https://t.co/WkkUe2YC5U
— Mathieu Van der Poel (@mathieuvdpoel) April 3, 2024
