Paris-Roubaix 2026 Final Startlists Confirmed: Pogacar, Van der Poel, Van Aert and Pedersen Headline the Hell of the North
The final startlists for the 123rd edition of Paris-Roubaix on 12 April 2026 have been confirmed, and the men's and women's races are both shaping up to be among the most compelling editions in recent memory. Six days after Tadej Pogacar rewrote the record books at the Tour of Flanders with a solo victory that claimed his 12th career Monument, the peloton now pivots to the pavé of northern France for the race that has defined the spring season for generations.
The men's startlist reads like a who's who of cobbled Classics specialists. Mathieu van der Poel heads to Roubaix as the three-time defending champion with a record-equalling fourth win firmly in his sights — a victory would draw level with Roger De Vlaeminck and Tom Boonen on the all-time Paris-Roubaix winners list. Wout van Aert, who finished fourth at Flanders and declared Roubaix "now everything" in his post-race interview, returns to the race he came close to winning in 2021 and 2022, leading a strong Visma-Lease a Bike squad. Mads Pedersen, fresh off his Flanders runner-up ride and backed by Lidl-Trek sporting director Rast as "the main favourite", leads a team built specifically for this race.
Pogacar's presence on the startlist is the headline addition that transforms this edition into something historically significant. The Slovenian world champion is riding Paris-Roubaix with genuine intent after the most thorough preparation of his career — multiple recon rides on the key sectors including Carrefour de l'Arbre and Camphin-en-Pévèle, extensive tyre and equipment testing, and a clear statement that he would "choose Roubaix over a fifth Tour de France" if forced to pick. A win for Pogacar would give him all five Monument victories, a feat never previously achieved in the same calendar year.
Remco Evenepoel also features on the startlist despite many expecting him to skip Roubaix after his intensive Flanders debut. Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe have confirmed the Belgian will race, supported by the same experienced cobble squad — including Gianni Vermeersch — that guided him through his first Monument last Sunday. Evenepoel is unlikely to be a factor for the overall victory, but his presence adds an unpredictable attacking dimension that teams will need to account for. Jasper Philipsen, Arnaud De Lie (subject to medical clearance after his illness sidelined him at Flanders), Stefan Küng and Dylan van Baarle complete the list of riders capable of causing an upset on the day.
The women's race, which makes its historic debut as a same-day event alongside the men — a landmark moment for the sport — features an equally formidable field. Lotte Kopecky arrives as the overwhelming favourite, targeting an unprecedented Flanders-Roubaix double after her record fourth Ronde win last Sunday. Kopecky has already won Paris-Roubaix Femmes once and is statistically the strongest cobbled Classics rider in women's cycling right now. Elisa Longo Borghini returns, having recovered sufficiently from the illness that cast doubt over her Flanders participation. Lorena Wiebes, Marianne Vos, and Elisa Balsamo also feature, adding sprint power that could prove decisive if the race comes together in the finale.
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot defends the title she won on her Roubaix debut last year in one of the most surprising results of the 2025 season. The French multi-discipline champion heads to the cobbles in strong form after a competitive spring, and her tactical intelligence and raw power on the pavé make her a genuine threat to Kopecky's ambitions. The new three-sector addition to the 2026 Femmes route — the toughest edition yet — may suit Ferrand-Prévot's diesel-engine style over the punchier sprinters in the field.
Both races will finish at the iconic Roubaix velodrome, with the women's event completing their race first, followed by the men's peloton arriving in the traditional late afternoon window. It promises to be the longest and most dramatic day in the sport's calendar, with two Monument finishes separated by just a few hours and potentially history being made in both races simultaneously.