View source for 2015 Paris–Roubaix

{{Short description|Cycling race}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox cycling race report
| name               = 2015 Paris–Roubaix
| series             = [[2015 UCI World Tour]]
| race_no            = 10
| season_no          = 28
| image              = Roubaix - Paris-Roubaix, 12 avril 2015, arrivée (B34).JPG
| image_caption      = Post-race podium
| date               = 12 April 2015
| distance           = 253.5
| unit               = km
| time               = 5h 49' 51"
| speed              = 43.48
| first              = [[John Degenkolb]]
| first_team         = {{UCI team code|GIA|2015}}
| first_nat          = GER
| second             = [[Zdeněk Štybar]]
| second_team        = {{UCI team code|EQS|2015}}
| second_nat         = CZE
| third              = [[Greg Van Avermaet]]
| third_team         = {{UCI team code|BMC|2015}}
| third_nat          = BEL
| previous           = [[2014 Paris–Roubaix|2014]]
| next               = [[2016 Paris–Roubaix|2016]]
}}
The '''2015 Paris–Roubaix''' was the 113th edition of the [[Paris–Roubaix]] one-day race. It took place on 12 April and was the tenth race of the [[2015 UCI World Tour]].<ref name="2015Schedule">{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/uci-confirm-worldtour-calendar-2015 |title=UCI confirm WorldTour Calendar 2015 |access-date=4 January 2015 |work=Cycling News}}</ref><ref name="Calendar">{{cite web |url=http://www.uci.ch/road/calendar/detail#date=20150401&view=list&categ=257&country=0&classc=0 |title=2015 UCI Calendar |access-date=4 January 2015 |work=UCI}}</ref> It was won by [[John Degenkolb]] in a sprint ahead of [[Zdeněk Štybar]] and [[Greg Van Avermaet]]. Degenkolb became only the second German to win the race, after [[Josef Fischer (cyclist)|Josef Fischer]]'s victory at the [[1896 Paris–Roubaix|first edition]] 119 years earlier.

==Route==
The 2015 Paris–Roubaix was {{convert|253.5|km|abbr=off}} in length, slightly shorter than the previous editions. Despite the name suggesting that the race started in the French capital, it actually started in [[Compiègne]], {{convert|80|km|abbr=off}} north of Paris. After a short, neutralised section, the race began in [[Clairoix]]. The first {{convert|100|km|abbr=off}} or so were virtually flat and quiet, before the riders hit the 27 cobbled sections that totalled {{convert|52.7|km|abbr=off}}, the hardest being the [[Paris–Roubaix#Trouée d'Arenberg|Trouée d'Arenberg]], [[Paris–Roubaix#Mons-en-Pévèle|Mons-en-Pévèle]] and the [[Carrefour de l'Arbre]]. Three sections ([[Quiévy]], [[Saint-Python]] and [[Verchain-Maugré]]) were included in stage 4 of the [[2015 Tour de France]], held three months later. The last {{convert|750|m|abbr=off}} were held on the [[Roubaix Velodrome]].

==Cobbled sectors==

{| class="wikitable" style="float:left; text-align:center; font-size:95%; width:48%;"
|-
!Section<br />Number
!Name
!Kilometre Marker
!Length<br />(in m)
|-
| 27 || style="text-align:left;"| [[Troisvilles]] to [[Inchy]]|| 98.5 || 2200
|-
| 26 || style="text-align:left;"| [[Viesly]] to [[Quiévy]] || 105 || 1800
|-
| 25 || style="text-align:left;"| Quiévy to [[Saint-Python]]|| 108 || 3700
|-
| 24 || style="text-align:left;"| Saint-Python || 112.5 || 1500
|-
| 23 || style="text-align:left;"| [[Vertain]] to [[Saint-Martin-sur-Écaillon]] || 120.5 || 2380
|-
| 22 || style="text-align:left;"| [[Verchain-Maugré]] to [[Quérénaing]] || 130 || 1600
|-
| 21 || style="text-align:left;"| Quérénaing to [[Maing]] || 133.5 || 2500
|-
| 20 || style="text-align:left;"| Maing to [[Monchaux-sur-Écaillon]] || 136.5 || 1600
|-
| 19 || style="text-align:left;"| [[Haveluy]] to [[Wallers]] || 149.5 || 2500
|-
| 18 || style="text-align:left;"| [[Paris–Roubaix#Trouée d'Arenberg|Trouée d'Arenberg]] || 158 || 2400
|-
| 17 || style="text-align:left;"| Wallers to [[Hélesmes]] || 164 || 1600
|-
| 16 || style="text-align:left;"| [[Hornaing]] to [[Wandignies-Hamage]] || 170.5 || 3700
|-
| 15 || style="text-align:left;"| [[Warlaing]] to [[Brillon]] || 178 || 2400
|-
| 14 || style="text-align:left;"| [[Tilloy-lez-Marchiennes|Tilloy]] to [[Sars-et-Rosières]] || 181.5 || 2400
|-
| 13 || style="text-align:left;"| [[Beuvry-la-Forêt]] to [[Orchies]] || 188 || 1400
|-
| 12 || style="text-align:left;"| Orchies || 193 || 1700
|-
| 11 || style="text-align:left;"| [[Auchy-lez-Orchies]] to [[Bersée]] || 199 || 2700
|-
| 10 || style="text-align:left;"| [[Mons-en-Pévèle]] || 204.5 || 3000
|-
| 9 || style="text-align:left;"| [[Mérignies]] to [[Avelin]] || 210.5 || 700
|-
| 8 || style="text-align:left;"| {{ill|Pont-Thibaut|nl|Kasseistrook van Pont-Thibaut}} to [[Ennevelin]] || 214 || 1400
|-
| 7 || style="text-align:left;"| [[Templeuve-en-Pévèle|Templeuve - Moulin-de-Vertain]] || 220 || 500
|-
|rowspan=2| 6 || style="text-align:left;"| [[Cysoing]] to [[Bourghelles]] || 226.5 || 1300
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Bourghelles to [[Wannehain]] || 229 || 1100
|-
| 5 || style="text-align:left;"| [[Camphin-en-Pévèle]] || 233.5 || 1800
|-
| 4 || style="text-align:left;"| [[Carrefour de l'Arbre]] || 236.5 || 2100
|-
| 3 || style="text-align:left;"| [[Gruson]] || 238.5 || 1100
|-
| 2 || style="text-align:left;"| [[Willems, Nord|Willems]] to [[Hem, Nord|Hem]] || 245.5 || 1400
|-
| 1 || style="text-align:left;"| [[Roubaix|Roubaix (Espace Crupelandt)]] || 252 || 300
|-
|style="text-align:right;" colspan=3| '''Total cobbled sections'''|| 52700
|}

{{clear}}

==Teams==
As Paris-Roubaix was a UCI World Tour event, all 17 [[2015 UCI World Tour#Teams|UCI WorldTeams]] were invited automatically and were obliged to send a squad. Eight [[UCI Professional Continental|Professional Continental]] teams received wildcard invitations and thus completed the 25-team peloton.

{{cyclingteamlist|title=UCI WorldTeams|ALM|AST|BMC|OPQ|FDJ|IAM|LAM|LTB|MOV|OGE|GRS|GIA|KAT|BEL|SKY|TTS|TFR|year=2015}}
{{cyclingteamlist|title=UCI Professional Continental teams|BOH|BSE|COF|MTN|EUC|TSV|UHC|WGG|year=2015}}

==Pre-race favourites==
Two former multiple winners of the event missed the race due to injury. Four time winner [[Tom Boonen]] was ruled out after dislocating his shoulder in a crash during [[2015 Paris–Nice|Paris–Nice]] in March,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/lefevere-rules-out-tom-boonens-paris-roubaix-return-164839|title=Lefevere rules out Tom Boonen's Paris-Roubaix return - Cycling Weekly|date=1 April 2015|work=Cycling Weekly}}</ref> whilst three-time winner [[Fabian Cancellara]] missed out after fracturing two vertebrae in his lower back in a crash at [[2015 E3 Harelbeke|E3 Harelbeke]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/mar/27/fabian-cancellara-tour-of-flanders-paris-roubaix-e3-harelbeke|title=Fabian Cancellara ruled out of Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix after crash|work=the Guardian}}</ref>

[[Alexander Kristoff]] ({{UCI team code|KAT|2015}}) was tipped by as the favourite to win the race,<ref name="barryryan">{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-roubaix-2015-wt/preview|title=Paris-Roubaix 2015: Preview - Cyclingnews.com|author=Barry Ryan|work=Cyclingnews.com|access-date=10 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150411174652/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-roubaix-2015-wt/preview|archive-date=11 April 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> having won three stages and the general classification of the [[2015 Three Days of De Panne|Three Days of De Panne]], the [[2015 Tour of Flanders|Tour of Flanders]] and [[2015 Scheldeprijs|Scheldeprijs]] in the fortnight leading up to the race.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/alexander-kristoff-continues-winning-streak-with-scheldeprijs-victory-165646|title=Alexander Kristoff continues winning streak with Scheldeprijs victory|date=8 April 2015|work=Cycling Weekly}}</ref> Defending champion [[Niki Terpstra]] also showed good form, having been runner up to Kristoff in the Tour of Flanders and also placing second in [[2015 Gent–Wevelgem|Gent–Wevelgem]] a week earlier.<ref name="bbc.co.uk">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/wales/32242345|title=BBC Sport - Paris-Roubaix: Geraint Thomas expects dual leader role with Wiggins|work=BBC Sport}}</ref> He was likely to share leadership of {{UCI team code|QST|2015}} with [[Zdeněk Štybar]], who was also in good form with a victory at [[2015 Strade Bianche|Strade Bianche]] and second place at E3 Harelbeke earlier in the classics campaign.<ref name="barryryan"/>

[[File:Sir Bradley Wiggins, Paris-Roubaix, 2015..jpg|thumb|[[Bradley Wiggins]] contested his final race for {{UCI team code|SKY|2015}}, before moving to his eponymous {{UCI team code|WGN|2015}} team.]]
Former Tour de France winner [[Bradley Wiggins]] was riding the event as his final race for {{UCI team code|SKY|2015}} before moving to his new {{UCI team code|WGN|2015}} squad to begin his preparations for a return to track racing at the [[2016 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/bradley-wiggins-fairytale-ending-at-paris-roubaix-165651|title=Bradley Wiggins's 'fairytale' ending at Paris-Roubaix - Cycling Weekly|date=8 April 2015|work=Cycling Weekly}}</ref> He was expected to share leadership of Sky with [[Geraint Thomas]], winner of E3 Harelbeke, and [[Ian Stannard]], winner of [[2015 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|Omloop Het Nieuwsblad]].<ref name="bbc.co.uk"/> Other likely contenders for victory included [[Sep Vanmarcke]] ({{UCI team code|TLJ|2015}}), the runner up in the [[2013 Paris–Roubaix|2013 edition of the race]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/04/news/sep-vanmarcke-bad-moments-come-and-go_366019|title=Sep Vanmarcke: 'Bad moments come and go' - VeloNews.com|work=VeloNews.com|access-date=10 April 2015|archive-date=13 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413000021/http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/04/news/sep-vanmarcke-bad-moments-come-and-go_366019|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[John Degenkolb]] ({{UCI team code|TGA|2015}}), the runner up of the [[2014 Paris–Roubaix|2014 edition]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/video-top-10-riders-to-watch-at-paris-roubaix|title=Video: Top 10 riders to watch at Paris-Roubaix|author=Cycling News|work=Cyclingnews.com}}</ref> [[Lars Boom]] ({{UCI team code|AST|2015}}) who won Stage 5 of the [[2014 Tour de France]] which featured some of the Paris–Roubaix cobble sectors,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/04/news/lars-boom-aims-to-go-supersonic-at-roubaix_366056|title=Lars Boom aims to go supersonic at Roubaix|work=VeloNews.com|access-date=10 April 2015|archive-date=13 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413035749/http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/04/news/lars-boom-aims-to-go-supersonic-at-roubaix_366056|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Greg Van Avermaet]] ({{UCI team code|BMC|2015}})<ref name="cyclingweekly.co.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/paris-roubaix-2015-who-will-win-165735|title=Paris-Roubaix 2015: Who will win?|date=9 April 2015|work=Cycling Weekly}}</ref> and [[Peter Sagan]] ({{UCI team code|SAX|2015}}).<ref name="cyclingweekly.co.uk"/>

==Results==
<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-roubaix-2015/results/|title=Degenkolb wins Paris-Roubaix|work=[[Cyclingnews.com]]|publisher=[[Immediate Media Company]]|date=12 April 2015|accessdate=3 August 2021}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#ccccff;"
!
!Cyclist
!Team
!Time
![[2015 UCI World Tour|UCI World Tour]]<br>Points
|-
| 1
| {{flagathlete|[[John Degenkolb]]|GER}}
| {{UCI team code|TGA|2015}}
|align="right"| 5h 49' 51"
|align="center"| 100
|-
| 2
| {{flagathlete|[[Zdeněk Štybar]]|CZE}}
| {{UCI team code|EQS|2015}}
|align="right"| + 0"
|align="center"| 80
|-
| 3
| {{flagathlete|[[Greg Van Avermaet]]|BEL}}
| {{UCI team code|BMC|2015}}
|align="right"| + 0"
|align="center"| 70
|-
| 4
| {{flagathlete|[[Lars Boom]]|NED}}
| {{UCI team code|AST|2015}}
|align="right"| + 0"
|align="center"| 60
|-
| 5
| {{flagathlete|[[Martin Elmiger]]|SUI}}
| {{UCI team code|IAM|2015}}
|align="right"| + 0"
|align="center"| 50
|-
| 6
| {{flagathlete|[[Jens Keukeleire]]|BEL}}
| {{UCI team code|OGE|2015}}
|align="right"| + 0"
|align="center"| 40
|-
| 7
| {{flagathlete|[[Yves Lampaert]]|BEL}}
| {{UCI team code|EQS|2015}}
|align="right"| + 7"
|align="center"| 30
|-
| 8
| {{flagathlete|[[Luke Rowe]]|GBR}}
| {{UCI team code|SKY|2015}}
|align="right"| + 28"
|align="center"| 20
|-
| 9
| {{flagathlete|[[Jens Debusschere]]|BEL}}
| {{UCI team code|LTS|2015}}
|align="right"| + 29"
|align="center"| 10
|-
| 10
| {{flagathlete|[[Alexander Kristoff]]|NOR}}
| {{UCI team code|KAT|2015}}
|align="right"| + 31"
|align="center"| 4
|}

==Controversy==
[[File:Wallers - Passage du Paris-Roubaix le 7 avril 2013 (009).JPG|thumb|The level crossing, the day of the [[2013 Paris–Roubaix]]]]
The race was marred by controversy when it emerged that dozens of cyclists had unsafely crossed a [[level crossing]] while the barriers were down. Further cyclists were only stopped from crossing when a police motorcyclist intervened. Seconds later, an [[SNCF]] [[TGV]] high-speed train passed through the crossing.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/11532558/Paris-Roubaix-2015-Riders-almost-hit-by-train-at-level-crossing-as-SNCF-call-for-barrier-jumpers-to-be-prosecuted.html|title=Paris-Roubaix 2015: Riders almost hit by train at level-crossing as SNCF call for barrier jumpers to be prosecuted|last=Cary|first=Tom|date=13 April 2015|access-date=13 April 2015|newspaper=The Telegraph}}</ref>

The SNCF called for police to take action following the incident, stating that there could easily have been a tragedy.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/cycling/32284180|title=Paris-Roubaix: Train company wants police action taken|date=13 April 2015|access-date=13 April 2015|newspaper=BBC Sports}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{official website}}

{{2015 UCI World Tour}}
{{Paris–Roubaix}}
{{Paris–Roubaix winners}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2015 Paris-Roubaix}}
[[Category:Paris–Roubaix]]
[[Category:2015 UCI World Tour|Paris-Roubaix]]
[[Category:April 2015 sports events in France|Paris-Roubaix]]