Paris (AFP)

The next edition of Paris-Roubaix will include on April 12 500 meters of additional paving stones, over a total distance increased to 258 kilometers, we learned on Wednesday from the organizers.

The route, validated after the technical reconnaissance, was modified in the first part of the paved sectors, after the entry by Troisvilles (North).

"The idea is to go from one year to the next on all the paved sectors that exist in the Cambrésis," race director Thierry Gouvenou explained to AFP.

The 2020 route will turn east compared to previous years and will go to the hamlet of Buat. With, as a consequence, to change the place of the first supply, traditionally installed in Solesmes (North).

"There will be 55 km of paving stones over the 258 km of the race (257.5 km last year)," said Thierry Gouvenou.

From Quérenaing, the course will not present any change compared to the last edition won by the Belgian Philippe Gilbert.

In addition, the daily newspaper La Voix du Nord announced on Wednesday a ceremony, on February 10, on the initiative of local elected officials, to personalize the paved area connecting Hornaing to Wandignies-Hamage (North).

This sector will be associated with a former winner of Paris-Roubaix (2015), the German John Degenkolb, still in activity.

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