We take an afternoon / evening Eurostar from London, arriving into Paris Gare du Nord in time for our short (less than 1 hour) journey to Compiegne. On arrival we will check in to our hotel, with food, briefing, welcomes and introductions provided in a local restaurant.
We start the ride from the Place du Général de Gaulle, in front of the beautiful Chateau de Compiègne, a royal residence built for Louis XV and restored by Napoleon. The route sees us travel north, crossing the river Somme, and passing through numerous villages of northern France.
There are 10 cobbled sections today, totalling 21km! After 150km we arrive into Valenciennes. Dinner will be provided in a local restaurant and a comfy bed will be a welcome sight after a bumpy day in the saddle.
A slightly shorter day today, however there are 17 cobbled sections to contend with! After a fuelling breakfast, we start the day by riding north-west, towards Lille and through the Scarpe-Escaut Regional Park. As we leave the park, we turn north towards our final destination of Roubaix.
Finally, after 258km with 52km of cobbles, we finish outside the famous Roubaix velodrome!
Overnight accommodation is provided in a local hotel with a celebration meal in a local restaurant.
Breakfast is at your leisure, before making your way back to London via Lille. Depending on train times, you may have time to explore Lille before your journey back.