Van Rysel-Roubaix are dreaming of lining up on the start line of Paris-Roubaix – a famous race that sees riders tackle the infamous cobbles of the Hell of the North
There aren’t too many cyclists who would describe the cobbled lanes that weave between the towns and cities that kiss the Belgian border, where buildings fade into the Flemish countryside, as the road to paradise.
Those jagged pavé sectors, which shake riders loose from comfort and control, made famous by Paris-Roubaix, are often viewed as cycling’s answer to hell itself.
Van Rysel-Roubaix, a third division team hailing from cycling’s most famous heartland, argue that to arrive in paradise you must first race through hell. To win in Roubaix’s weathered velodrome is to make one career.
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And it’s that battle that was displayed on their vibrant pink jersey for the 2026 season. “We want to tell a real story – authentic and easy to share,” Nicolas Pierron told Daily Star Sport, before taking a short pause.
Van Rysel, where Pierron serves as CEO, is based in Lille, a stone’s throw from Roubaix and its famous velodrome, and has always drawn strength from local identity. “We wanted to work with local partners,” Pierron explained.
“In 2020, we opened discussions with Roubaix, but the contracts weren’t aligned, so we postponed. And then, in 2023, Roubaix lost its main partner, so we revisited the discussion to find a solution for the season.
“We didn’t want it to be a one-off project; we wanted a long-term partnership.”
Based in the sprawling B’twin Village, a treasure trove for sports lovers, Van Rysel have taken cycling by storm. In another life, it was an aerodrome, used for its strategic location between France and Germany, before it was transformed into a tobacco factory.
Van Rysel set up shop here in 2019 and went about developing its two flagship bikes, the RCR-F and the RCR-R.
It’s the former that Van Rysel-Roubaix will race on throughout the 2026 season. The aero machine is already used at the highest level by Decathlon-CMA CGM, and the third-division outfit will be hoping it brings similar success.
“If we compare it to football, it’s like the difference between Liverpool and a third-division team,” Pierron said. Racing at Continental level, Van Rysel-Roubaix operate several rungs below the sport’s elite.
“Roubaix are in the third division, so it’s impossible for them to get a wildcard unless they move up to the pro level.” However, while the dream is currently out of reach, race wins on the RCR-F could see them move to a ProTour in the next three-year cycle.
“Our goal is to win Paris-Roubaix eventually. This is a long-term vision, and our investment in the team is part of that strategy.”
For now, Van Rysel-Roubaix will ply their trade on the French domestic scene, with the occasional foray across the Belgian border – dreaming that one day the Hell of the North will be painted pink by local riders.
“This bike is more efficient for races with multiple sprint finishes. It saves around 30 watts – a huge difference at professional level,” he continued.
“It was important for us to promote the F model because it’s an excellent bike…Of course, for races with climbs, we might provide another option, but for next season this is the perfect solution.
“In this division, most teams simply don’t have that level of investment in communication or product support.
“That helps them recruit talented athletes and gives access to highly competitive equipment, which makes a real difference on the road.”
And it’s on those roads where Van Rysel-Roubaix hope to make their mark – one step closer to a future date with the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix.