The dust has settled on another edition of Paris-Roubaix and, as ever, it delivered a smorgasbord of tech for we bike nerds to feast on.
The big talking points were the near-universal move to 1x, ever-growing tyre widths and a wave of bold experimental tech.
While some teams will be left wondering if they got it quite right – not least Mathieu van der Poel’s squad after its pedal faux pas – there are key trends across many teams that offer a glimpse of where Roubaix race tech is heading.
Scroll on for a closer look at the weird and wonderful tech, hacks and innovations that make Roubaix so special.
Team Total Energies and Ineos Grenadiers go (almost) all-in on MTB and gravel groupsets
Team TotalEnergies Pro Cycling turned up on its usual Cube bikes… ...but switched to a Shimano XTR mountain bike rear derailleur on some bikes… Ashley Quinlan / Our Media…and Shimano GRX on others. Ashley Quinlan / Our MediaThe team largely ran a Carbon Ti single-chainring setup. Ashley Quinlan / Our MediaBut some spare bikes had the standard Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9200 groupset installed. Ashley Quinlan / Our MediaIneos-Grenadiers turned heads with its widespread use of Shimano XTR wireless rear derailleurs. Ashley Quinlan / Our MediaIt appears Ineos-Grenadiers' use of Carbon Ti chainrings is frowned upon by its sponsors. Ashley Quinlan / Our MediaIneos-Grenadiers riders were using a 3D-printed mount for the official race transponder. Ashley Quinlan / Our MediaFilippo Ganna ran satellite shifters on his handlebar tops, for easy access when traversing the cobbles. Ashley Quinlan / Our Media
Gravel components go beyond groupsets
Outside of groupsets, there was the odd smattering of gravel components elsewhere. This Uno-X Mobility rider had a pair of DT Swiss GRC 1100 gravel wheels. Ash Quinlan / Our MediaThe team also used a Red XPLR rear derailleur paired with an almost comically mismatched small cassette. Ash Quinlan / Our MediaA neat chain catcher to boost retention. Ash Quinlan / Our Media
Two-piece cockpits and zillions of shifters for Team SD Worx-Protime
Team SD Worx–Protime made a very rare switch for 2026… Ash Quinlan / Our Media…the whole team switched to two-piece cockpits for Roubaix instead of the usual one-piece Roval cockpits. A team mechanic told us this is because the aero tops are harder for riders to hold with smaller hands on the rough cobbles. Ash Quinlan / Our MediaSatellite shifters are another classic Roubaix hack. Ash Quinlan / Our MediaHow many shifters would you like on your bike? Yes. Ash Quinlan / Our MediaLorena Wiebes was a pre-race favourite, finishing sixth on the day. The team ran Specialized Turbo Cotton tyres across the board but, unlike the men's team, didn't coat the sidewalls. Ash Quinlan / Our MediaWhat a terrific paintjob. Ash Quinlan / Our Media
Lidl-Trek's boldly experimental bikes
Before the race, Lidl-Trek caused a stir with its use of the Odyssey Optis inflatable tyre liner, which is inflated using the second Presta valve seen here (while the other valve served the tubeless inflation). We were uncertain if they'd use them come race day, but all of the team's main bikes had it at the start line. Ash Quinlan / Our MediaThe liner is much like an inner tube. Here you can see how the main valve serves the liner, and the auxiliary valve inflates the tyre itself. Ashley Quinlan / Our MediaThe team ran 32mm-wide tyres across the board. Ash Quinlan / Our MediaWe also spotted the team trialling SRAM's HS2 mountain bike rotor for the cobbles of Roubaix. Ashley Quinlan / Our MediaPictured on Jonathan Milan's Madone SLR during a much-needed service, remnants of chain wax were clearly visible on the jockey wheels. Wax was the lube of choice in this year's dry race. Ashley Quinlan / Our MediaMechanics were also pre-prepping their road bike tyres by lightly sanding away the releasing agent, which (if left in place) compromises grip before it wears away with normal use. Ashley Quinlan / Our MediaThe whole team was on 1x. Mads Pedersen's Project One Madone looks resplendent in its handsome grey and gold finish. Ash Quinlan / Our MediaThis Leap Components computer mount takes integration to the next level. Ash Quinlan / Our Media
35mm is the new hot thing
It's official, 35mm tyres – used by Continental-sponsored teams with the Grand Prix 5000 S TR – are here, and probably here to stay. Ashley Quinlan / Our MediaMechanics had taken to marking up Continental's 35mm-wide Grand Prix 5000 S TR tyres. A number of teams told us this makes distinguishing between them and the 32mm variants (which were used by most teams for the rear tyres) much easier. Ashley Quinlan / Our MediaWe interrupt this important tech gallery to bring you coverage of this very happy doggo. Ashley Quinlan / Our Media
UAE Team ADQ goes big with the Colnago V5Rs
The V5Rs had a rare outing with UAE Team ADQ. Ash Quinlan / Our MediaThis gave the team the option of running 35mm tyres front and rear. Ash Quinlan / Our MediaMegan Jastrab, who finished fifth, had a lofty cockpit with lots of stack. Ash Quinlan / Our MediaThat long stem leaves plenty of space for race notes. Ash Quinlan / Our Media
The UCI introduces new tyre-checking tool
Related to the above points, the UCI has a new tool to check tyre-size compliance in response to ever-growing tyre widths. Ash Quinlan / Our MediaIt slots over the top of a tyre and checks sidewall height. Ash Quinlan / Our MediaVan der Poel's tyres were compliant – but that wasn't enough for the Dutchman to nab a fourth win. Ash Quinlan / Our MediaHe opted for 32mm tyres on the day. Ash Quinlan / Our Media
Old hacks stand the test of time
Filippo Ganna's bike sported a tried-and-tested trick of grip tape in the bottle cage to help hold it in place. Ashley Quinlan / Our MediaTo help keep bike computers secure, teams sometimes use tape to make the interface tighter. This also helps reduce rattling. Ashley Quinlan / Our MediaJonathan Milan was using this low-tech hack to help keep his bottles in place over the cobbles, with some foam just visible on the extreme left of shot to mute the inevitable rattling. Ashley Quinlan / Our Media
1x and off-sponsor tyres for Team Jayco–AlUla
Team Jayco–AlUla switched to 1x for Roubaix. We didn't catch who makes this aftermarket chainring, but we love the concentric machined rings. Ash Quinlan / Our MediaThe team usually rides Cadex tyres, but Giant's sister brand doesn't produce a 32mm-wide tyre, so the team switched to Vittoria for Roubaix. Ash Quinlan / Our Media
Two unmissable bikes from wildcard teams doing something different
Paris-Roubaix plays host to a number of alternative drivetrain setups – here, Modern Adventure Pro Cycling opted to run a SRAM Force XPLR AXS 1x groupset on its Factor Monza team bikes. Also note the guest appearance.The bikes were also running the native SRAM Force chain in this fetching purple colour.A common sight in the service park at the start: team mechanics adjusting tyre pressures.American Robin Carpenter's Factor Monza had one of the fun custom designs of the day.This is a face many riders make when attacking the cobbles.Elsewhere, the Rose Shave FFX of the Unibet Rose Rockets team is a looker year-round. Ashley Quinlan / Our MediaSRAM Red XPLR AXS 1x was the drivetrain of choice. Ashley Quinlan / Our Media
Alison Jackson's incredible Canadian national champs Cannondale SuperSix
Alison Jackson's Cannondale SuperSix had, without doubt, the coolest paintjob of the whole event. Ash Quinlan / Our MediaThe Canadian national champion opted for a conventional 2x setup with a fairly tight-spread Force cassette. Wise words. Ash Quinlan / Our MediaThe silver hubs on her Mavic wheels unleashed the inner magpie in the whole BikeRadar team. Ash Quinlan / Our MediaThe whole squad was on 32mm tyres from fellow French brand, Mavic. Ash Quinlan / Our MediaPlenty of space to spare. Ash Quinlan / Our Media
Wide variety of tyres
Not every team was on the fastest tyres available. Ash Quinlan / Our MediaThis Canyon–SRAM zondacrypto bike went as far as running the Schwalbe G-One Speed – the brand's go-fast gravel tyre. Ash Quinlan / Our MediaThere was variation elsewhere, with some using 32mm tyres. Ash Quinlan / Our MediaOthers were running 34mm-wide tyres. Ash Quinlan / Our MediaPortable air compressors make tyre inflations en masse much easier to action. Ashley Quinlan / Our MediaLotto-Intermarché opted to run Vittoria Corsa Pro Control tyres, the all-season variant of the brand's racy tyre line. Ashley Quinlan / Our Media
A rare outing for Campagnolo
Campagnolo was represented by Team Cofidis, running the brand's Super Record 13 drivetrain. Ashley Quinlan / Our MediaA rare image of Super Record 13's direct-mount interface in the pro peloton. Ashley Quinlan / Our Media
Jack Luke is the digital editor at BikeRadar and has been utterly obsessed with riding and bike tech for his whole life.
Jack can primarily be found whizzing about at a moderate pace on his array of road bikes from his home in Bristol, but his greatest passion is for cycle touring, bikepacking and ill-advised gravel-flavoured long-distance hike-a-bike-peppered adventures. Jack is also interested in fixed-gear bikes, tandems and anything else that’s a wee bit weird.
With a near-encyclopedic knowledge of cycling tech – ranging from the most esoteric retro niche to the most cutting-edge modern kit – Jack takes pride in seeking out stories that would otherwise go unreported.
After years spent working in bike shops, and as a photography technician and tutor, Jack joined BikeRadar in 2016. He’s now responsible for shaping the overall output of BikeRadar, editing, planning and – when he gets the chance – writing content for the site.
Jack’s also a regular host on the BikeRadar YouTube channel and BikeRadar Podcast, and has contributed to articles for the Guardian and been a guest on BBC Radio Scotland.
