Why Paris-Roubaix 2025 is proof that road bike tyres still have a long way to go

This year’s Paris-Roubaix was an edition to remember. In the women’s race, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot made history with a stellar debut victory, while the men’s race saw a head-to-head between two of the sport's most formidable talents, Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogačar. The drama on the cobbles was as intense as ever, but the bikes being ridden were interesting too.

As always, technology takes centre stage at Paris-Roubaix, largely because of the race’s punishing nature. This event doesn’t just test riders’ endurance; it challenges the very machines they ride.

In the past, we've seen some outlandish setups designed to tackle the demanding terrain - innovative frame designs, unusual bike components, and creative tyre solutions all came into play. However, in recent years, the development of bike tech has settled down. With advancements in frame materials and tyre technologies, bikes have become more reliable and less eccentric.

But while setups are less wild than in years past, there’s still much to be learned, and 2025 revealed that bike tech - particularly tyre technology - has a long way to go.

What we saw at Paris-Roubaix 2025

When we walked the pits and examined the bikes up close, there was a noticeable shift. The usual suspects, like wider tyres and double-wrapped bar tape, were still present. But beneath these relatively safe modifications, there were more intriguing details that stood out.

One of the more eye-catching developments was the use of the Gravaa tyre pressure system on Visma-Lease a Bike’s bikes. Though Visma Lease-a-bike has been using the system for some time now, it's certainly continuing to prove itself, racking up a win in the women's race, and wins last year at the Gravel World Championships.

Another noticeable tech trend was the increasingly widespread use of wider tyres. Some teams, including Intermarché, pushed the limits of tyre clearance by fitting 35mm tyres to their bikes. While this wasn’t groundbreaking, it served as a clear indication that wider tyres are here to stay.

But perhaps the most fascinating development we observed was the gluing of tubeless tyres to rims. Normally, tubeless tyres are designed to stay in place without the need for glue, but at Roubaix, Visma Lease-a-bike were seen gluing their tubeless tyres to their rims.

The reason? The brutal cobbles can sometimes unseat tubeless tyres, causing them to lose air pressure. It’s an indication that even the most advanced tyre technologies aren’t foolproof when faced with the extreme demands of Paris-Roubaix.

What does it mean for bikes of the future?

All these developments point to one central theme: tyre tech still has a lot of room to grow - no pun intended, I promise...

The move to wider tyres, while beneficial for comfort and grip, has created a new set of challenges, particularly around frame clearance. As we saw with teams like Intermarché pushing the limits with 35mm rubber, the need for frames to accommodate these wider tyres is becoming critical. Of course, in many cases rider's could opt for an endurance bike from their sponsor, with more tyre clearance, but we are talking more specifically here about manufacturers keeping wider tyres in mind for race bikes.

In recent years, we have seen more and more frames and wheels being designed with 28, or even 30mm tyres in mind, and these components and frames are proof that if you design a bike around wider tyres, you can make it faster from an aerodynamic stand point - but that requirement needs to be in mind throughout the design process. While many performance frames are capable of handling 35mm tyres, we expect that more bikes will become optimised specifically around 30mm rubber or perhaps even more, whilst still remaining firmly in the 'race bike' category.

The use of the Gravaa tyre pressure system also shows how far technology has come in terms of providing riders with more control. The ability to adjust tyre pressure in real-time adds another layer of strategy to the race.

However, it also highlights a key truth: even with all this technology, Paris-Roubaix remains a race where mechanical issues still play a major role.

Gluing tubeless tyres onto rims (don't do this at home) is an example of how teams haven't yet to come up with a totally foolproof bike setup. This undoubtedly means further optimisation and development is still inevitable. Ever widening tyres will, we think, lead to more widespread adoption of wider internal rim widths in the coming years, and we expect to see more research and development at both wheel and tyre brands to make sure these setups are both safe, and fast.

Roubaix is good for the consumer, regardless of whether you watch it or not

Paris-Roubaix presents a such a uniquely odd set of circumstances, in which, the fastest athletes, on the fastest equipment, are asked to cope with a course so completely unsuitable, that workarounds have to be found.

The tweaks and improvements we see each year, whether it's tyre pressure systems or frame modifications, find their way into the development conversations and design meetings that lead to improved reliability, better tyre systems, and more comfort for our own bikes.

So, as long as mechanical failures continue persist on the cobbles of Roubaix, you can expect our own bikes to keep getting better. And, that has to be a good thing...