Paris–Roubaix 2026 tech gallery: 1x drivetrains take over as teams move to MTB groupsets and 35mm tyres

In a significant shift for the Hell of the North, the 2026 Paris-Roubaix tech gallery reveals a widespread adoption of 1x drivetrains, with numerous professional teams now opting for mountain bike-specific groupsets. Accompanying this drivetrain evolution is a clear trend towards wider rubber, as 35mm tyres are becoming the new standard for tackling the brutal cobbles. This marks a substantial departure from traditional road setups, prioritising durability and chain retention.

This technological convergence has been brewing for years, with individual riders and smaller teams experimenting with 1x setups and wider tyres on the pavé. The notoriously demanding nature of Roubaix, where dropped chains and punctures can end a race, has finally pushed the peloton to embrace solutions previously considered niche. The move to MTB groupsets underscores a pragmatic approach, valuing robust performance over the marginal weight savings or gear range of traditional road components.

Ultimately, the peloton's collective surrender to mountain bike tech for Roubaix is less about innovation and more about common sense. When survival is the primary objective, practicality, it seems, always wins.