50°35′47″N3°14′10″E / 50.59646°N 3.236146°E /50.59646; 3.236146
Carrefour de l'Arbre, officiallyPavé de Luchin, is a 2.1 km (1.3 mi)cobbled road in the municipalities ofCamphin-en-Pévèle,Baisieux-Sin andGruson, in theNord department of Northern France. The location was the setting of theBattle of Bouvines, which ended theAnglo-French War in 1214. Today, the road is best known from the cycling classicParis–Roubaix, where it has often proved decisive due to its proximity to Roubaix and cumulative difficulty.[1]
Carrefour de l'Arbre(English:Crossroads of the Tree) is on open land between Gruson and Camphin-en-Pévèle. The road starts westward from Camphin-en-Pévèle along theRue de Cysoing towardsCamphin de l'Arbre. The first half consists of a series of corners over highly irregular pavé towards Luchin. The second half starts after crossing an asphalt road and finishes at theCafé de l'Arbre restaurant.
The road is one of three "five-star" pavé sectors of Paris–Roubaix, together withMons-en-Pévèle and theTrouée d'Arenberg. It is considered one of the hardest passages of the race because of the bad state of the cobbles. As it comes at 15 km (9.3 mi) from the finish inRoubaix it is a pivotal location of the race and has often proved decisive.