Degenkolb became only the second German to win the race, after Josef Fischer's victory at the first edition 119 years earlier.

Three sections (Quiévy, Saint-Python and Verchain-Maugré) were included in stage 4 of the 2015 Tour de France, held three months later.

[6] Defending champion Niki Terpstra also showed good form, having been runner up to Kristoff in the Tour of Flanders and also placing second in Gent–Wevelgem a week earlier.

[7] He was likely to share leadership of Etixx–Quick-Step with Zdeněk Štybar, who was also in good form with a victory at Strade Bianche and second place at E3 Harelbeke earlier in the classics campaign.

[7] Other likely contenders for victory included Sep Vanmarcke (LottoNL–Jumbo), the runner up in the 2013 edition of the race,[9] John Degenkolb (Team Giant–Alpecin), the runner up of the 2014 edition,[10] Lars Boom (Astana) who won Stage 5 of the 2014 Tour de France which featured some of the Paris–Roubaix cobble sectors,[11] Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing Team)[12] and Peter Sagan (Tinkoff–Saxo).