Race leader Vincenzo Nibali and other riders will be using specially modified bikes for Wednesday’s cobbled fifth stage of the Tour de France.

Nine sections totalling 15.4km of cobblestones along the 155.5km route from Ypres in Belgium to Arenberg have turned the stage into a mini Paris-Roubaix.

Some of the more treacherous cobblestones to be encountered in stage five. Photo: AAP

It has had riders and spectators alike excited since the Tour route was announced last September.

But as the cobbles provide a distinctly different surface to ride on, each team will roll out slightly different equipment more suited to the bumps.

Nibali has already ridden the stage in preparation.

“More than anything my intention was to find out what material, wheels, etc, I needed to use,” he said.

“I’m talking about the technical material of the bike, so we’ll change the bike.

“I’ve never done Paris-Roubaix, so it will be new for me.

“Tomorrow it’s predicted to rain. We hope it won’t because this can complicate everything.”

One crucial element is having the right bike and at Trek, three-time Paris-Roubaix winner Fabian Cancellara played a leading role in designing a bike specifically for the cobbles.

“That bike is a little bit different in that it’s longer. In Roubaix you have to go in straight lines and to steer the bike as little as possible, so by making a bike longer it’s more stable that way,” said Trek mechanic Jordan Ressingh.