NOS Wielrennen•vandaag, 16:52
Van der Poel makes a solo lap of honor in the velodrome and wins Paris-Roubaix
Mathieu van der Poel has won the cycling classic Paris-Roubaix, just like in 2023. The reigning world champion crossed the finish line on the iconic Roubaix velodrome after an impressive 60 kilometer solo.
Only three minutes later did Van der Poel’s teammate Jasper Philipsen sprint to second place. The Belgian from Alpecin-Deceuninck stayed ahead of the Dane Mads Pedersen and the German Nils Politt.
Double
The 29-year-old Van der Poel, who was already the strongest in the Tour of Flanders last Sunday, is the first rider since Rik Van Looy in 1962 to win the ‘double’ Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, riding in the rainbow jersey.
The last time a non-world champion won both races in one year was Swiss Fabian Cancellara in 2013.
Van der Poel also became the first rider since the Belgian Tom Boonen to win Paris-Roubaix twice in a row. Boonen did that in 2008 and 2009.
The spectator seems to be bothering Van der Poel
At 42 kilometers from the finish, Van der Poel got away well when a spectator apparently deliberately tried to thwart him by throwing a cap between the spokes of the Alpecin rider.
Does this supporter deliberately throw his cycling cap at derailleur Van der Poel?
It had been running smoothly for Alpecin all day. Van der Poel’s team had kept the pace so high for a long time that only forty men were in the lead halfway through.
Chicane
Just before entering the Forest of Wallers, one of the most notorious cobblestone sections of the 2.4 kilometer race, the leading group passed the much-discussed chicane. Van der Poel breathed a sigh of relief at the passage 95 kilometers from the finish, as he and his colleagues managed to get through the ultra-sharp bend without any problems.
Peloton Paris-Roubaix at chicane and infamous cobblestone strip Bos van Wallers
The Dutch world champion then opted for the attack, with only Pedersen, Philipsen and the Dutchman Mick van Dijke able to follow. Van der Poel kept his legs still for a moment, but had checked the condition of the legs of the competition.
A little later, Stefan Küng, Politt and Gianni Vermeersch (Van der Poel’s teammate) were given more space, but Van der Poel retained control and did not let the trio get too far out.
Decisive attack
Van der Poel placed his decisive attack 60 kilometers from the finish line, on the cobblestone strip of Orchies, and impressively drove away from the competition. The reigning world champion thundered further and once again showed his excellent form.
Van der Poel places decisive attack on cobblestones of Orchies
He drove further and further away from his pursuers, a group of three with Pedersen, Politt and Philipsen, was almost three minutes behind by Van der Poel.
At the velodrome in Roubaix, Van der Poel pushed hard again and then crossed the finish line triumphantly. He is the first rider since Peter Sagan in 2018 to win Paris-Roubaix as world champion.
