Special envoy to Roubaix
Muddy and perilous, the 2021 edition (won by Sonny Colbrelli, after being hosted by Mathieu Van der Poel) had entered into legend.
The 2022 edition is making a place for itself in the golden book of the "Queen of the classics" by registering as the fastest in history.
Dylan Van Baarle (Ineos) clears the record set by Greg Van Avermaet in 2017 in 45.7 km/h.
That year, a side wind, dry and mild weather had allowed the Belgian to erase the 1964 edition (won in 45.13 km/h by Peter Post).
The side wind, the dry weather and the summer temperature were there this Sunday.
And that carpet of dust carried Dylan Van Baarle to the greatest success of his career.
A cobblestone accompanied by the speed record of the “Queen of the classics”.
The maneuver ... 210km from the arrival of Ineos destabilized the whole peloton
Dylan Van Baarle FRANCOIS LO PRESTI / AFP
Read alsoParis-Roubaix: winner, van Baarle claims to "hate the cobblestones"
The winner explains: “
Cycling has changed a lot over the past few years, it attacks earlier and earlier, it starts earlier and earlier.
We had been chasing this victory over Paris-Roubaix for years.
We put in a lot of effort to win a great classic.
There was a good combination of several factors, experience, the arrival of young people and it worked.
»
Read alsoParis-Roubaix: the impressive glide of Lampaert unbalanced by a spectator
Ineos (formerly Sky, founded in 2010), its formation which had been chasing success in Paris-Roubaix since its debut, changed the course of the race by taking all the favorites by surprise with a maneuver at… 210 km from the finish which resulted in cutting the peloton in two.
“
The plan, stay focused especially with a side wind, then survive, make the race difficult and then it was freestyle.
On the velodrome, I had goosebumps
”, summed up the winner to the angels.
A team focused on the offensive, ideal weather conditions turned the race into a whirlwind.
And Van Baarle, the man who “hates the cobblestones” flew away: “
like everyone else, I prefer to ride on asphalt.
But, when I feel faster than the others, it becomes fun…
”
