Our special correspondent in Roubaix
Alone in the lead.
As in the Milan-San Remo final.
Like Tadej Pogacar during a spectacular Tour of Flanders.
Mathieu Van der Poel, who started in force 15 km from the finish, won in a big way in Paris-Roubaix.
At the end of a day mastered by his Alpecin team.
A master stroke.
His grandfather Raymond Poulidor had never been on the podium of the "Queen of the classics".
At 28, he, after an emotional lap of honor, received the cheers of the Roubaix velodrome to the angels.
A pleasure doubled by the 2nd place of his teammate Jasper Philipsen, beating Wout Van Aert in the sprint.
The traditional breakaway took a long time to start.
The Germans Jonas Koch (Bora-Handgrohe) and Juri Hollmann (Movistar), the Canadian Derek Gee (Israel-Premier Tech) and the Dutchman Sjoerd Bax (UAE) broke away just before the first cobbled section.
When the race changes pace.
In Troisvilles, 160 km from the finish, a seemingly innocuous small left turn throws the riders into a relentless chain swallowed up.
Twenty-nine paved sectors.
An odyssey.
A cocktail in which speed and fear are shaken up when tackling the top of dry cobblestones but sometimes muddy shoulders.
With these patches of mud, the traps nestle everywhere on Paris-Roubaix.
Because the "Queen of the classics" is ruthless.
Even with his most assiduous suitors.
Peter Sagan knocked down
The Slovak Peter Sagan (winner in 2018) ended his adventure in the “Hell of the North” with a heavy fall in the first cobblestone sector (including a wound in the face).
Next year, he will devote himself to mountain biking.
Paris-Roubaix puts riders and machines to the test.
The Dutchman Dylan Van Barle (Jumbo-Visma) fell violently, like others, in the Trouée d'Arenberg, a long downward false flat, a dented straight line which crosses the forest of Raismes.
Canadian Derek Gee (Israel-Premier Tech) saw his wheel come apart, dismantled by the violent vibrations of this legendary tubular.
Paris-Roubaix, a race reputed to be indomitable, has lived up to its legend.
Favorite teams know that collective strength is fragile.
Jumbo-Visma at the origin of a violent acceleration before the Trouée d'Arenberg saw, in a few kilometers, the problems piling up with the fall of Van Baarle and the puncture of Christophe Laporte.
Outsiders can overcome obstacles and turn a day of pain into a day of glory.
Fatal puncture for Van Aert
The boost from Jumbo-Visma 102 km from the finish (in the Haveluy sector, 14 km from Wallers-Arenberg) sent them into the lead in a group of thirteen favorites (Van der Poel, Van Aert, Degenkolb, Küng, Ganna, Pedersen, Philipsen) determined to close the door on a comeback.
To explain.
Van der Poel being able to rely on two teammates Philipsen and Vermeersch when Van Aert suddenly felt isolated, exposed 80 km (long) kilometers from the finish.
Two headliners worn or stuck, placed in very different situations.
51 km from the finish, before the dreaded sector of Mons-en-Pévèle, Mathieu Van der Poel, taking advantage of a series of turns, accelerated which shook the leading group without managing to clinch Van Aert well. decided to remain attached to its wheel,
to try to jump on all the attacks in the group of seven survivors of a crazy day.
To maintain hope.
Van Aert who will have spent the last sectors in the shadow of his rival Van der Poel.
Before taking advantage of the amazement of the group when Degenkolb packed by Philipsen was ejected in the famous sector of the crossroads of the Tree.
Placed in the lead, Van Aert saw his rival swoop down on him, before being brutally stopped by a rear wheel puncture.
Mathieu Van der Poel, the grandson of Raymond Poulidor had 15 km ahead of him.
To lead belly to earth.
To enter the legend.
Winner in his third appearance in the race (3rd in 2021, 9th in 2022).
Winner of his fourth monument (after the Tour of Flanders 2020 and 2022, Milan-San Remo 2023).
Like Tadej Pogacar to whom he can compete for the title of best classic rider of the moment.
