Following an exceptional performance, Mathieu van der Poel smashed his record to retain the Paris-Roubaix title. With 60 kilometers remaining in the race, the 29-year-old Dutch world champion made a move that surpassed his previous year’s record by over three minutes.
It was his sixth victory in a Monument– the five most prestigious one-day races in road cycling.
After several high-profile crashes in previous years, the organizers attempted to protect riders by making modifications to the renownedly challenging track.
van der Poel wins
Though there were several bumps and falls along the 57km of treacherous cobblestones, Van Der Poel’s Alpecin-Deceuninck squad helped him be safe until allowing him to level up on his game.
As the trailing pack began to fight it for the minor positions, he swiftly established a sizable lead. He rode by himself into the renowned Roubaix Velodrome and finished in five hours, 25 minutes, and 58 seconds, setting a record for the fastest average speed in the race’s 1896 founding history.
Jasper Philipsen, Van der Poel’s Belgian teammate, moved past Mads Pedersen of Denmark in a sprint finish, finishing three minutes behind.
“I never could have dreamed of this as a child… I was super motivated this year, I wanted to show off the [rainbow] jersey [as world champion] in a nice way. It goes beyond expectations. I am lost for words to be honest with you, but I am really enjoying this moment,” Van Der Poel expressed.
Cover Photo: IG
Source: BBC
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