Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck)cemented his place in cycling history by winning his third consecutive Paris-Roubaix, delivering a dominant and dramatic solo performance that encapsulated everything this brutal Monument stands for. Over the mostly dry 259.2 km route packed with 30 bone-jarring cobbled sectors, the Dutchman not only withstood a fierce challenge from Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar, but also overcame a shocking spectator incident on his way to winning.
From the start in Compiègne, the race was on edge. Dry conditions made the cobbles less treacherous than usual, but made the race much faster. An early breakaway formed, with Spanish powerhouse Oier Lazkano among the most aggressive riders. However, the peloton was unwilling to let any move go too far. The tension ratcheted up as the race approached its decisive final 80 kilometers, with the major favorites — including van der Poel, Pogačar, Mads Pedersen, Wout van Aert, and Florian Vermeersch — all present and accounted for.
The race exploded around the infamous Mons-en-Pévèle sector with just under 60 km to go. It was here that Tadej Pogačar lit the fuse, launching a blistering attack that only Mathieu van der Poel and his Alpecin-Deceuninck teammate Jasper Philipsen could follow. As the trio powered over the cobbles, the rest of the field fell away. Soon, Pogačar and Van der Poel distanced Philipsen, setting up a thrilling duel between the reigning Tour de France champion and the defending Roubaix king.
That duel, however, was interrupted by misfortune. With 38 km remaining, Pogačar slid out on a greasy corner, crashing but catching himself, and quickly remounted. Though he continued to chase valiantly, a poorly timed bike change around the 20 km mark stalled his momentum, and Van der Poel seized the moment, stretching his lead with ruthless efficiency.
Yet the drama wasn’t over. At 33 km to go, Van der Poel was struck in the face by a full water bottle hurled by a roadside spectator. Traveling at 50 km/h, the impact was jarring. Visibly shaken, van der Poel maintained his composure, but after the race he didn’t mince words, describing the act as “attempted manslaughter” and calling for serious repercussions. The incident drew outrage from fans and riders alike, and the suspect later surrendered to Belgian authorities.
Unshaken on the road, Van der Poel powered on alone, carving his way through the Carrefour de l’Arbre and into the final kilometers with a commanding gap. As he entered the Roubaix Velodrome, the result was no longer in doubt. Van der Poel crossed the line solo, arms raised, in 5 hours, 31 minutes, and 27 seconds — averaging an astonishing 46.9 km/h on one of the toughest days cycling has to offer.
Behind him, Tadej Pogačar arrived 1 minute and 18 seconds later, his face streaked with mud and exhaustion. Despite the mishaps, his ride to second place made history of its own: he became the first reigning Tour de France champion since Eddy Merckx in 1975 to reach the podium at Paris-Roubaix. Rounding out the top three was Mads Pedersen, the ever-consistent Dane from Lidl-Trek, who outsprinted Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Florian Vermeersch (UAE Team Emirates – XRG).
The top ten was rounded out by Jonas Rutsch, Stefan Bissegger, Markus Hoelgaard, Fred Wright, and Laurenz Rex — all riders who endured the attrition and chaos that defines this race.
With his third straight win, Van der Poel joins the elite company of Octave Lapize and Francesco Moser as the only riders to have won Paris-Roubaix three times in a row. It was also his eighth career Monument victory, reinforcing his legacy as one of the greatest classics riders of all time.
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