Gallery: Inside the fastest ever Paris-Roubaix

Gallery: Inside the fastest ever Paris-Roubaix

Images from another gruelling edition of the Hell of the North


They call it the Hell of the North, and every year Paris-Roubaix merits its moniker, producing a bicycle race unmatched in drama. This year’s race promises to go down in the annals of the sport, as Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel seemingly surfed through a race filled with chaos and ever-changing chances to win his second Monument of the season.

Rolling out of the start in Compiegne the racing promised to be fast. Countless riders made their bid to get into the early breakaway and even before the first cobblestone sector in Troisvilles, crashes and mechanicals only increased with the tension.

Perhaps in an effort to put the chaos behind them, the Jumbo-Visma team went on the attack before the mythic Arenberg Forest. Seemingly the race was over for all but a few. Pre-race favorites like, Mads Pedersen and Van der Poel were quick to follow along with other hopefuls like former winner John Degenkolb, Italy’s Filippo Ganna, Switzerland’s Stefan Küng, as well as Van der Poel’s teammate Jasper Philipsen, an unexpected guest and a true threat as he was the fastest sprinter in the bunch.

Read more: ‘It's very sad and disappointing’- Cruel Paris-Roubaix leaves Jumbo-Visma rueing missed opportunity

Behind, it was simply game over, as the peloton would never seen them again.

As the group approached Roubaix no one could seemingly gain the upper hand.

The Carrefour de l’Arbre is often considered the last occasion for a rider to break free. It is the race’s last five-star cobble sector, stretching out for over two kilometers with some of the worst cobbles in the race. And once again Le Carrefour did not disappoint.

Degenkolb crashed. Van Aert attacked. Van der Poel chased. Then Van Aert flatted. It could not happen at a worse moment. But that is Paris-Roubaix, a race where chance and circumstance are always on centre stage. Van der Poel, having the ride of his life, simply launched, authoring a huge solo effort that would put the finishing on touches on a monumental masterpiece.

Only a year ago, Van der Poel was one of the day's biggest losers, but today he was simply untouchable. What a difference a year makes.

Peter Sagan, winner in 2018, readies for his final Paris-Roubaix. Unfortunately for the Slovak, he would be forced out of the race after crashing on an early cobble sector.

Jasper Philipsen readies for the race. The Belgian sprinter turned out to be one of the big stars of the day, eventually finishing second behind his teammate Mathieu van der Poel.

The peloton rounds the corner of the opening sector of cobbles outside of Troisvilles.

As soon as the race hit the cobbles Mathieu van der Poel could be seen at the front.

Les geants du nord, oversize folk statues, make up part of the scenery so unique to Paris-Roubaix.

Van Aert leads van der Poel and Degenkolb through the mythic Arenberg forest.

Paris-Roubaix is never won in the Arenberg Forest, but it is often lost. This Bingoal rider is just one of its latest victims.

2019 world champion Mads Pedersen leads Van der Poel over the Warlaing a Brillon sector of cobbles.

Stefan Küng and John Degenkolb lead the race over the Auchy-en-Orchies sector.

Van der Poel launches on the Carrefour de l’Arbre.

The fans that packed the roads would be the only ones left in the race to see van der Poel as his opponents all struggled behind.

World Hour Record holder Filippo Ganna led the chase behind Van der Poel in the Carrefour de l’Arbre.

Inside the historic Roubaix velodrome Van der Poel savors victory along with his teammate Jasper Philipsen, who along with Van Aert is a lap down.

On the infield after the race, Belgian Yves Lampaert reflects on the disastrous performance of his Soudal - Quick-Step team. The team that dominated the cobbled Classics for more than 20 years has only been a shadow of itself this year.

Philipsen, Van der Poel and Van Aert do podium honors.

In the Roubaix showers, John Degenkolb puts another Roubaix behind him, not to mention a fair amount of frustration. The veteran German was having the race of his his life until his crash in the Carrefour de l’Arbre.

Mathieu van der Poel reflects on his most recent masterpiece during the post-race press conference. And after becoming only the fourth rider in history to have won Milan-Sanremo and Paris-Roubaix in the same year, he can be more than satisfied with his classics campaign.


READ MORE

EF Education-EasyPost riders at the Tour de France 2025

Tour de France 2025 team ratings: How all 23 squads stack up on the first rest day

Rouleur assesses the best and the worst-performing teams after 10 days of racing

Leggi di più
Tadej Pogacar

Powerplay: Tadej Pogačar puts on show of strength in the face of Visma's numerical force

World champion may have relinquished the race lead for the second time at this Tour, but he still remains in the driving seat

Leggi di più
Tour de France 2025 stage 11

‘We are the underdogs, so we have to be creative’ - A tactical masterclass or blunder from Visma-Lease a Bike at the Tour de France?

The Dutch team rode an aggressive race on stage 10 which ultimately gave them the day’s victory with Simon Yates, but failed to crack an...

Leggi di più
Ben Healy

‘His power file is extraordinary’ - Ben Healy and the magic of yellow

Inside the EF Education-EasyPost rider's monster effort on stage 10 of the Tour de France, which has put him in the yellow jersey going into...

Leggi di più
Simon Yates

Watts Occurring, Tour de France stage 10: A new yellow jersey and the best Yates we've ever seen?

Listen to the latest episode of Watts Occurring with Tom Fordyce and Luke Rowe

Leggi di più
Tour de France 2025 stage 11 preview: Sprint or breakaway?

Tour de France 2025 stage 11 preview: Sprint or breakaway?

A smattering of climbs in the final half of the stage could be enough to foil the sprinters' chances of a rare bunch finish in...

Leggi di più

READ RIDE REPEAT

JOIN ROULEUR TODAY

Get closer to the sport than ever before.

Enjoy a digital subscription to Rouleur for just £4 per month and get access to our award-winning magazines.

SUBSCRIBE