While I am a tech journalist by job title, what I really like doing is flying free with my camera when my tech spotting is all done for the day. No other race provides an opportunity to capture the pain that professional cyclists endure like Paris-Roubaix, and so, once I'd polished off my women's tech gallery and my men's tech gallery on consecutive days, I was free to roam around the centre of the velodrome to capture whatever caught my eye.
Last year I took you inside the Roubaix showers. That's a fun gallery too if you're curious about sport's strangest hall of fame, but it was too much of a scrum this year, given it was Tadej Pogačar's first visit.
Without further ado, he's a load of cyclists looking anywhere from elated to utterly wrecked. I hope you enjoy it.
Let's start with some joy as Pauline Ferrand-Prévot crosses the line.
Not everyone was as cheery as this it must be said - Most riders looked like they'd been through hell.
Daniek Hengeveld sat alone at the finish, staring off into nothing really.
Lizzie Deignan, on her last Paris-Roubaix, was worn out but seemed to be loving it nonetheless.
I imagine this about sums up the weekend for a lot of riders.
The Fenix–Deceuninck team all seemed happy, sat in the sun against the barriers swapping war stories.
Collapsing onto the (fake) grass was par for the course for many.
Despite fighting for a podium, Marianne Vos seemed utterly unphased by the work she'd just done.
Don't read too much into this, she wasn't actually angry at anyone...
And was in a jovial enough mood to express the fatigue for me.
Former winner Alison Jackson refuels from the floor, surrounded by staff and photographers.
All smiles in the mixed zone afterwards though, and happy to talk to many journalists.
British rider Imogen Wolff was also in high spirits in the press area.
Carys Lloyd, the youngest rider ever at Paris-Roubax Femmes, tells tales of how her computer smashed mid-race, leaving her to ride the remainder on feel.
Maud Rijnbeek of VolkerWessels was clearly suffering a little.
Vittoria Guazzini had an excellent thousand-yard stare.
Chloe Dygert was clearly in some distress, having gotten her fuelling a little wrong.
Chiara Consonni embraces Zoe Backstedt at the finish.
Letizia Borghesi was suitably dust-encrusted by the end of the race. I don't think her podium place had kicked in yet.
Flora Perkins shows off her hands to the cameras.
All smiles for Tadej Pogačar at the sign-on.
Considering the effort needed to win his third Roubaix, Mathieu van der Poel looked relatively composed as he entered the velodrome.
Second on debut isn't bad, but it's not what Pogačar was after.
Ganna, shortly before necking a cherry juice, then a Fanta, then a handful of gummy bears.
The scrum of photographers around Wout van Aert was something to behold.
Colby Simmons, at the end of a whirlwind fortnight that included signing for a new team, riding the Tour of Flanders, and then Paris-Roubaix, just before heading for the showers.
Alec Segaert of Lotto had been in the wars.
I think the emotion of finishing finally bubbled over here.
Bloody knees were two a penny.
Josh Tarling was the most salt-encrusted rider I could find.
His Olympics tattoo showed through his Ineos jersey.
Young Brit Matthew Brennan had to field plenty of questions, but did so with good grace.
Giacomo Nizzolo had also been in the wars.
Considering I heard some riders complaining of broken ribs, I think he probably got away lightly.
The Unibet Titema Rockets riders seemed shell-shocked after their first-ever Roubaix.
Biniam Girmay appareared pretty composed after the race.
Fred Wright was all smiles, reclined on the floor and seemed to be soaking it all in.
Rasmus Pedersen of Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale couldn't rehydrate fast enough.
He was clearly in some degree of discomfort.
Cees Bol of XDS-Astana was similarly gassed.
I did go in the showers briefly. It's a strange place to be, with riders washing surrounded by about 20 photographers.
Colby Simmons assessed his wounds before heading for his first Roubaix shower.
Off comes the finger tape.
Jack Rootkin-Gray had some excellent helmet dust lines.
Despite having to take some time off with a virus, Kasper Asgreen still raced, then had the traditional wash.
Taco van der Hoorn emerges from his cubicle, ready to face the evening.
After the press conferences, Mads Pedersen rides off back to his team bus for a well earned dinner.
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