Unlucky Roubaix for Milram

Team Milram were hoping for top-10 finish at Paris-Roubaix, but several crashes involving riders from other teams put an end to their challenge with Ralf Grabsch ending as the team's best placed finisher in 26th, over seven minutes behind the winner. "I was good today, but not good enough," said the German. "Pozzato's crash held me up, and I used up a lot of strength getting back to the peloton. Unfortunately that was when the group with Boonen took off. I kept on fighting and felt good, but didn't have a chance."

Despite the setbacks, team manager Gerry van Gerwen was satisfied with his team's race. "The first half of the race went as planned," he said. "Unfortunately we had some bad luck in the Arenberg Forest, when there was a crash directly in front of Niki, which caused him to lose contact with the peloton. And then Ralf was held up by Filippo Pozzato's crash. That was it for our hopes for a top finish. But I am still satisfied with our aggressive performance."

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