As it happened: Speed record broken as fan favourite puts on a masterclass at Paris-Roubaix 2026
Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) out sprinted Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) with Jasper Stuyven (Soudal-QuickStep) completing the podium
The media has, understandably, been focused on defending three time champion, Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) and world champion, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) before the start of this race.
Bonjour, and welcome to Cyclingnews' live report of the 123rd running of the men's Paris-Roubaix. Otherwise known as the 'Hell of the North'.
As usual, there is a lot of tech to look at with everyone going for slightly different methods to tackle to jagged cobbles of northern France...
>>> Will this different bike setup help Wout van Aert bag a Paris-Roubaix victory?
Sign on is well underway for the riders after the team presentation last night. There is just over half an hour until the riders get racing.
Pogačar believes that he may not need to get away solo to take the Hell of the North...
Patrick Lefevere looked at the likely outcome of today but also a look back at the late Franco Ballerini...
Just under 15 minutes to the official start. The riders have just started the neutral zone in Compiègne,
Just over 5km to the official start.
🚩The peloton leaves Compiègne, Paris-Roubaix 2026 is underway!🚩Le peloton s’élance de Compiègne. C’est parti pour #ParisRoubaix 2026 ! pic.twitter.com/DSVVG5d0IhApril 12, 2026
As we wait for the start, why not have a go at our little quiz we put together! Can you name every podium from the last decade? I'll give you a clue, Van der Poel is in a few of them!
Just 1km to the official start.
There will be a delayed start as there are some mechanicals.
Fabian Lienhard (Tudor) makes it back into the peloton.
Nickolas Zukowsky (Pinarello-Q36.5) is one of the first riders to attack.
Van der Poel and three of his teammates are right at the back of the peloton.
Silvan Dillier (Alpecin-Premier Tech) and a few other big names just slipping into the early move. That sees it dragged back, though. The former Swiss champion was second in this race behind the great Peter Sagan.
Three riders get away from Unibet Rose Rockets, Bahrain Victorious and NSN. They have a pretty decent gap on the chasing group and then the peloton.
10km of racing done and the average speed is a staggering 57kph!
The leading trio have 15" on the peloton.
Rear puncture for Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates-XRG).
The break is Matevž Govekar (Bahrain Victorious), Riley Sheehan (NSN) and Martijn Rasenberg (Unibet Rose Rockets). They still have 15" gap. Several riders in the gap.
The leaders have been joined by a rider from Decathlon-CMA CGM. But the gap has dropped to just 5".
New attacks leaving the front of the peloton.
Cees Bol (Decathlon-CMA CGM) is the man who joins the leaders.
Breakaway caught!
New attacks go straight away, though. Led by Bahrain Victorious and Decathlon-CMA CGM. Yves Lampaert (Soudal-Quickstep) trying to be stealthy and get into the break.
The two clear are Alessandro Borgo (Bahrain Victorious) and the very talented Stan Dewulf (Decathlon-CMA CGM).
Modern Adventure leading a new move but too many follow and that gets nowhere.
Flanders-Baloise and XDS-Astana try to get involved, but they are quickly brought back.
It is just wave after wave of attacks in the peloton. Dewulf and Borgo are still clear by about 5", though.
Slovakian champion, Lukáš Kubiš (Unibet Rose Rockets) and Matthew Brennan (Visma-Lease a Bike) are two standout names right at the very back of the peloton. Brennan finished 44th on debut last year after showing very good legs in support of Van Aert.
Modern Adventure get a rider across to Dewulf and Borgo.
A huge attack comes from the peloton and that spells an end to the breakaway yet again.
NSN lead a new move and is caught by a few others including Asian and Kazakhstani champion, Yevgeniy Fedorov (XDS-Astana). But, again, nothing doing.
Tomáš Kopecký and Matyáš Kopecký both riding for Unibet Rose Rockets. The two brothers also have their sister, Julia Kopecký racing for SD Worx-Protime. An amazing day for the Kopecký family.
Van Aert, Laporte and Ganna, among others, coming back into the peloton after several riders stop for a nature break.
Emīls Liepiņš (Pinarello-Q36.5) is one of the riders who launches a new move but, again, nothing doing.
Flanders-Baloise launches a new move with Zukowsky and a Tudor rider following but some of the big teams are now getting involved with UAE Team Emirates-XRG starting to control things.
A large group have a decent gap including Kamil Małecki and Zukowsky from Pinarello-Q36.5.
Visma-Lease a Bike try to get a man in the break and this may spell the end for this latest move.
A new move goes and Tadej Pogačar himself is right in the mix for the breakaway with 50km to the first cobbled sector.
Pogačar sits up and more moves go yet again.
25 years since Servais Knaven won this race. Today, his daughter, Mirre of EF Education-Oatly, races the same cobbles...
So many attacks but nothing is getting away. With this strong tailwind, there is a very big chance that there will be no breakaway at all today.
Groupama-FDJ United now getting involved in the latest moves. Bahrain Victorious and several Modern Adventure riders also at the front. No gap formed yet, though.
Lotto-Intermarche get a solo rider clear but he has a long long line leading the peloton. 54kph average speed so far after just over an hour.
The moves are just utterly ridiculous. So many moves as Visma-Lease a Bike, Ineos Grenadiers and UAE Team Emirates-XRG are trying to get into the break for the first time.
Fedorov tries to go, yet again. Flying at about 70kph!
The peloton is stretched right out in a massive line and some splits re starting to appear. Van der Poel and Pogačar not in it but lots of UAE riders as well as Oliver Naesen (Decathlon-CMA CGM) and Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek). Previous winner, John Degenkolb (Picnic-PostNL) and former podium sitter Yves Lampaert (Soudal-QuickStep) also in this huge group.
🖖 The peloton is split in 2 ! Cassure dans le peloton ! ⛓️💥#ParisRoubaix 😈 pic.twitter.com/K3kXNttSwRApril 12, 2026
There's a lot of panic in the peloton with Visma-Lease a Bike frantically riding on the front. More riders trying to bridge the gap between the peloton and the break. Another Visma rider now kick clear and it is down to Alpecin-Premier Tech and Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe leading the chase.
Pogačar coming back to the peloton after a nature break with Mick van Dijke (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe). He has a lot of teammates in the front group. Very interesting situation.
Dillier closes things down with Van der Poel in his wheel and the peloton is back together again.
A brief hiatus in attacks comes and goes as another move starts, led by Groupama-FDJ United.
Pogačar and Ganna still out the back with the world champion now in the wind. A small moment where the cars weren't with them. But now they get back in.
🏁 184km🚴🏻♂️🚴🏻♂️🚴🏻♂️🚴🏻♂️🚴🏻♂️🚴🏻♂️🚴🏻♂️🚗All back together and riders who had stopped, like Tadej Pogačar, are returning to the bunch.Le peloton s'est reformé et des coureurs qui s'étaient arrêtés, comme Tadej Pogacar, retrouvent leur place. #ParisRoubaix 😈 pic.twitter.com/3mb9v0QVY2April 12, 2026
Cofidis tried a new move and, for a moment, it looked like he'd be allowed to go. A few more saw this as a chance and the fight gets going all over again.
20km to go until the first cobbled sector, the Troisvilles à Inchy.
A few riders having to unclip right at the back of the peloton. But no-one goes down.
The pace rockets in the peloton with just over 10km to the first sector of the day. Sector 30, Troisvilles à Inchy.
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Ineos Grenadiers now appears on the front of the peloton for Ganna.
So, no breakaway today. The peloton will hit the cobbles all together.
Visma-Lease a Bike, Uno-X Mobility, Decathlon-CMA CGM, Ineos Grenadiers, Alpecin-Premier Tech and UAE Team Emirates-XRG all on the front of the peloton with 165km to go.
Bike change for Niklas Märkl (Pinic-PostNL). A nightmare time to get a mechanical with about 3km to the cobbles.
Sector 30, first cobbles
Onto the sector 30, Troisvilles à Inchy. The pace is extremely high and, leading onto it, is Edoardo Affini (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Josh tarling (Ineos Grenadiers).
Tarling flicking his elbow, he doesn't want to lead for too long.
Connor Swift (Ineos Grenadiers) and Matthias Vacek (Lidl-Trek) moving to the front too on the early cobbles.
Several punctures on this first sector of cobbles with Lorenzo Milesi (Movistar) being one of them.
Stafan Bissegger (Decathlon-CMA CGM) rolled off the front but, as they leave the cobbles, he sits up with an XDS-Astana rider going over the top.
More mechanicals and punctures very early on.
Mike Teunissen (XDS-Astana) is the rider who is solo out front.
So many mechanicals and punctures with various teams involved.
Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility) was one of the riders caught out.
Puncture for Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) and he stops for a bike change. Lidl-Trek said that their new special double inner tube/tubeless tyres were puncture proof. The first cobbled sector proves otherwise.
Sector 29, Viesly à Quiévy
Teunissen leads onto the Viesly à Quiévy sector with about 10" on the peloton. Pedersen 38" out the back.
Pedersen trying to quickly make his way through the cars but is being kicked about all over the pave.
So much wasted energy for the former world champion.
UAE Team Emirates-XRG leading the peloton with Pogačar in fourth wheel.
Molano leading the peloton and Teunissen is caught.
They leave sector 29. Pedersen had to negotiate a few stopped cars who were servicing riders. He joins William Blume Levy (Uno-X Mobility) at the back of the peloton. So many riders stopping with issues. Including Toon Aerts (Lotto-Intermarche).
Pedersen is back in the peloton. A teammate will now come back for him to try and move him up but he needs to try and stay calm. Something I would definitely be struggling with in his situation. Fortunately, I only have to do it on Pro Cycling Manager!
The riders are surrounded by the yellow flowers of the Oil Seed Rape fields.
Front puncture for former Tour of Flanders winner, Kasper Asgreen (EF Education-EasyPost).
Mechanical for Titouan Fontaine (Groupama-FDJ United).
UAE Team Emirates-XRG, Alpecin-Premier Tech and Soudal-Quickstep leading the peloton as they finish sector 28.
Mechanical for Wout Van Aert! He has Owain Doull coming back for him. Bike change for Abrahamsen as well. A UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider with an issue too.
Antonio Morgado (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) leads the peloton now. Pogačar is right up at the front with Florian Vermeersch.
Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Intermarche) out of the back.
Sector 27 done and very dusted. The dust cloud is huge.
Issues for Lampaert now as well. He's out the back on the Briaste sector as the head of the bunch leaves that sector.
Groups all over the road with Kubis being one of the riders caught out.
Huge gap between the front group and the second. Mikkel Bjerg leading the way for UAE, now.
Puncture for Lukáš Kubiš.
Bjerg is going flat out on the front of the peloton. The team of the world champion are destroying the peloton.
Lots of Visma and Ineos riders in the second group that are over 30" down. Molano and Oliveira in that group as well after doing their job for UAE.
The pace eases a bit and more teams come to the front of what is left of the peloton.
There's a bit of crosswind on this sector. Pogačar in second wheel. Van der Poel in about seventh wheel. Van Aert, Pedersen and Ganna all poorly placed with the latter right at the back of the peloton.
Puncture for Per Strand Hagenes (Visma-Lease a Bike). He drops out of the front peloton.
Ganna still at the back with Tibor Del Grosso (Alpecin-Premier Tech) and Marco Haller (Tudor) as Morgado is dropped.
Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), Biniam Girmay (NSN) and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) all looking good early doors.
Rasmus Tiller (Uno-X Mobility) leads his team's train as Abrahamsen is in the second group.
Bjerg back on the front of the peloton.
Tarling coming down after a frustrating season so far...
>>> ‘I feel dead fit but just slow’ – Josh Tarling lacking top-end power for Paris-Roubaix
Turner just about to get back on as they start this three start sector.
Pogačar looks very uncomfortable on the Shimano neutral bike. Alpecin-Premier Tech and Visma-Lease a Bike lead the front peloton.
Puncture for former winner, Dylan van Baarle (Soudal-Quickstep).
Sector 21, Maing à Monchaux-sur-Écaillon
Pogačar getting very frustrated with no team car near him yet. All his riders drop back apart from Vermeersch.
Puncture for Dillier.
Pogačar is about 45" down on the now Visma led peloton. Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe also leading the bunch with Alpecin-Premier Tech.
Pogačar finally has a car who has come to the middle of the group. They're very panicked.
Bike change for Pogačar. He shouts at the TV moto to get out of the way. He seems very rattled.
Morgado is now with Pogačar and now Politt is dropping back, too. He is now 45" behind the peloton.
It is the longest gap between sectors now, so a good opportunity for UAE to bring things back together again.
Bjerg and Politt drop back for Pogačar. They are frantically chasing for the world champion.
The pace is very high in both groups. Pogačar is now 35" off the back of the peloton that is led by Visma-Lease a Bike and Alpecin-Premier Tech.
Sector 20, Haveluy à Wallers
A few years ago, Visma-Lease a Bike detonated the race on this sector. Now, they are working with Alpecin-Premier Tech with a 20" lead over the Pogačar group. Pinarello-Q36.5 doing a lot of work in the bunch as well for Fred Wright. Ineos Grenadiers also well placed.
Pogačar down to just Politt in the chase group. If he has an issue on this four star sector, that could be that for the world champion.
Philipsen leading the peloton ahead of Van der Poel out front as Pogačar is doing it on his own and is now 30" out the back.
Attack!
The three time winner goes all in with 103km to go! This is the best way to completely kill off the chances of Pogačar.
Van der Poel is not going full, yet. He has Laurence Pithie (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) on his wheel. Philipsen, Pedersen, Van Aert, Hoole, Laporte, Bissegger and a few others.
Off sector 20 and Van der Poel looks around to ask for help. Will anyone give it with 7km to go to the Arenberg?
The answer is yes. Van Aert comes through with Teunissen and Hoole. Van der Poel looking very twitchy. 18" back to Pogačar.
Into the final 100km and Pogačar has a long line of the domestiques of his main rivals on his wheel.
The front group has eased dramatically with a lot of looking around. Gianni Vermeersch (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) comes back to the front.
Pogačar joins the second group on the road and is now about 10" off the back of the front of the race as they head to the Arenberg.
Florian Vermeersch drops back and drags Tadej Pogačar back into the lead group. Vermeersch straight to the front.
Pogačar having to make another effort to move up as Brennan sits up and Van Aert leads onto the cobbles.
Huge crowds on the trench today as the riders battle to try and move up off the main racing line. Van Aert and Van der Poel well placed.
Del Grosso is taking the wheel off his bike and puts it on his leader's bike.
Van der Poel is now 1'30" behind the lead group of seven that includes Van Aert and Pogačar.
Van der Poel finally gets the bike change from his team car and leaves the Arenberg. He actually looks remarkably calm.
Leaders:
Tadej Pogačar (UAD)
Wout Van Aert (TVL)
Chrisophe Laporte (TVL)
Mads Pedersen (LTK)
Jasper Stuyven (SOQ)
Laurence Pithie (RBH)
Stefan Bissegger (DCT)
Sector 18, Wallers à Hélesmes
Van der Poel is now closing a bit. 1'58" down as Pogačar pushes the pace out front.
25" between the lead group and the first chase group that includes Ganna.
Pithie bouncing his bike to check if he has a puncture.
Ganna only has Jordi Meeus (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) with him just 19" off the front.
Van der Poel comes to the front of the main chase group and is now over two minutes down.
Van der Poel now has Philipsen to help him with a few other riders working hard for their own chances.
Ganna and Meeus are now just 5" off the front group with 85km to go.
Sector 17, Hornaing à Wandignies
Pogačar (UAD)
Van Aert (TVL)
Laporte (TVL)
Pedersen (LTK)
Ganna (IGD)
Pithie (RBH)
Meeus (RBH)
Stuyven (SOQ)
Bissegger (DCT)
Chase group 1 +41"
Van der Poel group +1'39"
Another puncture for Ganna who has given so much to get back to the front is now out the back again as Pogačar is really pushing on this four star sector.
Philipsen leads Van der Poel onto sector 17 and the defending champion looks locked in and is very focused.
80km to go as Ganna is now over 40 seconds back. Van der Poel is slowly closing the gap at 1'27" now.
Pogačar is giving it a lot of welly on this sector as Meeus is being distanced after all the work he did with Ganna to get back in.
Van der Poel has Politt, Brennan, Turner and a couple of others on his wheel, but he has destroyed that chase group.
Van der Poel drops Brennan and catches Milan, but Pogačar has dragged the gap back to 1'33" as Van Aert comes through at the front.
Pithie with a puncture! Meeus stops to give him his wheel.
Meeus and Pithie now both riding with the Belgian sprinter working for his leader who has looked in amazing form.
Leaders have 49" on Pithie and Meeus then 1'06" to the Ineos led Ganna group and then 1'33" to the Van der Poel group.
Van der Poel has Politt, Heiduk and Milan on his wheel. Three riders who will absolutely not work with him.
PIthie leads Meeus behind on the Warlaing à Brillon as he tries to get back to the leaders.
Van der Poel is flying, just 1'27" further back than where he wants to be.
Milan punctures out of the Van der Poel group.
Bike change
Tadej Pogačar with another bike change! This is bizarre how many issues the big leaders are having.
Bike change!
Pogačar has already gone passed the Belgian as Pedersen, who had his issue long before everyone else, is puching the pace with Stuyven. This race is bonkers!
Van Aert looks to be dropping Pithie who has been having to push for a while since his puncture.
Van der Poel starting to distance Politt and Heiduk in his quest to return to the front, but he is still 1'26" back on the leaders.
Van der Poel makes it to the Ganna group at 1'14".
Pogačar back with Pedersen, Laporte, Stuyven and Bissegger.
Van Aert with Pithie and Meeus at 25" as Laporte tries to slow things down in the lead group.
Van der Poel and Ganna chatting in their group that are now 1'07" behind the leaders.
Sector 14, Beuvry-la-Forêt à Orchies
Pogačar back onto the front with Van Aert, Meeus and Pithie 17" down on the leaders. Just over a minute back to Van der Poel, Ganna and the rest.
Pithie is pushing hard and passes Van Aert, dropping Meeus. They're together again now at just 16" back on the leaders.
Van Aert, Pithie and Meeus are so close but so far from the back of the leading group with 60km to go.
1'02" back from the front, Van der Poel and Ganna are working together well.
Van Aert, Pithie and Meeus rejoin the leaders again.
Meeus goes to the front of the lead group for Pithie on this Orchies sector.
The average speed is sat at 50kph in this astonishingly fast race. Van der Poel now just 37" down!
Van der Poel has Gianni Vermeersch, Ganna and Tim van Dijke on his wheel.
The contrast between Van der Poel and his issues with Pogačar when he had his issues. Van der Poel has been cool, calm and collected. Pogačar has been far happier since getting back into the peloton.
Politt gets back onto Van der Poel's group again. Pogačar could maybe be getting a teammate back.
This is very cagey in the front. Van der Poel is now 22" behind them.
Sector 12, Auchy-lez-Orchies à Bersée
Wout Van Aert attacks! Pogačar chasing hard and makes it back to him.
Van Aert, Pogačar and Pedersen go clear and drop the rest. 22" back to a violently chasing Van der Poel.
Ganna dropped by Van der Poel as he is closing the gap rapidly.
Van Aert gaps Pogačar! But the world champion gets back to the Belgian.
Van der Poel had to unclip as a moto was in the way with Tim van Dijke on his wheel at 23" from Pogačar and Van Aert.
van Dijke now working with Van der Poel as he has Meeus and Pithie ahead of him.
Yet another puncture for Ganna. Meeus actually in that group, not the Vand der Poel group.
Pogačar and Van Aert have 20" on Pedersen with the Van der Poel group about to catch him at 28".
Sector 11, Mons-en-Pévèle
One of the hardest sectors. The second five star sector is led onto by Pogačar. Van Aert is just sitting on his wheel.
Van Aert gives Pogačar a turn to try and use his superior bike handling to test Pogačar.
Pedersen closes to 12" to Pogačar and Van Aert with Van der Poel now 32" back.
Pogačar asked Van Aert through and the Belgian says no.
Pogačar attacked again on the bridge but Van Aert stayed with him.
Sector 10, Mérignies à Avelin
Van Aert is riding with Pogačar but isn't going hard as he has Laporte behind. The chasers are now down to 32" again.
Pogačar taking a chance to have a stretch and a rest as Van Aert taps through.
Attack
Tadej Pogačar goes once again but Wout Van Aert is almost grazing the rubber of the Slovenian's tyre.
Van der Poel goes into the ditch on a corner but still manages to keep riding for now. Maybe a puncture from that. He's now at the back of the chase group.
The gap to the chasers has gone out to 42" as Van Aert and Pogačar ride well together and the legs go out of the chase. The UAE Team Emirates-XRG and Visma-Lease a Bike cars are coming across to the leaders.
The second part of this sector is two star.
30km to go and the leading duo are holding around 40" to the leaders.
While all this goes on and the leaders are about 2km to the next sector, don't forget the women's race is on as well! Follow the live report in the link below...
>>> Paris-Roubaix Femmes LIVE: Rosa Klöser is the sole breakaway rider ahead of the first cobbled sector
Sector 7, Cysoing à Bourghelles
Pogačar leads onto the cobbles again with Van Aert halfwheeling the world champion.
I think Pogačar is a bit uncomfortable, or at least more than he should be on the cobbles. He is stretching his back a lot and getting out the saddle whenever he can.
Sector 6, Bourghelles à Wannehain
Van Aert and Pogačar taking it steady a bit on these lesser star sectors as they wait for the four and five star sectors to come.
The four star Camphin-en-Pévèle is just 3km away now wih 41" back to Van der Poel, Pedersen, Laporte, Stuyven, Bissegger and, apparently, Mick van Dijke, not Tim.
Average speed up at 49.2kph, which is well on track to be the fastest ever Paris-Roubaix.
Van der Poel ups the tempo in the chase with 35" gap now. They are working together very well. 20km to go as Van Aert gets a chat with his team car.
Sector 5, Camphin-en-Pévèle
Onto the final four star sector of the day with Pogačar leading Van Aert. 35" back to the chasers.
There's a bit of a cross head wind for the riders on this sector. He may wait to launch until the final 5 star sector.
The gap is closing to the chasers! Van der Poel and Pedersen are on a mission. 28" gap now!
Van Aert still halfwheeling Pogačar as the world champion continues not to launch.
Attack!
Tadej Pogačar goes from the start! But a double wheel slide sees Van Aert right back in his wheel.
Van der Poel splitting the chase group at 17" with Pogačar unable to drop Van Aert.
Everyone back with Van der Poel as the gap drifts out to 23" again.
And that is the five star sector done.
There's 6km to go until the penultimate sector.
Van Aert is looking superb on the wheel of Pogačar. He is refusing to come through until now. 30" back to Van der Poel, Pedersen, Stuyven, Van Dijke, Laporte and Bissegger.
10km to go and this looks almost certain that it will be between Van Aert and Pogačar.
Pogačar leads the whole sector and Van Aert comes through as soon as they go onto the asphalt. Just 6km to go.
It is a bit of a drag uphill as they head into Roubaix with 4km to go.
Flamme Rouge!
They head into the Vélodrome André-Pétrieux with Tadej Pogačar leading Wout Van Aert.
Last lap. 400 metres to go.
Wout Van Aert of Visma-Lease a Bike wins the fastest ever Paris-Roubaix!! Tadej Pogačar is defeated!!
Van der Poel embraces Van Aert who is in floods of tears. Laporte, elated for his leader, gives him a huge hug as well.
Van Aert dedicates the win to his late friend and teammate, Michael Goolaerts, who died after having a heart attack at Paris-Roubaix in 2018. He said it has been his goal to win this race ever since then so he could point to the sky for Michael.
Wout Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) takes the win ahead of Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and Jasper Stuyven (Soudal-QuickStep) to win an extremely emotional Monument victory...
It is almost a certainty that Tadej Pogačar will return to try yet again to take the win after saying he was "cooked" with three punctures, three bikes changes and a long chase largely alone before Arenberg.
Tadej Pogačar after the finish: "No, it (luck) wasn't (on my side). But, I think a lot of people had a lot of problems with the punctures. I had three punctures today, and three bikes changes so, it was not ideal but I had a strong team to bring me back just before Arenberg but then I was already cooked and when I was with Wout (Van Aert), there was not much freshness in the legs to really maybe have a chance to drop him on the cobbles. I saw quite fast that it would be mission impossible and I gave my best in the sprint but he won (on the) Champs Elysee, so it is hard to beat him.
Wout van Aert lifts the cobblestone trophy above his head as the winner of the 2026 Paris-Roubaix!
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