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Paris-Roubaix 2021 - Live coverage

By Barry Ryan
last updated

Follow all the action from the men's race this Sunday

Paris-Roubaix 2021
Paris-Roubaix 2021 - Start List
Paris-Roubaix 2021 – The Essential Preview
How to watch Paris-Roubaix 2021 – live TV and streaming
10 riders to watch at the 2021 men's Paris-Roubaix

The riders to watch at the 2021 Paris-Roubaix

(Image credit: Getty Images)
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The peloton has gathered in Compiègne for the first edition of the men's Paris-Roubaix in over two years. Postponed and then cancelled in 2020, and then postponed once more this spring, l'Enfer du Nord finally takes place on the first Sunday in October in what are set to be extremely testing conditions.

The roll-out is at 11.00am local time, with the peloton set to hit kilometre zero at 11.15. The first of 30 sectors of cobblestones comes after 96km at Troisvilles.

Rain has been general over Compiègne and northern France overnight, and this will be the first wet edition of Paris-Roubaix since... yesterday, when Lizzie Deignan soloed to victory in treacherous conditions to win the inaugural Paris-Roubaix Femmes. Read ten conclusions from the race here.

The last rain-soaked men's edition of Paris-Roubaix came in 2002, when Johan Museeuw soloed to his third and final win on the famous old velodrome. Some riders in the field today, including Peter Sagan, Sep Vanmarcke, Michal Kwiatkowski and Matteo Trentin, sampled the Hell of the North in miserable weather on stage 5 of the 2014 Tour de France, when Lars Boom claimed stage honours in Arenberg and Vincenzo Nibali placed a hefty downpayment on final overall victory.

Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) is among the top tier of contenders for today's delayed race, though his media duties in midweek were largely devoted to poring over the details of the World Championships road race after Remco Evenepoel queried the Belgian strategy. He did, however, have the time to look ahead to the Queen of the Classics. "It's going to be a big mess when the cobbles are wet," Van Aert told Cyclingnews. "I'm not really in the group of guys looking forward to a wet Roubaix actually. I think it's really dangerous and for me, the race doesn't need all these extra difficulties." Read more here.

Van Aert's eternal rival Mathieu van der Poel, on the other hand, has suggested that a wet Paris-Roubaix would be 'quite cool.' The Dutchman is making his thrice-delayed debut in the race today. "I think it's quite cool if it rains but yeah, it will dangerous, for sure," Van der Poel said. Read more here.

Kasper Asgreen has the chance to complete the rarest Tour of Flanders-Paris-Roubaix double of them all this afternoon. The Dane beat Van der Poel to the line in Oudernaarde in April but has had to wait 6 months rather than 7 days for the chance to add Roubaix to his palmarès. "I’m in a completely different stage of my shape right now," Asgreen said on Thursday. "Had it been week apart, like normal, you could use the confidence that your shape was where it was supposed to be, but now it’s been so long, it’s like starting over." Read the full story here.

The peloton rolls out for the start of Paris-Roubaix beneath steady rain. The riders are negotiating the rain-slicked cobblestones of Compiègne, but they will face rather more daunting cobbles later in the afternoon. They a 7km neutralised zone to navigate before the start proper.

The 30 sectors of pavé

  • 30 : Troisvilles to Inchy (km 96,3 – 2,2 km) ***
  • 29 : Viesly to Quiévy (km 102,8 – 1,8 km) ***
  • 28 : Quiévy to Saint-Python (km 105,4 – 3,7 km) ****
  • 27 : Saint-Python (km 110,1 - 1,5 km) **
  • 26 : Haussy to Saint-Martin-sur-Écaillon (km 116,6 - 0,8 km) **
  • 25 : Saint-Martin-sur-Ecaillon to Vertain (km 120,9 - 2,3 km) ***
  • 24 : Capelle to Ruesnes (km 127,3 - 1,7 km) ***
  • 23 : Artres to Quérénaing (km 136,3 - 1,3 km) **
  • 22 : Quérénaing to Maing (km 138,1 - 2,5 km) ***
  • 21 : Maing to Monchaux-sur-Ecaillon (km 141,2 - 1,6 km) ***
  • 20 : Haveluy to Wallers (km 154,2 - 2,5 km) ****
  • 19 : Trouée d'Arenberg (km 162,4 - 2,3 km) *****
  • 18 : Wallers to Hélesmes (km 168,4 - 1,6 km) ***
  • 17 : Hornaing to Wandignies (km 175,2 - 3,7 km) ****
  • 16 : Warlaing to Brillon (km 182,7 - 2,4 km) ***
  • 15 : Tilloy to Sars-et-Rosières (km 186,2 - 2,4 km) ****
  • 14 : Beuvry-la-Forêt to Orchies (km 192,5 - 1,4 km) ***
  • 13 : Orchies (km 197,5 - 1,7 km) ***
  • 12 : Auchy-lez-Orchies to Bersée (km 203,6 - 2,7 km) ****
  • 11 : Mons-en-Pévèle (km 209,1 - 3 km) *****
  • 10 : Mérignies to Avelin (km 215,1 - 0,7 km) **
  • 9 : Pont-Thibault to Ennevelin (km 218,5 - 1,4 km) ***
  • 8 : Templeuve - L'Epinette (km 223,9 - 0,2 km) *
  • 8 : Templeuve - Moulin-de-Vertain (km 224,4 - 0,5 km) **
  • 7 : Cysoing to Bourghelles (km 230,8 - 1,3 km) ***
  • 6 : Bourghelles to Wannehain (km 233,3 - 1,1 km) ***
  • 5 : Camphin-en-Pévèle (km 237,8 - 1,8 km) ****
  • 4 : Carrefour de l'Arbre (km 240,5 - 2,1 km) *****
  • 3 : Gruson (km 242,8 - 1,1 km) **
  • 2 : Willems to Hem (km 249,5 - 1,4 km) ***
  • 1 : Roubaix - Espace Charles Crupelandt (km 256,3 - 0,3 km) *

-257.7km

Victor Campenaerts (Qhubeka) is the first rider to attack but he isn't given much leeway.

The day's first crash also takes place at the rear of the peloton, with Jonas Vangenechten (B&B Hotels) going down with an EF-Nippo rider. Both men are quickly back on their feet, but that is a pretty dispiriting way to start a race as demanding as this...

Mitch Docker was the EF rider to hit the ground in what is set to be the final race of his career.

-253km

Matteo Trentin and Edward Theuns (Trek-Segafredo) have opened a small gap over the peloton, but they will want some company if their raid is to establish itself as the day's early break.

-250km

-247km

Deceuninck-QuickStep have dispatched Davide Ballerini to try to forge across to this early break, which has prompted a reaction from the peloton. 15 seconds the gap to Trentin, Kanter and Theuns. 

-243km

-241km

-239km

Ludovic Robeet (Bingoal-WB) is alone between the break and the peloton, but closing the gap by himself will not be easy. The Belgian was an impressive winner of Nokere Koerse this spring. 

-236km

Theuns and Kanter are stretching their advantage but there is still plenty of activity at the head of the peloton, with Movistar and Deceuninck-QuickStep both seemingly keen to place a man in the early move if at all possible.

Those accelerations are stretching out the peloton and cutting into Theuns and Kanter's advantage, which has been pared back to 14 seconds. Tim Declercq is very active for Deceuninck-QuickStep at the head of the bunch.

-234km

The driving rain has reduced visibility but when Theuns and Kanter look over their shoulders, they can clearly see the peloton bearing down upon them. Yet still they remain committed to their effort and the gap stays steady at 12 seconds for the time being.

-230km

-228km

-227km

-224km

-221km

-216km

-214km

Greg Van Avermaet (AG2R-Citroen) is also up there. It looks as though the peloton should bring them back before the gap calcifies, but it's not a given either. There are plenty of strongmen in the front group and they seem keen to force the bunch to work to bring them back at the very least.

This front group of 30 riders or so has a lead of 15 seconds over the peloton.

Some of the riders in front include Stefan Kung (Groupama-FDJ), Greg Van Avermaet (AG2R), Tim Declercq, Davide Ballerini (Deceuninck-QuickStep), Daniel Oss (Bora-Hansgrohe), Luke Rowe (Ineos) and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Fenix). Jumbo-Visma also have a representative up here, which begs the question - who will lead the chase? 

-206km

-201km

Bora-Hansgrohe have Daniel Oss in this front group, but Peter Sagan is their leader, and so they are leading the chase in the peloton, a minute down on the 27 leaders.

-200km

A group of almost 30 riders can often be unwieldy but the leaders are combining well for the time being. Astana missed the move altogether, and they have joined Bora is leading the pursuit in the peloton. 

A puncture for Owain Doull forces him out of the break and back to the peloton. Meanwhile, Stefan Küng has crashed while leading the break into a roundabout. He was the only rider to go down from the break, though Jordie Meeus (Bora-Hansgrohe) crashed at the same point in the bunch.

Küng remounted but the Swiss rider looks set to be caught by the peloton. 

-194km

Küng hasn't sat up and waited for the bunch. The Swiss rider is instead ploughing a lone furrow just ahead of the peloton. He should be brought back soon, mind, and that will leave Groupama-FDJ without representation in front. That, in turn, might see Marc Madiot's team join Bora and Astana in riding at the head of the bunch.

-190km

-189km

A couple of names were missing from the original list of escapees. Lotto Soudal have three men up here and Marco Haller is also present for Bahrain Victorious. The current group in full is: Florian Vermeersch, Harry Sweeny, Tosh Van der Sande (Lotto Soudal), Daniel Oss (Bora-Hansgrohe), Davide Ballerini, Tim Declercq (Deceuninck-QuickStep), Edoardo Affini, Nathan Van Hooydonck (Jumbo-Visma), Tom Van Asbroeck (Israel Start-Up Nation), Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Fenix), Toms Skuijns (Trek-Segafredo), Fred Wright, Marco Haller (Bahrain Victorious), Greg Van Avermaet (AG2R Citroen), Stefan Bissegger (EF-Nippo), Andre Carvalho (Cofidis), Gianni Moscon, Luke Rowe (Ineos), Florian Maitre (TotalEnergies), Luke Durbridge, Robert Stannard (BikeExchange), Evaldas Esiskevicius (Delko), Niks Eeekhoof (DSM), Max Walscheid (Qhubeka), Imanol Erviti, Matteo Jorgenson (Movistar), Luca Mozzato (B&B Hotels-KTM).

-186km

-179km

-177km

-174km

-171km

10km to the cobbles at Troisvilles and the tension is palpable in the peloton, with riders scrambling for position at the front.

-169km

A puncture in the break for Marco Haller just ahead of the first sector of cobbles. The Austrian is riding on the rim for the time being, hoping his team car can get up to provide a rapid bike change before he hits Troisvilles.

No team car for Haller, who has to stop and get a wheel change from the neutral car. That takes a little longer, even if the mechanic did it pretty swiftly, but Haller will struggle to get back on. Wright tries to slow the move on his behalf, but it won't be easy.

-164km

-163km

-162km

-161km

Luke Rowe and Gianni Moscon lead the break through this first sector. The bunch has also reached the cobbles at Troisvilles. For many, this will be the point to abandon all hope...

Van Avermaet is at the rear of the break, the Belgian taking a cautious approach through the first sector of cobbles, which is quite treacherous. The peloton, meanwhile, is strung out in a long line.

-157km

The peloton, meanwhile, was splintered into at least three groups by that opening sector of cobbles. One down, 29 to go. This will be a race of elimination...

Matteo Trentin is among the riders caught on the wrong side of the split in the peloton but he might get back on if the pace relents a notch after that first, thunderous passage over the cobbles.

The break hits sector 29 at Viesly with a lead of 2:08 on the peloton.

The break is splintering still further on this second sector, with Tim Declercq among those who risk being left behind. It appears as though the Belgian has a puncture...

-151km

-148km

-146km

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-143km

-141km

-140km

Break:

-136.5km

-135.5km

Sagan is pedalling quite gingerly, and it's not clear if he will be able to make his way back up to the group of favourites. 

Matej Mohoric (Bahrain Victorious), meanwhile, hits the front of the reduced peloton on sector 25 and strings things out once again.

Luke Rowe (Ineos) has correctly deduced that the safest place to be in this race is on the front. The Welshman leads through sector 25 and opens a small gap over his three breakaway companions.

Back in the main peloton, Stefan Küng falls for the third time. The Swiss rider has done well to chase back after his second crash but this might be the end of his race as he waits a long, long time for a replacement bike. 

Yves Lampaert (Deceuninck-QuickStep) is also on the roadside waiting for a new bike and this could torpedo his challenge to boot.

-133km

Rowe has been rejoined by Walscheid, Eekhoff and Vermeersch after sector 25. The Welshman is pedalling smoothly and now he is trying to marshal this four-man move to collaborate with him. 

Luke Rowe (Ineos), Max Walscheid (Qhubeka), Florian Vermeersch (Lotto Soudal) and Nils Eekhoff (DSM) have stretched their lead over the rest of the earlyh break to 31 seconds as they enter sector 24, which is 1.7km in length and rated three stars. The peloton is at 2:35. 

Peter Sagan is still in the race but he is not pedalling fluidly and he appears to be 4:28 down on the leaders and almost two minutes down on the group of favourites. 

Max Walscheid crashes out of the front group on sector 24, and it appears that Luke Rowe had already lost contact, though our television pictures did not show precisely what fate befell the Welshman. Vermeersch and Eekhoff remain in front, 54 seconds clear of what now appears to be a completely fragmented chasing group. And the peloton, such as it is, is now 2:47 back. Word has been reaching us that both Van Aert and Van der Poel have been trying to escape the peloton, but the television cameras have yet to pick that up.

Now we see the 'peloton' which is the third group on the road, composed of 12 riders or so. Wout van Aert, Florian Senechal and Kasper Asgreen are in there, but another dozen or so riders are about to make contact with them. 

John Degenkolb (Lotto Soudal) was among the riders trying to catch the Van Aert group, but the German's wheels slip from under him. He gets back to his feet but he has bike issues and that has stopped him on the side of the road on sector 24.

-125km

-123km

Florian Vermeersch is a Paris-Roubaix debutant, but he has an aptitude for this kind of fare, writes our man in Roubaix Brecht Decaluwé. He has the body to go well over the cobbles: 193cm & 85kg, according to Sporza. He rode cyclo-cross in the junior category, battling it often out with men like Thomas Pidcock and Ben Turner.

-121km

Nils Eekhoff, so controversially disqualified from the under-23 Worlds road race two years, is also making his Paris-Roubaix debut. The two neophytes at the head of the race have raced with considerable poise thus far in the most trying of conditions. Van Aert, Van der Poel et al will hope that they don't have the endurace to cope with that additional hour of racing in the finale of a Monument. 

Florian Senechal (Deceuninck-QuickStep) leads the peloton onto sector 23. Peloton is perhaps a generous description of this group, which also includes his teammates Asgreen and Zdenek Stybar, plus the big favourites Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel. They are 2:50 down on the two young leaders. 

The leaders are on sector 22, as is the chasing group, which trails by 56 seconds. The peloton, meanwhile, is at 2:56.

Some of the names to note in this peloton, which perhaps 30 riders, include Van Aert, Van der Poel, Colbrelli, Mohoric, Stybar, Senechal, Asgreen and Kwiatkowski. 

The stars in that group are a little bereft of water carriers, however, and that might explain why their deficit is stretching out towards 2:55. At the back of the peloton, meanwhile, it looks as though Christophe Laporte (Cofidis) has worn out his brakes, and he has to use his foot to slow down...

-116km

Wout van Aert takes matters in hand in the peloton. The Belgian champion stretches things out on sector 22, with Kwiatkowski on his wheel. Affini, who dropped back from the break, is in third wheel, with Van der Poel fourth, and this surge has split the peloton...

We haven't seen the second group on the road in a while, but we believe Deceuninck-QuickStep still have Davide Ballerini in there. They have Senechal, Asgreen and Stybar in the Van Aert group...

Van der Poel responds to Van Aert's surge with an acceleration of his own once the peloton hits smooth roads between sectors 22 and 21. This race is absolutely brutal... And they haven't even reached the Arenberg...

Christophe Laporte, meanwhile, continue to rest his right foot on his rear wheel to brake, demonstrating both his own remarkable skills - and the limitations of disc brakes... The Frenchman is, not surprisingly, starting to lose contact with the peloton.

The rain has stopped for the first time, per Sporza's Renaat Schotte, but the conditions underwheel remain so treacherous that it will be only a marginal relief at this point.

Deceuninck-QuickStep also have Yves Lampaert in the Van Aert group. The Belgian had a mechanical issue a few sectors ago, but he has managed to get himself back into the race.

-112km

-110km

-108km

-105km

Philippe Gilbert (Lotto Soudal) has managed to fight his way back up to the main peloton ahead of the Wallers and Arenberg combination.

A crash in the peloton as they negotiate a roundabout. Max Schachmann slides off on the left-hand side, with two DSM riders following him, while a pair of AG2R men go down to the right.

-103km

Greg Van Avermaet looks into the camera and exhales as the television motorbike draws up beside him in the peloton. This has already been a most arduous edition of Paris-Roubaix.

Kasper Asgreen rides on the front of the peloton on sector 20 with Colbrelli and Van Aert on his wheel. That effort briefly splits the peloton with Van der Poel caught on the wrong side. Van Aert then takes over in front, now with Asgreen on his wheel. 

Andre Carvalho (Cofidis), meanwhile, has crashed out of the chasing group on sector 20. 

-100km

Yves Lampaert piles on the pressure as this Van Aert group comes off sector 20. Van Aert immediately follows. Van der Poel is a little slower to respond but he makes it across, dragging the rest of the group of 10 or so riders with him.

-98km

The next stretch of cobbles is, of course, the Forest of Arenbeg. Five stars in difficulty, 2.3km in length and a potentially defining moment in this race. It would be a surprise if the Van Aert-Van der Poel group survives the forest intact and with a deficit of 1:46.

-95km

Not for the first time, Van Avermaet is slightly off the back of the chasing group coming into the Arenberg. He's happy to leave a gap in front of him to avoid any crashes out in front of him.

Vermeersch is alone in front in the Arenberg with small lead over Eekhoff, with the chasers closing in behind them.

What a save from Wout van Aert.... A BikeExhcange rider crashes just in front of him, but Van Aert somehow manages to avoid falling. He loses a bit of ground in the group of favourites as Van der Poel piles on the pressure, but he stays in the game at least. 

Eekhoff has rejoined Vermeersch in front. This duo has a minute on the chasers. Van der Poel is 1:49 down with five riders on his wheel. Van Aert has about 15 seconds to make up on Van der Poel.

Mads Pedersen was on Van der Poel's wheel, but he crashes just as the Van der Poel group catches a flagging Luke Rowe. Rowe also goes down in the same incident...

Van der Poel comes off the Arenberg with a couple of QuickStep riders for company, 1:33 down on the leaders and with a handful of seconds over Van Aert, who has joined forces with Sep Vanmarcke. Stybar is battling to stay in contact with Van Aert.

Van der Poel has Guillaue Boivin, Sonny Colbrelli and Matteo Jorgensen for company - but where have Asgreen and Lampaert gone? This fragmented race is proving very difficult to cover with a limited number of tv motorbikes so there are pieces of the puzzle to fill in. It felt as though at least one bike was missing during the Arenberg...

-89km

Vermeersch and Eekhoff remain in front on sector 18, with 26 seocnds on the chasing group, which should still include Van Avermaet, Gianni Moscon, Tim Declercq and Davide Ballerini. The third group on the road contains Van der Poel, Colbrelli, Boivin and Jorgensen, 1:07 down. The Van Aert group is at 1:15.

Vermeersch and Eekhoff exit sector 18 with 34 seconds on their immediate pursuers. Meanwhile, Van Aert and Van der Poel's groups have reformed, and they lie 59 seconds back.

-86km

The location of Deceuninck-QuickStep's riders is always a key factor in the geography of Paris-Roubaix. It appears that Tim Declercq is still in the second group, 25 seconds down on Vermeersch and Eekhoff. Ballerini and Stybar are in the Van Aert-Van der Poel group at 53 seconds. Asgreen and Lampaert, it appears, are chasing back on following punctures. 

-85km

-83km

The leaders hit sector 17 from Hornaing to Wandignies, which is 3.7 km and four stars in difficulty.

Yves Lampaert, meanwhile, has rejoined the Van Aert group, as have Jonas Rutsch and Sebastian Langeveld (EF-Nippo). They are 59 seonds down on the leaders.

-80km

A puncture for Van Hooydonck forces him out of the front group. Van Aert still has teammate Timo Roosen in the front. Tim Declercq, meanwhile, has been distanced. 

And now Roosen crashes into the back of Siskevicius, which means that Van Aert risks having nobody out in front of him from his Jumbo-Visma team. Roosen gives chase in a bid to regain the front.

The front group has splintered in that confusion following sector 17. Roosen has fought his way back up to Van Avermaet and a couple of Lotto Soudal riders. The television pictures, unfortunately, have yet to show us who is out in front.

Sonny Colbrelli, meanwhile, appears unhappy with the collaboration from Boivin, Lecroq and Planckeaert, and he tries to bridge up tio the front alone.

-74km

A crash for Sep Vanmarcke in the Van Aert group at the start of sector 16, and that might be the end of his challenge.

Gianni Moscon sets the tempo at the very head of the race, with Van der Poel's teammate Jasper Philipsen on his wheel in the leading group of six. 

Van der Poel, meanwhile, rejoins the Van Aert group thanks to the pace-making of Jonas Rickaert. This group is 1:36 down on the six leaders.

-70km

Mathieu van der Poel accelerates viciously at the start of sector 15, and this looks like a big, big move...

Van der Poel brings Zdenek Stybar, Yves Lampaert and Heinrich Haussler with him... Van Aert has missed this move and will have to chase.

Van der Poel kicks once again and only Lampaert can follow the second part of his onslaught...

The six leaders - Moscon, Walscheid, Bissegger, Van Asbroeck, Van der Sande and Philipsen - come off sector 15 with a lead of 56 seconds on the first group of chasers and 1;24 on the Van der Peol group.

Van Aert was caught behind when Van der Poel attacked, and the Belgian champion has quite some ground to make up...

Van der Poel has managed to shake Lampaert loose at the end of sector 15, and he is now zooming across to Sonny Colbrelli's group, which contains Siskevicius, Boivin, Planckaert and Lecroq...

-67.5km

-67km

-64km

Van Avermaet gamelhy fought his way up to the leaders ahead of sector 14. Van der Poel leads the chasers at 49 seconds, with the Van Aert group at 1:18.

Gaps open in the front group over sector 14, with Philipsen and Bissegger seemingly caught on the wrong side of the split. 

Van der Poel kicks once again in the chasing group. Boivin, Colbrelli and Planckaert are the only men who can follow...

-62km

-61km

Van der Poel has Sweeny, Boivin, Planckaert and Colbrelli for company in the third group on the road, 53 seconds down on Moscon, Vermeersch and Van Asbroeck.

Timo Roosen has dropped back to the Van Aert group and he is setting the pace on the smooth roads ahead of Orchies with his leader on his wheel. They are 1:22 off the front of the race and half a minute behind Van der Poel.

-59km

Gianni Moscon, who joins Astana next season, is performing very strongly indeed at the head of the race, and this leading trio won;t be easy to bring back...

-57km

The names in this second group: Van der Poel, Philipsen, Colbrelli, Van Avermaet, Bissegger, Walscheid, Planckaert, Boivin, Van der Sande and Sweeny.

-56km

A gear issue for Yves Lampaert in the Van Aert group and he will need a bike change. QuickStep have no riders in the front two groups and they are now lacking firepower to help lead the chase in the Van Aert group.

Van der Poel has Philipsen for coming in the chasing group, but he isn't relying on the Belgian. Instead, he simply piles on the pressure in front, with Colbrelli providing occasional turns. 

-54km

A ceash in the chasing group on sector 12. Walscheid's wheels slip from under him and he brings down Van Avermaet and Van der Sande with him.

-53km

Van der Poel, meanwhile, has surged once again after that crash in the chasing group. Only Colbrelli and the hugely impressive Boivin can hold his wheel.

-51km

Both Van der Poel and Colbrelli endured scares on that sector, but both men managed to stay upright. Van der Poel piles on the pressure again on the exit to the cobbles. Boivin brings Colbrelli back up to him. 

-50km

Break:

-48km

Moscon has not conceded any ground to Van der Poel et al since he struck out alone, and the Italian is still riding strongly on Mons-en-Pévèle. 

The conditions in Mons-en-Pévèle are quite extreme. It's difficult to see the cobbles beneath this thick blanket of mud...

Moscon maintains as smooth a line as he can on the crown of this cobbled section, maintaining his buffer over the chasers behind. He has more than half a minute on Van Asbroeck and Vermeersch and still 1:15 on Van der Poel, Colbrelli and Boivin.

Van der Poel is doing all the work in this third group on the road, but he hasn't clawed back any seconds on Moscon in a while...

The Van Aert group, meanwhile, is closing in slightly on the Van der Poel group. They are at 2:04, while Van der Poel is now 1:21 down on Moscon.

-45km

Van der Poel, Colbrelli and Boivin come off the cobbles at Mons-en-Pevele some 1:22 down on Moscon. They lost ground on both Moscon in front and the Van Aert group behind on that sector.

-43km

The Van Aert group looks to have been reduced in number at Mons-en-Pevele. The Belgian champion is 1:58 down on Moscon and 30 seconds down on Van der Poel.

-41km

-40km

-39km

Moscon maintains his lead over sector 9, where the Van der Poel group catches Vermeersch and Van Asbroeck. 1:27 the gap.

-37km

-36km

-35km

Servais Knaven, winner of a similarly muddy Paris-Roubaix twenty years ago, is in the team car behind Moscon and he gives a thumbs up the television motorbike as it comes by. 1:12 the gap to Van der Poel, Colbrelli, Boivin, Vermeersch and Van Asbroeck.

-34km

This has been a startling display from Moscon, but the time gap on the on-screen graphic suddenly drops from 1:20 to 45 seconds... Information and pictures have been muddled at times today from France Televisions today, so we await confirmation of the precise timing...

-32km

Moscon hits sector 7 with 1:12 on the Van der Poel group and 1:56 on the Van Aert group. This sector from Cysoing to Bourghelles is 1.3km in length and rated at three stars.

-30km

He finally stops at the roadside for a bike change. He gets the change about as quickly as circumstances allow, but between the puncture, the stoppage and the loss of momentum, he will have lost at least 15 or 20 seconds off his lead...

-29km

-28km

Wout van Aert is piling on the pressure in the third group on the road now. They are 1:41 down on the lone leader Moscon but still a minute behind Van der Poel and company.

-27km

-26km

Moscon comes off sector 7 with a lead of 15 seconds on the Van der Poel group. One wonders if the change of bike - and tyre pressure - had an impact on his handling on that sector...

-25km

Moscon hits the 1.1km long sector 6, which is rated at three stars. He has managed to his stride again despite that crash and he remains 13 seconds cleare of Van der Poel, Colbrelli, Boivin, Vermeersch and Van Asbroeck.

Van der Poel et al are inching closer to Moscon on this sector. Van der Poel sits on the front and brings the gap beneath 10 seconds for the first time on the exit of sector 6.

-23km

-22km

Paris Roubaix 2021 118th Edition Denain Roubaix 2577 km 03102021 Gianni Moscon ITA Ineos Grenadiers photo Luca BettiniBettiniPhoto2021

(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

This was Moscon's earlier crash:

-21km

-20km

More drama on sector 5! Guillaume Boivin crashes out of the chasing group, but the rest of the group managed to avoid coming down with him... That leaves four in the chasing group: Van der Poel, Colbrelli, Van Asbroeck and Vermeersch.

Vermeersch takes over the chase effort with Van der Poel on his wheel. Colbrelli is in difficulty but he manages to claw back up to Van der Poel's wheel. Van Asbroeck has been distanced...

-18km

Next up is the Carrefour de l'Arbre - five stars and 2.1km in length. This could be decisive...

-17km

Van der Poel accelerates at the beginning of the sector, but Colbrelli and Vermeersch resist fiercely...

Van der Poel, Vermeersch and Colbrelli have caught Moscon with 1.1km of the Carrefour de l'Arbre. Four men at the front to fight out the victory.

Colbrelli makes his move... He had been notably content to follow Van der Poel while Moscon was out in front, but now the European champion shows his hand with a fierce acceleration...

Colbrelli's acceleration has distanced Moscon and he will struggle to recoup that deficit, especially if, as it seems, his tyres are carrying a little more pressure than is ideal.

Still Colbrelli piles on the pressure... Van der Poel and Vermeersch hold firm as they exit Carrefour de l'Arbre. 

Shades of Tom Boonen in 2002 about Vermeersch's ride today, but could he go a couple of steps better than Tommeke and win this race?

-14km

Vermeersch is growing in belief. He tried to force his way clear on sector 3 but Van der Poel and Colbrelli but they were wise to the danger.

-13km

Wout van Aert has Lampaert, Boivin, Haussler and Christophe Laporte for company, 1:02 down on the leaders. No way back for the Belgian champion, who is racing for 5th place - or perhaps 4th, if Moscon falters. 

-11km

Logic says this race should be a fight between Van der Poel and Colbrelli, but Vermeersch has been so impressive this afternoon and this is a race where seemingly anything can happen, not least in a sprint on the velodrome...

-10km

-9km

The three leaders hit the final real sector of cobbles at Hem. They have one more, 'symbolic' sector in Roubaix, but this is perhaps the last chance for someone to avoid a sprint on the velodrome...

Van der Poel leads through the cobbles at Hem, with Colbrelli and Vermeersch on his wheel. Moscon is at 35 seconds and Van Aert's group is 58 seconds down.

-6.5km

-5km

-4km

-3.2km

-3km

-2km

-1.5km

-1km

Van der Poel leads into the velodrome, still with Colbrelli and Vermeersch on his wheel...

One lap to go. Van der Poel leads through the bell and looks over his shoulder at Colbrelli...

Vermeersch goes from distance...

Colbrelli is coming back at him but Vermeersch resists...

Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain Victorious) wins Paris-Roubaix.

Some way, some how, Colbrelli has the strength to lift his bike over his head when he wheels to a halt, and then he promptly crumples in a heap on the infield and bursts into loud sobs. Shades of Marco Tardelli about this celebration.

A disconsolate and exhausted Van der Poel lies face down on the grass. The Dutchman had nothing left for the sprint and he came home in third behind Vermeersch.

Result

ROUBAIX FRANCE OCTOBER 03 Sonny Colbrelli of Italy and Team Bahrain Victorious covered in mud celebrates winning in the Roubaix Velodrome Vlodrome Andr Ptrieux during the 118th ParisRoubaix 2021 Mens Eilte a 2577km race from Compigne to Roubaix ParisRoubaix on October 03 2021 in Roubaix France Photo by Tim de WaeleGetty Images

(Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

The three leaders lapped Moscon just off the crown of the final bend, but his presence had no real impact on the sprint. Colbrelli was the freshest of the trio and his remarkable strength told in the end.

Sonny Colbrelli on his victory: "Unbelievable, my first Parigi-Roubaix and I win. I don’t know, I’m very happy. Today is a legendary Roubaix with the rain and the weather at the start and an attack with 90km to go after Arenberg… I followed only Van der Poel in the final and in the end I had a super sprint. I’m very happy for this victory. Gianni [Moscon] went after 30 or 40km and he was super strong but behind we worked well together. I followed Van der Poel for the sprint but this rider from Lotto Soudal started at 200m to go but I think at 20 or 25 metres, I came past for the victory. I was at the limit in the final. It was super difficult because I had to pay attention for the crashes form the first sectors and then there’s always the stress to be in position in the cobbles. This year is my year, I’m very happy."

Gianni Moscon on his fourth place finish: “This race is I think the most beautiful race. I tried to attack from far and then I gave everything. I had a little bit of bad luck with that puncture, but then I was a little bit on the limit, and when you are on the limit, you will make mistakes. I crashed but I didn’t lose too much. And then when they came from behind, I didn’t have the legs, but I tried. Fourth place. We will try again next year.”

ROUBAIX FRANCE OCTOBER 03 Sonny Colbrelli of Italy and Team Bahrain Victorious covered in mud celebrates winning ahead of Florian Vermeersch of Belgium and Team Lotto Soudal and Mathieu Van Der Poel of Netherlands and Team AlpecinFenix in the Roubaix Velodrome Vlodrome Andr Ptrieux during the 118th ParisRoubaix 2021 Mens Eilte a 2577km race from Compigne to Roubaix ParisRoubaix on October 03 2021 in Roubaix France Photo by Bas CzerwinskiGetty Images

(Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

Paris Roubaix 2021 118th Edition Denain Roubaix 2577 km 03102021 Sonny Colbrelli ITA Bahrain Victorious photo Luca BettiniBettiniPhoto2021

(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Paris Roubaix 2021 118th Edition Denain Roubaix 2577 km 03102021 Sonny Colbrelli ITA Bahrain Victorious Mathieu Van Der Poel NED AlpecinFenix photo Luca BettiniBettiniPhoto2021

(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Paris Roubaix 2021 118th Edition Denain Roubaix 2577 km 03102021 Sonny Colbrelli ITA Bahrain Victorious Heinrich Haussler AUS Bahrain Victorious photo Luca BettiniBettiniPhoto2021

(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

A full report, results and pictures from today's dramatic edition of Paris-Roubaix are available here.

Wout van Aert had to settle for 7th place: “This was a difficult race. I felt good, I was in a good situation until Mathieu accelerated. Then I was too far behind, that was my own fault. I also couldn't see anything with glasses. And when I took them off, it didn't get much better. Maybe it was the wrong choice to take my glasses off.”

ROUBAIX FRANCE OCTOBER 03 Sonny Colbrelli of Italy and Team Bahrain Victorious covered in mud celebrates winning ahead of Florian Vermeersch of Belgium and Team Lotto Soudal and Mathieu Van Der Poel of Netherlands and Team AlpecinFenix in the Roubaix Velodrome Vlodrome Andr Ptrieux during the 118th ParisRoubaix 2021 Mens Eilte a 2577km race from Compigne to Roubaix ParisRoubaix on October 03 2021 in Roubaix France Photo by Bas CzerwinskiGetty Images

(Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

Paris Roubaix 2021 -118th Edition - Denain - Roubaix 257,7 km - 03/10/2021 - Sonny Colbrelli (ITA - Bahrain Victorious) - photo Luca Bettini/BettiniPhoto©2021

(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Sonny Colbrelli and Lizzie Deignan, winners of the 2021 Paris-Roubaix

(Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

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