As it happened: Mathieu van der Poel dominates to defend his Paris-Roubaix title

Hello and welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of Paris-Roubaix where the peloton take on 29 cobblestone sectors across 259.9km between Compiègne and Roubaix Velodrome.

Welcome to hell! It’s time for the Queen of the Classics, a Sunday in Hell, and one of the great highlights of the cycling calendar.

There really is nothing else quite like Paris-Roubaix. While the cobbled classics that have been raced earlier in the spring throughout Belgium could hardly be called easy, this race is something else altogether. The cobblestones are unlike those in any other race, and there are lots of them - 55.7kilometres worth in total, accounting for over a third of every kilometre covered in the race’s second half.

We’ve already done one half of what has become Paris-Roubaix Weekend since the long-awaited introduction of the women’s race in 2021. It was a tense, close affair that went down to the wire, with Lotte Kopecky ultimately being crowned champion.

One world champion won yesterday - will another today? Everybody certainly agrees that Mathieu van der Poel is the hot favourite, given his form this spring and just how brilliant he’s been this past twelve months, including victory here last year. But Paris-Roubaix is always dependent on having the gods on your side, and something like a puncture of a crash can end the hopes of even a rider as strong as he.

The riders are in the neutralised section now, but one man expected to be there is missing - Dylan van Baarle. The winner from 2022’s form was already a big doubt after a spring in which he’s had issues with fitness, and he’s withdrawn due to illness. Given that they’re already missing Wout van Aert, that’s another major blow for Visma-Lease a Bike.

Not long now until the race proper starts. There's going to be a huge fight for the breakaway right from the flag, especially considering that riders who manage to get into it can often end up getting a high finish at the end of the day relative to other races.

Now for the all-important question: what’s the weather like? For now, it’s dry, meaning less treacherous cobbles. Yesterday’s women’s race was notable for its relative ack of crashes, and it seems today could be similar.

260KM TO GO

We're off!

There have already been multiple attacks, with six riders with a small gap.

That move has been shut down.

More trying now, including Alexander Kristoff, who would be perhaps too big a name to be allowed up the road.

A couple more non-starters to report as well as Van Baarle. Astana's Michael Mørkøv and UAE Team Emirates' Michael Vink also aren't here. Vink's absence could be significant, given that UAE are likely to be one of the main protagonists of the race. 

Attacks keep coming, but nobody has come close to making one stick yet.

150KM TO GO

Edvald Boasson Hagen is a lone leader at the moment with a few seconds on the peloton.

He’s brought back, as have an Astana and Visma-Lease a Bike rider that tried after him. It still feels like we’re a long way from a break being formed.

240KM TO GO

Two riders up the road at the moment, with probably the biggest gap we've seen so far - but it's still only a few seconds. 

That pair is a Q36.5 rider and an Arkéa  rider, any they've been joined by another few riders.

And now they've all been brought back.

Intriguing move now as Kasper Asgreen is one of about seven riders to get a small gap.

This group is pushing on, and has a lead of seven seconds. It's the most promising move so far.

As well as Asgreen, Per Strand Hagenes, Marco Haller, Rasmus Tiller, Kamil Małecki, Liam Slock and Gleb Syritsa are the other riders in this break. They now have 20 seconds, easily the biggest lead so far.

230KM TO GO

Some riders have tried counter-attacking and joining the leaders up front, but have all been brought back by the peloton. The leading seven are still going strong thought, their lead now growing to near 30 seconds. 

Dušan Rajović has attacked out the peloton and is trying to bridge up to the leaders all by himself. It's still only a ga of about 20 seconds, but that's a lot for just one man against a committed group still riding hard to try to establish themselves as the day's break.

Rajović has been joined by Dries De Bondt, who was one of several riders to attack from the peloton over the last few minutes, but the only one to succeed in getting out of it. 

We've had our first crash of the day. Lots of riders are down.

It seems nobody is too seriously hurt, but there could still be a few abandonments, with Elia Viviani still yet to get back up.

The biggest name down looks like it's Jonathan Milan. He's up, and could be OK to continue. 

Jonas Rutsch has abandoned due to the crash. That's a real shame for a rider who enjoyed the race of his life here in 2021 when he finished eleventh.

Meanwhile back up the road, things are looking good for the leading seven, who now have 50 seconds on the peloton. Rajović and De Bondt are still in between, 35 seconds behind the leaders.

Elia Viviani has also been confirmed as abandoning.

Outside contender Laurenz Rex was another to go down in that crash. He's up and making his way back to the peloton, but was very bruised and his jersey torn.

210KM TO GO

It will at least now be easier for those who fell to get back into the peloton, as the pace is down and the break been allowed to go. Some are taking the oppertunity to take comfort breaks too. We have our break of the day.

More riders seen trying to ride back up to the peloton in torn jerseys, including Uno-X’s Erik Nordsæter Resell.

Laurenz Rex is now receiving treatment for his wounds. He really does look hurt - given the horrors to come on the cobblestones, is he really going to be able to continue?

A bike change for Tim Merlier, who also must have been in that crash - he's been patched up with bandages too.

200KM TO GO

A reminder of the seven riders out front, who now have a lead of 1-30 ahead of the peloton:

Kasper Asgreen

Per Strand Hagenes

Marco Haller

Rasmus Tiller

Kamil Małecki

Liam Slock

Gleb Syritsa

Nils Politt also had a bike change, suggesting he too might have been involved in that crash. He certainly looks OK, and isn't sporting any visible bruises like many of the other victims. 

De Bondt and Rajović are still persisting with their frustrating chase, meanwhile. They’re caught almost squarely in the middle of both groups, 40 seconds away from the leaders at 50 seconds ahead of the peloton.

Still around 30km until we hit the first pavé. Paris-Roubaix is a race of two distinct parts - the first two fifths, made up of simple flat roads, and then the final three fifths, where all hell breaks loose as they take on cobbled sector after cobbled sector.

For now, things are very relaxed. Many riders, including Van der Poel and Pedersen, are making their way back to the peloton after taking comfort breaks. 

190KM TO GO

Still a 1-30 lead for the break. They're not being allowed much leeway at all by Alpecin-Deceuninck, who are leading the peloton. There are powerful riders in it, and evidently Van der Poel fears giving them too much of an advantage. 

De Bondt and Rajović are going t be rewarded for their efforts after all. They've slowly closed down on the leaders, and are only a few seconds away now.

180KM TO GO

As for the gap between the leaders and the peloton, it's still holding steady at 1-30.

At long last, De Bondt and Rajović have made it. They've surely earned a bit of a rest before contributing to the pace-setting. 

The riders are going at a fair lick right now. The peloton really isn't keen to let this lead group have a singificant lead. We can expect the gap to fall quickly once we approach the first cobbled sector and the frantic vying for position begins. 

It could be Kasper Asgreen who is prompting the peloton to keep the break on such a leash, given his status as a classics star - for Van der Poel epsecially his name raises alarm, as it was he who defeated him to win the 2021 Tour of Flanders. He has been well off his best form this spring, but a rider of his calibre still can't be allowed such a chance.

Asgreen isn't the only rider to be worried about, either. Per Strand Hagenes seems like a very talented young rider, Dries De Bondt was fifth at Dwars door Vlaanderen, and Ramus Tiller tends to finish up there in the classics without the advantage of a head start getting in the breakaway gives you.

Things are intensifying now as the first cobbled sector approaches in just a few minutes: sector 29, Troisvilles à Inchy. Paris-Roubaix proper is about to begin!

The leaders are on the cobbles.

It's not a gentle one to ease the riders into it, either. It's one of the 3-star sectors.

Now the peloton arrives, and Alpecin lead with Van der Poel only a few wheels from the front.

We have our first cobble-induced puncture of the day already. Christophe Laporte is the victim - yet more bad luck for Visma-Lease a Bike.

Problem also for Pierre Gautherat, who has had to stop at the side of the road.

160KM TO GO

That's the first sector over and done with - just the 28 left to go...

They're onto sector 28 now, Viesly à Quiévy, another 3-star one.

Ominously, these cobbles are quite wet, too. It’s not raining today, but overnight rain between today and yesterday’s women’s race has clearly had an effect.

The pavé is already breaking up the lead group, with Syritsa dropped.

And in the peloton, Tim Wellens is pushing on and setting a fierce pace - and there are splits.

While that's happening behind, Agreen leads the break onto the sector 27, the first 4-star sector of the day.

Now the peloton are onto the same sector, about a minute behind. They've mostly regrouped after Wellens' acceleration, but are drawn out into a long thin line.

We're seeing Laporte for the first time in a while. He's still making his way up to the peloton following that puncture earlier. He's moving through various small groups, but still has a long way to go.

Syritsa's been caught by the peloton, and nearly fell off while he was reabsorbed as he lost his balence on the cobbles.

150KM TO GO

That sector's done, and Alpecin's pace has been enough to bring the break back to just 42 seconds. 

The race is in bits already! What was once the peloton is now a series of small groups. Mads Pedersen is one rider caught out in one of the groups further back. 

And if the cobbles aren’t enough to worry about, now the wind is having an effect too. The riders are in echelon formation on an exposed road.

What we're calling the peloton is only about 30 riders strong. Alpecin are still leading it onto sector 26, with Van der Poel third in line.

Pedersen is leading a group just 18 seconds behind. He should be able to rejoin, but will spend precious energy doing so.

Mechanical for Oscar Riesbeek, who has done much of the work for Alpecin today. He can't have had too much left in the tank anyway given how much work he's done in this early phase of the race. 

Pedersen is leading a group just 18 seconds behind. He should be able to rejoin, but will spend precious energy doing so.

Laporte is in a group 1-15 behind the (now very reduced) peloton, who are themselves only a matter of seconds behind the original break.

140M TO GO

The original break has ben caught. They must have expected to have spent longer at the front when they first succeeded in getting away. 

Rex is back on his bike and continuing to ride, despite his two nasty falls. That's showing a lot of guts.

After a few kilometres of respite, we're back on the cobbles for sector 25.

There are four Alpecin riders at the front with Van der Poel, inclding Philipsen. They're bossing this race at the moment, leading the peloton once again on this sector. 

One rider also caught out in the Laporte group a minute back is Oier Lazkano, one of the long shots for victory today. 

There must only be about 40 riders in the peloton now.

Most of the favourites are in the peloton though, including Pedersen and Stefan Küng.

Sector 24 now, and it's still Alpecin leading the group.

Puncture for Ed Theuns, one of Pedersen's most important Lidl-Trek teammates. 

Bad news for Josh Taring, who has been disqualified for the race. He was caught taking too much of a sticky bottle from a team car.

He looks very upset, too. After talking to the commissaires car for a little while he angrily shoes away the TV motorbike. 

Tarling can't have many complaints, though. He was seen on camera getting a very big pull from his team car.

Theuns has made his way back into the lead group after hid puncture earlier.

Despite their problems, Visma-Lease a Bike have managed to get three riders in this lead group. They're amassed towards the front of the group, just behind the 5 Alpecins.

Tom Pidcock is also present, but finding the pace tough, as he indicates to the TV camera. 

Per Strand Hagenes, Tim van Dijke and Mick van Dijke are the three Visma riders.

The leaders are on sector 3, a relatively straightforward one.

A puncture for Politt on the cobbles

Despite trying to continue, it's been announced that Rex has retired. He's really been threw the wars today. 

120KM TO GO

The lead group reach the end of sector 23 mostly altogether still. The Laporte group is falling further and further beind though, now 1-50 adrift. They must surely now be out of contention. 

Timo Kielich, Edward Planckaert and Gianni Vermeersch are the three Alpecin riders doing the work for Van der Poel and Philipsen.

Puncture for Dries Van Gestel, who had made it into the lead group.

Politt is still in the lead group despite his earlier problem, but is also still looking for assistence from his team to fix it.

Now Politt has got his bike change and is chasing back up. It seems there was a problem with his seat. 

110KM TO GO

A lull in proceedings right now, and many of the riders distanced due to a variety of problems rejoin the peloton, including Politt.

We're now approaching sector 20, which has been described as potentially one of the new most important parts of the race, following the change to the Arneberg Forest.

They're on the sector now, and the approach wasn't quite as hectic as it might have been, what with the reduced size of the peloton.

For once it's not Alpecin leading on the cobbles, but instead Mathias Vacek for Lidl-Trek.

Alpecin are also a man down after Kielich had a problem going into the sector.

Now, next up is the moment we've all been waiting for: the Arenberg Forest. So much has been made of the change to the approach, and the new chicane introduced to try and slow the pace down on the deadly cobbles to a slower, safer pace. But given the size of the peloton, which is much smaller than usual at this stage, it may not be anywhere near as big an issue as believed.

Whatever happens at the chicane, the Forest itself will still be crucial. Everybody will be praying they don’t have a puncture here, and we’ll get some idea of who the strongest riders are.

Whatever happens at the chicane, the Forest itself will still be crucial. Everybody will be praying they don’t have a puncture here, and we’ll get some idea of who the strongest riders are.

They’re approaching the chicane now, and Lidl-Trek are leading.

Mads Pedersen leads on the cobbles

Philipsen and Van der Poel are 2nd and 3rd in line.

Pucture for Tim Van Dijk, but his brother Mick is flying, up there with Van der Poel, Philipsen and Pedersen.

Now Van der Poel moves to the front.

He, Philipsen, Pedersen and Van Dijk have gone clear.

Van der Poel reaches the end of the forest, then Philpsen, Pedersen and Van Dijk a second behind, then another group several seconds behind.

Degenkolb needs a wheel change as he exists the forest in one of the chase groups.

Behind the four leaders is a group of about 10 riders in pursuit.

Kung is the rider leading the chase in that group behind.

Puncture for Philipsen. He's hanging onto the group for now, but will need to stop whenever an oppertuntity arises.

With Kung in the chase grop is Pidcock, Politt, Pithie, Jacobs, Bissegger, Meeus and  Wærenskjold.

They've now caught the four leaders.

Meanwhile Philipsen has now stopped to get his change, and will now have to chase back on.

Puncture for Pedersen

Pedersen goes backwards just as Philipsen is making his way to the front group.

Another puncture now for Meeus.

Vermeersch, Kung and Politt have attacked out the front, and have a decent gap.

Yet another puncture for a rider in the group of favuorites, this time for Wellens.

Vermeersch might be in the lead group, but Van der Poel is doing the work to bring it back.

Pedersen has had his bike change, and is now in the group behind the Van der Poel group, about 20 seconds behind.

In summary: Vermeersch, Politt and Kung lead the race, 20 seconds behind are another 8 riders inclding Van der Poel and Philipsen, and another 6 seconds behind is a larger group contraining Pedersen.

The Pedersen group has bridged up to the Van der Poel group.

For all the carnage of the previous kilometres, this is a large group that has come together behind the three leaders. There are over 20 riders here.

Time for sector 17 now, the 4-star Hornaing à Wandignies.

Lidl-Trek are leading the group. The onus is off Van der Poel and Alpecin, as Vermeersch is up the road.

80KM TO GO

Despite Lidl's work, the gap is growing out, to 40 seconds.

Now Pidcock's moved to the front and upped the pace. He's doing a great ride for someone who only decided to ride at the last minute. 

Lidl's Vacek takes over for the remaininder of the sector. They finish it with the gap at 30 seconds. 

Problem for Bissegger, who's out the back of the group, presumably due to some kind of mechanical.

A first glimpse of the now-infamous pre-Arenberg Forest chicane, which after all the fuss passed without incident. 

The leaders are on sector 16. They're lead is 30 seconds. Küng and Politt are committed, and are in the rare position of being ahead of Van der Poel in a race - albeit with one of his teammates glued to their wheel.

Vacek is still leading the group of favourites, and is making inroads now. The gap is down to 20 seconds.

A reminder that most of the favourites are present in this group, including Van der Poel, Philipsen, Pedersen and Pidcock.

Crash for Van Dijke as the turn a corner on the cobbles, but he's up immediatley and back on his bike.

Pedersen is now leading the group himself, and the gap is plummiting.

70KM TO GO

The leading trio has very nearly been brought back.

They complete sector 15, and shortly after the catch is made. That was a big effort from Politt and Kung, and they may end up paying for it later.

Tim Wellens attacks almost immediatley after the catch is made. UAE Team Emirates clearly believe agressive tactics is the best way to go today.

Pithie, Van Dijke and Vermeersch follow Wellens, before Pedersen drags everyone back.

They're all back together, and there are about 20 riders present.

Some of the names in this group: Van der Poel, Philipsen, Pedersen, Van Dijke, Pidocock, Degenkolb, Fedorov, Vermeersch, Wright, Meeus, Pithie, Hagenes, Politt, Wellens

Now they enter sector 14, Beuvry-la-Fôret à Orchies

They finish that sector with no casualties.

The pace has slackened for now. It’s the calm before the storm, before we hit the really hard cobbles soone - the 5-star Mons-en-Pévèle is only 2 sectors away.

60KM TO GO

Van der Poel attacks!

He made his move at the start of sector 13, and is building a lead.

Pedersen is leading the chase behind, but it's already quite distant.

Meanwhile Cedric Beullens crashed in the lead group going around a corner. 

8 seconds for Van der Poel. That's far from insurmountable, but we know by now that this stands a very good chance of being the race-winning move. The following sectors, which are especially nasty, will be key.

Pedersen is trying to attack out of the chase group, but if closed down by Vermeersch. This is of course another big problem for the other riders - the presence of Van der Poel's teammates with them.

Now Politt tries, and yet again Vermeersch follows. He's ridden superbly today in aid of his leader. 

There's no organisation in the chase. They're all attacking each other, then slowing down and looking at each other. Already Van der Poel's lead is 18 seconds. 

Pedersen leads onto sector 12. He'll really want to go clear and take just a few riders with him, and start a proper organised chase of Van der Poel - but to do that, he'll need to drop the Alpecin riders.

28 seconds now for Van der Poel. He's disappearing up the road.

Pedersen accelerates again, but Vermeersch remains glued to his wheel, with Philipsen on his.

Those three exit the sector with a gap of a few seconds over the rest, but a frustrated Pedersen won't press on with the Alpecin riders following him.

50KM TO GO

Almost a minute now for Van der Poel. Once again, we're left wondering more what his winning margin will be, rather than whether he will win.

That said, Paris-Roubaix isn't like most other races, in that more things can go wrong. Van der Poel might be ahead by miles for now, but will have to stay focussed so as not to crash, and lucky so as not to puncture.

And if he's going to puncture anywhere, it could be the sector he's entering now - sector 11, the famous Mons-en-Pévèle.

Nils Politt has accelerated on this sector, but again has an Alpecin rider on his wheel, this time Philipsen. Pedersen is also there.

Van der Poel has finished Mons-en-Pévèle, and his lead has grown yet more to a whopping 1-30. We’ve said it many times already this spring, but once again, we’re witnessing something very special.

Politt's acceleration has forced a selection in the chase group. With him is Pedersen, Philipsen, Kung and Pithie.

They’ve got a sizable advantage, too. Philipsen is there, but they will be relieved to at last have got rid of Vermeersch.

Now Van der Poel enters sector 10, his lead up to 1-38.

Pedersen, Küng, Pithie, Politt and Philipsen are 15 seconds ahead of the rest of the chasers. This is shaping up to be a repeat of last year, with Philipsen again well-poised to take second place riding as a passenger.

40KM TO GO

1-48 now for Van der Poel, as he approaches sector 9.

Pidcock overshoots a corner on sector 9, but stays upright. He's a little adrift from the chase group he was in, though.

Van der Poel's finished with sector 9, and his lead is still getting bigger and bigger. It's now 2 minutes.

For context, when Dylan van Baarle pulled-off his huge win in 2022, the winning margin was 1-47. And that was the biggest for 12 years when, Fabian Cancellara won by exactly 2 minutes. This could be the biggest Paris-Roubaix victory for many years.

He's been out alone for almost 30km, and yet still has 8 sectors to complete. He's on that sector 8 now, and looks smooth as ever, not having any problems or appearing to tire. 

As for the race for the podium spots, it's still looking good for the Philipsen/Pedersen/Küng/Politt/Pithie group. They are 30 seconds ahead of the next chase group. 

Crash for Pithie. He lost his front wheel going around a corner onto the cobbles.

Until now he had been the best performing outside name at this year's race. He's back on his bike, and will try to rejoin rather than drop into the group behind.

Incidentally, the group behind Pithie has many surprise packages. In full it features: Tim Van Dijke, Yevgeniy Fedorov, Dries Van Gestel, Madis Mihkels and Søren Wærenskjold, alongside more predictable names like John Degenkolb, Gianni Vermeesch, Jordi Meeus, Fred Wright, Tim Wellens and Tom Pidcock.

Back up ahead, Van der Poel's lead has plateaued. It's stayed hovering at just over two minutes for a while now.

At this rate, he will manage the biggest winning margin since 2002, when Johan Museeuw won by an even more enormous 3-04.

Pithie is still fighting to get back into the group ahead, rather than sit up and wait for the group behind. It's some effort, and will be very impressive if he can make it.

Gianni Vermeersch still isn't done today, and has attacked out of the second chase group. After all his work earlier you'd have thought he'd be out of energy, but clearly not.

Pithie has the Pedersen group in sight as they ride sector 6, but still has some ground to make up. He's making a good fist of it.

20KM TO GO

Van der Poel's lead is growing again. It's over 2-30 now - maybe Museeuw's 3-04 will be under threat after all.

As for the race for the podium spots, Politt, Pedersen and Küng will be desperate to drop Philipsen on one of the upcoming pavé sectors, as he will surely have the beating of them in a sprint, especially after so many kilometres of rest.

Remarkably, Vermeersch has bridged up to Pithie. The pair are 25 seconds behind the Pedersen group.

Van der Poel begins Carrefour de l'Arbre with his lead up yet more to 2-46. Even if he does puncture (like his rival Van Aert did last year), he'd still probably win at a canter. 

As Van der Poel finishes the sector unscathed, the chase group enters it. This is the big chance for those who don't fancy their sprint to try attacking and get away - watch out for Stefan Küng.

20 seconds behind these are Pithie and Vermeersch. They'll want to use this sector to try to bridge up to them.

No attacks from anyone in the chase group, while Vermeersch and Pithie have dropped a bit further away, now to almost 30 seconds. They seem unlikely to catch them now.

Philipsen's attacking!

Philipsen has attacked on the much more benign sector 3 that follows Carrefour de l'Arbre.

Pedersen and Politt are just about able to catch up to him, but Küng has been dropped. 

10KM TO GO

Just 10 kilometres and 2 more sectors for Van der Poel left to complete now, the first one rated only 2-stars, and the final one only ceremonial. 

His lead has stopped rising for the time being, holding at about 2-50. It's still a startling advantage though, much bigger even than the 1-02 he won the Tour of Flanders by.

He also could better Tadej Pogačar's winning margin from his similarly astonishing ride to win Strade Bianche this year. On that occasion, the final margin was 2-44.

He's through sector 2 without any problems. It should be a nice, worry-free ride to the finish now for the Dutchman.

There will be plenty of tension in the group behind, however. Three doesn't go into two, and therefore one rider will be left disappointed and missing out on the two remaining podium spots behind Van der Poel.

Küng was properly distanced by the earlier Philipsen attack, and is now 25 seconds behind - surely too much time to recover now.

Van der Poel's starting to relax and celebrate now. He shares a fist bump with his team car.

Just 2km left now for Van der Poel.

Here he comes into the velodrome.

Mathieu van der Poel wins Paris-Roubaix!

He didn't really let up his pace in the velodrome either, so his winning margin is indeed going to be massive.

Now we wait for Pedersen, Philipsen and Politt.

Pedersen leads them as they enter the velodrome.

Pedersen still leads with Philipsen on his wheel.

Politt goes early.

Philipsen comes past him for second, and Pedersen takes third.

Küng solos close behind four fifth. 

Now Vermeersch outsprints Pithie to take sixth, the New Zealander settling for seventh.

Tim Van Dijke attacks from a group behind to take eighth, and Jordi Meeus wins the sprint for ninth. 

As for the winning margin, it ended up being exactly three minutes - the biggest for 22 years.

Søren Wærenskjold rounded off the top ten by finishing just behind Meeus in the sprint. 

All sorts of history being made by Van der Poel. That's his sixth career monument victory, putting him inside the top sixteen riders of all time, and joining only Tom Boonen, Fabian Cancellara, Johan Museeuw to do so in the 21st century. And he did so wearing the rainbow jersey, something only half a dozen riders have done before. 

Van der Poel takes the headlines of course, but Jasper Philipsen also deserves praise for another result in what has been an exceptional spring. He's now won Milan-Sanremo and Brugge-De Panne, and made the podium at Paris-Roubaix and Scheldeprijs. We often talk about a Big 6 in the current peloton - maybe we should update that to a Big 7 including him?

Congratulations are also in order for Mads Pedersen. Third-place is his career-high finish at Paris-Roubaix for him, and some comeback from the crash at E3 Saxo Bank Classic that threatened to end his spring. His longed-for monument continues to elude him, but it’s hard to know what else he could have done today.

Another record to fall: by finishing the 259.7km course in 5-25-58, Van der Poel has ridden the quickest Paris-Roubaix in history. 

Some notable results further down from the podium: Gianni Vermeersch managed to seal sixth place despite all his work for Van der Poel, the highest finish here of his career; Laurence Pithie was seventh on debut, the high finish he has threatened to pull off all spring; Tim Van Dijke was the best performing Visma-Lease a Bike rider in eighth place; and Madis Mihkels finished 11th at the tender age of 20-years-old, announcing himself as a major new talent.

Thanks for joining us today. After a thrilling first three quarters of the race, there wasn't much tension once Van der Poel went clear, but it was still a stunning performance to witness. The Dutchman has produced many magical rides in recent years, but this might be the best yet. He'll be back in the coming weeks too, at Amstel Gold and Liège-Bastogne-Liège - and so will we. Be sure to reconvene here for them!