Mathieu van der Poel failed to win the Paris-Roubaix cycling classic on Sunday. After a crazy race, the driver from Hoogerheide finished ninth. Countryman Dylan van Baarle, who finished second behind VDP in the Tour of Flanders, did win today.
It had been war all day long on the northern French cobblestone strips. Early on, Ineos, Van Baarle’s team, set the match on fire. With more than 200 kilometers to go, that team took advantage of the wind and split the peloton in two. Van der Poel was in the second group and had to give chase with his team.
two and a half minutes
Those efforts combined with punctures and falls in the first group allowed the all-rounder to return to the bike. Although three others had flown by then. That lead disappeared with about 30 kilometers to go, again due to material failure, like snow in the sun. As a result, about 15 favorites drove a short distance from each other.
Van Baarle was there like the chickens and chased the leading group, from which he attacked moments later. Behind him, Van der Poel had to release and, among others, let Wout van Aert go. Tired and with bowed head, Van der Poel came in 2.5 minutes from the winner.
Love-hate relationship
Before the start, Van der Poel talked about the ‘love-hate relationship’ he has with Paris-Roubaix. Due to the many cobblestone sections, the race is seen as one of the most beautiful, but also toughest cycling races of the year. “I love riding here, but at the same time it’s terribly hard. It’s suffering on the cobblestones. Paris-Roubaix is unique. You can’t compare this race with any other.”