Tadej Pogacar narrowly failed to complete a stunning victory in his first attempt at Paris-Roubaix as Mathieu van der Poel powered to a third successive win over the famous cobbles.
A late crash for Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) after he had escaped up the road with Van der Poel (Alpecin–Deceuninck) cost the Slovenian precious time. The 26 year-old, bidding to become the first rider since Bernard Hinault in 1981 to win both the Tour de France and Roubaix, also had to contend with a bike change as he tried to chase back on.
Van der Poel won by well over a minute in the end, shrugging off a bike change of his own, plus a water bottle which an idiotic fan threw in his face as he rode clear. It was his eighth victory in a Monument, the name given to cycling’s biggest one-day races.
His triumph came after Pogacar had chucked everything he could at him on the preceding cobbled sectors. The Slovenian whittled down a five-man lead group which formed after sector 18.
Racing Paris-Roubaix on the front foot, the classic turned into a duel between modern cycling’s two most illustrious riders. Rival Mads Pedersen suffered a puncture and Stefan Bissegger dropped back, unable to respond to an acceleration from Pogacar.
Van der Poel’s team-mate Jasper Philipsen was dropped with 50 kilometres to go on the Mons-en-Pevele cobbled sector as Pogacar pushed the pace again.
Attacking on sector nine at Pont-Thibault in a bid to shake off Van der Poel, Pogacar misjudged a corner and fell off lightly onto the grass verge. He lost a few more precious seconds struggling to get his chain back on.
Van der Poel took full advantage, gradually increasing his lead. Despite a late puncture on the Carrefour de l’Arbre cobblestones, the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider became the first man since Francesco Moser to take three consecutive titles at Paris-Roubaix.
Pogacar, behind him, did well to hold off a three-man chase group which included Mads Pedersen (Lidl–Trek), Wout van Aert (Visma–Lease a Bike) and Florian Vermeersch (UAE Team Emirates), who finished in that order.
It was still an extraordinary display of strength and audacity from Pogacar. Not since Greg LeMond in 1991 had a reigning Tour winner even attempted Roubaix, such is the risk of injury in a race known as The Hell of the North. One suspects it will not be the last time he tries.
04:55 PM BST
That’s all from us
Paris-Roubaix never disappoints, eh. What an enjoyable watch and thanks for following.
04:27 PM BST
Van der Poel, Pogacar and Pedersen stand on the podium
Rather fitting that probably the three top riders of spring finished in that order.
Van der Poel lifts the hefty cobblestone trophy. It is now eight apiece for Van der Poel and Pogacar in monument race wins, the Dutchman striking back after losing to Pogacar last weekend at the Tour of Flanders.
04:20 PM BST
Matthew Brennan reflects on his Roubaix debut
The teenage rookie finished 44th after riding with the leaders until about 210km to go. Quite a ride from the 19-year-old, who said to TNT Sports:
“When you are there with 20 guys who are the world’s best bike riders, you start to think how I have ended up here. I did what I could. Wout Van Aert at the time was not feeling the best and told me to go for my own opportunity. He started doing a bit of work for me.
Unfortunately, I kind of ran out of bullets. Still, being young, you don’t necessarily have the capacity go to past 210, 220k and you just blow up. But I really enjoyed it.
It was quite emotional [going through cobbled sectors] when there’s hundreds of people shouting your name. It’s unbelievable, nothing like it.”
04:11 PM BST
Mathieu van der Poel: “Too bad Tadej had his mistake”
The 2025 Paris-Roubaix winner has been talking to TNT Sports:
“It means a lot. It is such a hard race and I was really suffering. Too bad Tadej had his mistake in the corner. I just had to go for it but it was still quite hard until the finish line. It was really hard, especially with the last two sectors with the headwind, I was really struggling. I am happy to make it to the finish line.
[On Pogacar’s crash]
The speed was super-high and I think he misjudged the turn a bit. I was just quick enough to save it. I don’t know what happened afterwards because it was quite a big gap I had immediately and I had to go for it. It’s part of racing.[On his puncture]
I didn’t know the time gap because my radio didn’t work so I couldn’t ask for it or say that I had a flat tyre. It took a while until the car was there but it all worked out in the end.[On whether there was a sense of revenge. He smiles.] No, not really. I’m just happy I found my good legs again. But we all know what an incredible champion Tadej is. What he does here in his first Roubaix. It does not surprise me, but it is also not normal. He is just an exceptional talent.
Probably, it would have been the two of us going to the velodrome if he does not make a mistake. So, I guess we will see him back next year to take his revenge.”
04:06 PM BST
Ninth for British rider Fred Wright
A fine ride from Bahrain-Victorious man Fred Wright. The Londoner was best of a small chasing group, finishing just ahead of Jasper Philipsen.
04:04 PM BST
The best of rivals
Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar embrace and smile after dismounting their bikes. That was quite a duel. Pogacar pushed the Dutchman hard, though we were robbed of a straight-up battle between the two because of the Slovenian’s crash, which was self-inflicted. I reckon the result would have been the same...
The 30-year-old is made for this race. He makes brutal sectors look straightforward and can move his bike in and out of dips and ruts like no other.
04:02 PM BST
Breakaway men in top ten
As I typed hours ago, sometimes the riders in the early escape can challenge for the top placings. Jonas Rutsch outsprints Bisseger for seventh, his fellow former breakaway buddy Markus Hoelgaard in eighth.
04:00 PM BST
Mads Pedersen sprints to third place
The Danish leader led it out and pipped Wout van Aert to end up on the final podium. Florian Vermeersch rolls over the line fifth. Phew, what a finale.
03:59 PM BST
Tadej Pogacar finishes second
Is that a grimace or a smile? What a debut ride from Tadej Pogacar. The man in the rainbow jersey of world champion waves to the fans by the finish as he crosses the line, 1:20 down. He will be back to try to win this again, surely.
A debut like no other from Tadej Pogačar ????
Mads Pedersen leads the sprint for the last place on the podium at Paris-Roubaix ???? pic.twitter.com/hxLv2vviN2
— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) April 13, 2025
03:58 PM BST
Mathieu van der Poel wins the 2025 Paris-Roubaix
Mathieu van der Poel can enjoy the applause and punches the air as he rides his final lap. The Dutchman finally finds heaven after five hellish hours. Three in a row after a Paris-Roubaix for the ages, and he puts up three fingers as he crosses the line.
He picks up his Canyon bike and holds it aloft for the photographers. A professional to the end.
????????????????????-???????????????????????????? ????????????????????-????????????????
Take a bow, Mathieu van der Poel ????
???? ???? ???? pic.twitter.com/AUAiQjKq8C
— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) April 13, 2025
03:56 PM BST
Van der Poel within sight of victory
Marvellous Mathieu fist-bumps Christoph Roodhooft in the Alpecin-Deceuninck team car. He is about to become the third man to win Paris-Roubaix three times in a row. My how he has had to fight for it.
The Dutch master turns right onto the famous Velodrome Andre-Petrieux, receiving the cheers of the fans there.
03:55 PM BST
The battle for the podium
Pogacar’s left wrist is bleeding into his track mitt. That might be from his expensive watch bouncing about and cutting into his skin, could be from the crash.
On an uphill drag, his gap to the chasers is 50 seconds. Second place looks to be in the bag. Nobody has anything left anymore. His team-mate Florian Vermeersch, Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) will fight it out for third.
03:52 PM BST
4km to go
Mathieu van der Poel is one the outskirts of Roubaix. His team director pulls alongside him and probably tells him something like “no need for any stupid risks, you are ahead by a country mile.”
Things are tighter for Pogacar. He is 1:15 down on Van der Poel and only 30 seconds up on Pedersen, Vermeersch and Van Aert. Can he keep second place?
03:48 PM BST
Van der Poel on the way to victory
Every single cobblestone will hurt for the aching contenders now. Van der Poel negotiates the bends on the Hem sector and is on his way to victory. Pogacar weaves left and right, searching for the smooth tarmac bits at the side of the road. 65 seconds down, but still fighting.
03:44 PM BST
10km to go
Van der Poel takes some nutrition from the team car, looking irked.
One more real sector to go at Hem, the last one in Roubaix is ornamental. 1:11 back to Pogacar, 2:03 to Pedersen, Van Aert and Vermeersch.
03:40 PM BST
Pogacar is out of the Carrefour de l’Arbre
After a slick bike change for the leader, Pogacar is still 1:03 down. He passes himself on a giant TV screen by L’Arbre restaurant, very meta.
He looks tired, his shoulders rocking. He has to summon his last dregs of energy to hold off Pedersen, Vermeersch and Van Aert. Vermeersch attacks off the sector, looking to link up with his leader, but the Dane pegs him back.
03:37 PM BST
Van der Poel changes his bike
The stones are so bumpy and the spectators are standing in the way of Mathieu van der Poel on some corners as he seeks the apex. Hunkered down in the drops, he is still extending his lead, mixing deft bike handling with remarkable stamina.
Then he has a mechanical issue, likely a puncture! He has a bike change on the cobbles, losing some time.
03:33 PM BST
17km to go: Van der Poel leads Pogacar by a minute
Pogacar is losing time, struggling to find his rhythm. Mads Pedersen, Wout van Aert and Florian Vermeersch are 1:20 down on the Slovenian.
Now, it is time for sector 4 across the Carrefour de l’Arbre, the race’s third and final five-star sector. Mathieu van der Poel is so close to victory, but needs to avoid misfortune or mechanical problems here.
03:30 PM BST
Pogacar has a bike change and loses more time
With some kind of mechanical issue, Pogacar stops and gets a new bike. The gap had grown to 30 seconds; now it is 46. That may well be it in the fight for victory with Mathieu van der Poel.
He may well be focusing on keeping second place. Mathieu van der Poel turns onto sector five at Camphin-en-Pevele.
03:24 PM BST
Every second counts now
Mathieu Van der Poel skips onto the rough verge by the cobbles on sector 6, keeping his speed. The defending champion still looks smooth.
Pogacar is sat up on the hoods, not looking quite as powerful as before. But the deficit is only 20 seconds. Two minutes down is the race for third place: Mads Pedersen leads a seven-man group including Philipsen and Van Aert.
03:19 PM BST
30km to go: Van der Poel leads Pogacar by 18 seconds
It looked like the UAE Team Emirates-XRG leader was closing the gap, now it is increasing slightly.
Seven more sectors. The next big ones are Camphin-en-Pevele and the five-star Carrefour de l’Arbre, coming in 10km time. We will see if Pogacar has anything left on those.
03:15 PM BST
Van der Poel hit in the face by a water bottle thrown by spectator
On sector eight at Templeuve, the TV replays confirm it: a spectator threw a water bottle into the face of Mathieu van der Poel from the side of the road. Disgraceful behaviour.
The Dutchman took it full in the face and kept powering away. Yet another dramatic talking point for later.
03:12 PM BST
Van der Poel leads Pogacar by 15 seconds
This is Paris-Roubaix: anything can happen. That error shows Pogacar’s slight mental fatigue and inexperience. After taking a bottle, he is chasing Van der Poel hard.
If it’s a time-trial, you fancy the Slovenian. But it will be curious to see what happens when they hit the cobbles.
03:08 PM BST
Pogacar crashes!
Pogacar attacks on sector nine at Pont-Thibault... then he crashes after taking a corner too fast and too wide. He falls lightly onto grass, unscathed after scrubbing off speed, but his chain is off. He lost precious seconds getting it back on.
Van der Poel looks behind. The road is empty behind and in front of him. He also ran wide, but he rode his way out of the grass.
03:04 PM BST
History in the making
Jasper Philipsen has dropped back quickly, already 45 seconds down. Now, it is mano-a-mano between two cycling greats who are making more history today.
Pogacar is vying to become the first reigning Tour de France winner to win Paris-Roubaix since Eddy Merckx in 1973. Van der Poel would become only the third man in history to win three titles here in a row after Francesco Moser.
02:58 PM BST
Pogacar and Van der Poel trade blows on Mons-en-Pevele
Pogacar leads onto Mons-en-Pevele before Van der Poel takes over. He is sheltering in the cross-headwind, playing it smart. When the road tips uphill, he accelerates, but his two companions are equal to it.
Then Van der Poel accelerates! Pogacar takes over and Philipsen is distanced, he cannot generate the speed. This is what he had to do: isolate the Alpecin-Deceuninck leader.
02:50 PM BST
This is the duel - or truel - fans will have dreamed of
I did not think Pogacar would be quite this good. Clearly, the three-time Tour de France winner is excellent everywhere. 50km to go as the trio approach Mons-en-Pevele, 1:15 up on the Pedersen and Van Aert group.
Van der Poel versus Pogacar versus Philipsen. The champions all get on well, but there are no mates when it comes to fighting for victory in one of the most prestigious races in cycling. An intriguing final hour of racing awaits.
02:44 PM BST
Britain’s Brennan at his best on debut
Mads Pedersen is not giving up, joined by Hoelgaard, Bissegger and Pogacar’s team-mate Vermeersch. Matthew Brennan joins them with his captain Wout van Aert after struggling to bridge across. Perhaps the 19-year-old is feeling even better than the great Belgian... quite a debut for Brennan too.
02:42 PM BST
A couple of the longest sectors coming
The leaders are on sector 12 at Auchy-lez-Orchies now, followed by the three-kilometre long Mons-en-Pevele, the second of the race’s three five-star sectors. “It never stops,” says 2003 winner Magnus Backstedt on TNT Sports commentary duty.
Will one of them be a launchpad for the leaders?
02:38 PM BST
Serene-looking Van der Poel leads over Orchies sector
On his white painted Canyon, hands in the drops, Van der Poel somehow manages to look like he is on a casual Sunday bimble round the park as he keeps a good lick going on sector 13. The epitome of control and tranquillity.
While situations can change in a heartbeat at Paris-Roubaix, the Dutch master has to be the favourite in this scenario.
Behind, Mads Pedersen attacks out of the chase group and pursues them solo. He must be raging after his puncture.
02:32 PM BST
Pogacar’s champion conundrum
Pogacar leads the Alpecin-Deceuninck duo over sector 14. He has a real task on his hands to win this race, with two top-calibre team-mates who are likely to outsprint him in a finish and will help each other if he attacks them. It’s a head-scratcher.
First step will be to isolate them, getting rid of the weaker rider. Easier said than done.
Whatever happens, he has raced his debut Paris-Roubaix like a true champion. Whatever problems he was experiencing 30 minutes ago seem to have evaporated.
02:26 PM BST
Philipsen makes it three leaders
At the end of the sector, Bisseger appears to have a problem and drops back.
Jasper Philipsen rejoins leaders Van der Poel and Pogacar. Alpecin-Deceuninck have the numerical, tactical advantage, two versus one. It also depends how much energy they have in reserve. Their team car pulls alongside and Christoph Roodhooft offers some words of wisdom.
Bisseger is 40 seconds down, with a bigger chasing group 1:07 in arrears.
02:22 PM BST
Pogacar attacks, Pedersen punctures
Pogacar does not look to be in trouble as he accelerates onto sector 15 and drops his rivals. Mads Pedersen goes backwards with a front wheel puncture. He has a wheel change but ends up in the chase group, a minute down.
Mathieu van der Poel joins him with ease and calm, picking up the pace on the rough cobblestones. That’s your favourite right there. 70km to go and the two pre-race favourites are in front, taking the race on. Madness.
02:13 PM BST
Five heavyweights in front
Sixteen cobbled sectors to go, 75km to the finish. The favourites have taken the race on early and we have a top-rate lead group: two-time winner Van der Poel, Tour de France champion Pogacar, last year’s runner-up and star sprinter Jasper Philipsen, former world champion Mads Pedersen and time-trial top dog Stefan Bissegger. Their lead is 55 seconds.
Pogacar stretches his body and drinks more water. Then he shakes his right calf and massages it. Cramp? He has looked a little subdued in the last 15 minutes. His body language is speaking volumes.
02:08 PM BST
Pogacar gets a feed and nearly crashes
The UAE Team Emirates car comes by. Pogacar takes a drink and nearly loses his front wheel on the car’s tyre as he goes to return the bottle. That was really close. TNT pundits are speculating he missed a feed earlier.
Onto sector 17 at Hornaing. We have five leaders, in front by 35 seconds: defending champion Mathieu van der Poel and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), Stefan Bissegger (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team) and Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG).
02:03 PM BST
Van der Poel attacks
Straight off the sector, Mathieu van der Poel hits the after-burners. Pogacar grits his teeth and closes the gap, with Pedersen, Bissegger and Philipsen in tow.
The Slovenian shakes his head and puts his hand up twice. Perhaps some mechanical issue. Or nutrition. Is he running low on energy?
01:58 PM BST
20 riders in front
The Dutchman accelerates on the tarmac, not wanting to give his rivals an easy kilometre. Pogacar has a slug from a water bottle and moves back to the front.
There are only 20-odd riders in the lead group, with Van Aert in the chasing group, as they enter sector 18 at Wallers (aka “Pont Gibus”), with 90km to go.
So far, so good for Pogacar. He has ridden the Queen of the Classics like an old hand and has team-mate Florian Vermeersch in the same group.
01:53 PM BST
Van der Poel accelerates over Arenberg sector
Jonas Rutsch leads the break onto the Arenberg sector. Behind in the bunch, Pogacar is fifth wheel and goes to the front, accelerating as the bunch thins out into a single line. Van der Poel takes over at halfway and accelerates at the end of the sector.
Not too wet or muddy after the overnight rain, which is a relief. Jonathan Milan punctures in the forest, as do Nils Politt and Clement Russo, that could be race over.
01:45 PM BST
Van der Poel takes over as bunch splits
The defending champion hits the front on Haveluy and keeps the pace high. It is crosswind through this sector, with little shelter. Coming back onto the tarmac, the lead group is down to 15 riders, including Pogacar, Van der Poel, Pedersen, Van Aert and young British talent Matthew Brennan.
In all that action, the gap to the leaders is just 20 seconds. 100km to go as the Arenberg pithead looms onto the horizon. It signals the start of the business end of Paris-Roubaix. Make it across this straight, bone-shaking sector in front and riders can start to dream.
01:39 PM BST
Pedersen and Pogacar attack
Pogacar finds himself 40 riders back on the tarmac beforehand but recovers to move into the top five for the cobbles.
Pedersen attacks briefly off the front then knocks off his effort. Very early to be going for it like this. Then Pogacar goes for it and looks over his shoulder to see the damage he has caused. Pedersen and Van der Poel are there, but it was more of a dummy, testing acceleration.
01:30 PM BST
110km to go, 15km from the fearsome Arenberg
A four-star sector at Haveluy, then it is onto the feared, five-star sector of the Trouee d’Arenberg. With some standing water from overnight rain, it could be even more slippery.
In recent years, the peloton has whittled down significantly in this part. Crashes are likely in the fight for position on the tarmac.
A few more falls to report: Miles Scotson of Arkea hits an inflatable protecting road furniture. Colby Simmons (EF Education) came a cropper coming off the last sector as a rider in front of him slowed to change his punctured wheel.
01:25 PM BST
A few shots from the first cobblestone sectors
01:21 PM BST
More shiners than miners at the modern Paris-Roubaix
The rhythm is stop-start, fights and movements for positioning onto cobbled sectors. Pogacar moves forward on his own without team-mates. It’s easy to waste energy dropping watts by yourself.
Alpecin-Deceuninck riders lead the bunch past ploughed fields and dung heaps on sector 2. The race will soon be in the northern France famously described in Emile Zola’s Germinal, formerly the heart of its mining industry. Some of the old slag heaps now have grass growing out of them.
01:11 PM BST
Ganna and Philipsen rejoin
As the Ganna and Philipsen group joins the back of the bunch, Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) accelerates. Mads Pedersen is straight on his wheel, with Pogacar and Van der Poel tracking the move. Ganna, meanwhile, heads straight to the front with a team-mate.
At the back of sector 24, Segaert and Behrens crash on the cobbles, the Lotto rider flying over his handlebars.
01:03 PM BST
130km to go: break leads by two minutes
TNT Sports pundit Adam Blythe reckons Wout van Aert “does not want to fight” for position. He believes he is nervy and slipping back in position. You cannot win this race without battling tooth-and-nail for every metre.
In front on the uphill sector 25 to Querenaing, Heiduk appears to be skipping turns. Still a long way to go and a lot of drama to come.
A reminder of the leaders: British rider Max Walker (EF Education-EasyPost), Oier Lazkano (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe), Jasper De Buyst (Lotto), Rory Townsend (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team), Kim Heiduk (Ineos Grenadiers), Jonas Rutsch (Intermarche-Wanty), Markus Hoelgaard (Uno-X Mobility) and Abram Stockman (Unibet Tietema Rockets).
12:56 PM BST
Another crash
Big crash at the back of the peloton, with several riders down. Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Mobility) was involved and Lidl-Trek helper Edward Theuns clutches his collarbone.
Anthony Turgis has tapped off the front of the bunch and is in no man’s land. Handy rider, a Tour de France stage winner last year.
12:51 PM BST
140km to go
The eight-man break leads by 1:45 as they cross the three-starred sector 26 at Vertain. The cobbles judder bikes and ripple muscles as the riders punch across them at 45km/h. They ride the crown of the road, the smoothest part.
Silvan Dillier is back on the front of the bunch for Alpecin-Deceuninck, leading it across. Pogacar’s tactics seem to be ‘follow Van der Poel’ and that is working just fine so far.
The chasing group with Ganna and Philipsen is only 30 seconds in arrears.
12:42 PM BST
Baby-faced Briton hanging with the favourites
Onto cobbled sector 27 at Saint-Python, Lidl-Trek are still in control. Pogacar is positioned just behind them, as is Van der Poel and teenage British rookie Matthew Brennan (Visma-Lease a Bike). Impressive poise and positioning from the 19-year-old.
The camera pans to his compatriot Josh Tarling, on the front of the Ganna group and on the back foot. He punctured after sector 29 and they are still a minute down.
12:34 PM BST
Ganna’s hopes up in the air
Mads Pedersen’s team has emerged mob-handed from the first sectors. There are four Lidl-Trek riders setting the pace, with another a few rows back in the bunch. Wout van Aert moves up down the side by himself, seemingly bereft of team-mates.
Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) is in a group one minute down. He is on the back foot and could be chasing all day.
12:27 PM BST
A race of attrition
You cannot win Paris-Roubaix on the first sectors, but you can lose it, caught up in crashes or suffering punctures. Former British champion Connor Swift has a bike change, then has been down in a crash.
It is such an attritional race. There are only 70-odd riders in the front group, including favourites Van der Poel, Pedersen and Pogacar. Wout van Aert has just rejoined the group, but chasing back will sap a little precious energy for later. Filippo Ganna is 50 seconds down after his mechanical issue, locked in his team car’s slipstream.
Onto cobbled sector 29. They come thick and fast for the rest of the race.
12:22 PM BST
Philipsen and Stuyven fall
Two crashes in the bunch just before the sector. Outside bet Jasper Stuyven (Lidl-Trek) is one of the victims. On another bend, Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), second last year, comes a cropper on slippery road and takes seconds to get his chain back on. Ouch.
Ineos Grenadiers are setting the pace on Troisvilles, but Ganna is going backwards fast. Perhaps a puncture. There are muddy patches on this first sector. Pogacar is at third from the front, with Van der Poel on his wheel. Best place to be.
12:17 PM BST
165km to go: the first cobbles of Paris-Roubaix
It’s a welcome to Hell for the breakaway as they hit the first cobbled sector at Troisvilles. The eight-man front group leads the bunch by three minutes. Max Walker, a rider who grew up idolising fellow Manxman Mark Cavendish, is up there.
A reminder of its make-up: Walker (EF Education-EasyPost), Oier Lazkano (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe), Jasper De Buyst (Lotto), Rory Townsend (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team), Kim Heiduk (Ineos Grenadiers), Jonas Rutsch (Intermarche-Wanty), Markus Hoelgaard (Uno-X Mobility) and Abram Stockman (Unibet Tietema Rockets).
Up front, you can pick your line and avoid the fight for position. Behind, it’s a febrile battle for every place and there have already been a few crashes.
12:11 PM BST
Crash for Wout van Aert
A few kilometres from the first of 30 cobbled sectors at Troisvilles, the nerves and speed are high. One of the pre-race favourites, Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) comes down in a crash, but he looks fairly unscathed. His team-mates pace him back to the bunch.
Matej Mohoric is not so fortunate. The back of his jersey is torn as he gingerly races on.
11:49 AM BST
Hoelgaard: up the road and in with a shot
Looking at the make-up of the break, debutant Markus Hoelgaard (Uno-X Mobility) could be the breakaway dark horse to do great things today. The versatile Norwegian has been in decent form, finishing 14th at the Tour of Flanders last weekend. Lazkano has a better pedigree, but has been out-of-sorts so far this season.
As the peloton takes on sustenance, 3:03 down on the leaders, it is time for me to do the same with an early lunch break before it all kicks off.
11:37 AM BST
200 kilometres to go
It has been a breathless beginning to the race, aided by a tailwind. The average speed is 53km/h. Well on track to make it the fastest edition in history. The break leads by 2:45, but they have had to work hard for that advantage. At this rate, they will be on the first cobbled sector at Troisvilles in about 50 minutes’ time.
This is the (relative) calm before the storm bit of the race. Alpecin-Deceuninck riders are in a line behind, followed by UAE Team Emirates-XRG and Pogacar. Blowing the race to bits early could be the order of the day for the favourites.
Fewer men in the lead group means fewer risks, a slightly easier fight for position and more manpower to hand.
11:31 AM BST
No sleep till Roubaix
Lidl-Trek leader Mads Pedersen has been speaking to TNT Sports. If he avoids misfortune, the Dane - second at the Tour of Flanders and a fine, solo winner at Gent-Wevelgem - should be a contender for this year’s Paris-Roubaix.
“The last thing we want is the same scenario as a few years ago where it splits in the crosswind and we are not there. It’s a race where you can’t sleep and you have to be aware of everything for six hours,” he says.
11:24 AM BST
Mathieu van der Poel’s helpers set the pace
With a slight lull in the speed, Alpecin-Deceuninck have moved to the front of the bunch. Silvan Dillier is riding on the front to limit the losses to the breakaway. Their lead is 2:20.
11:12 AM BST
220km to go: the breakaway extends its lead
Tadej Pogacar briefly pokes his nose out at the head of the bunch, where it has settled down. He intends to stay near the front from the get-go.
The eight riders in the breakaway have a lead of 50 seconds. Those escapees are Max Walker (EF Education-EasyPost), Oier Lazkano (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe), Jasper De Buyst (Lotto), Rory Townsend (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team), Kim Heiduk (Ineos Grenadiers), Jonas Rutsch (Intermarche-Wanty), Markus Hoelgaard (Uno-X Mobility) and Abram Stockman (Unibet Tietema Rockets).
11:07 AM BST
The romance of Paris-Roubaix
Paris-Roubaix is my favourite race of the year. I’ve followed it in the neutral service car, as a journalist, as a fan, almost every way.
This event has a special romance and always provides drama. It’s weird, wild and wonderful: the cobbled sectors are easily-missable farm tracks and tiny country roads in the hinterland between Paris and Lille, frequented by as many tractors as cars, which become thronged with cycling fans one day a year.
11:01 AM BST
Nine riders escape up the road
British rider Max Walker (EF Education-EasyPost) is one of them, alongside former Spanish champion Oier Lazkano (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe) and Jasper De Buyst (Lotto).
They only have a 10-second lead. As the bunch shoots past the yellow rape fields, the pace is red hot behind. They do not want to let this one go.
10:54 AM BST
Expect a rapid race given the wind direction
UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider Nils Politt, second here in 2019, returns to the bunch after dropping back. He could be a key helper for Pogacar or an outside bet for the win himself.
Weather will have a big say in the race. The wind is mainly cross-tailwind today, blowing from the south-west, which should make for a fast race and the chance for organised teams to break up the race in crosswinds. No rain yet...
10:46 AM BST
Pog the monument man
Edward Dodd writes in to say: “true greatness awaits Pog if he can master the cobbles today.”
If Pogacar can win Paris-Roubaix on debut, perhaps he is better than Eddy Merckx. The 26-year-old would then be just one race away from completing the set of cycling’s five monument races.
Frankly, given his inexperience here and the heavier powerhouses who are better-suited, even a top-10 result from him today would be impressive. Whatever the outcome, Pogacar will learn a lot about the race today.
10:39 AM BST
250km to go
Average speed so far is a bonkers 52km/h (33mph), so little wonder no escape can get away. They are going faster than most amateur cyclists can sprint...
Some long shots will look to get up the road and take a couple of minutes lead into the cobblestones. Every few years, an unheralded rider becomes a contender by doing that then hanging onto the leaders when they come by in the race’s finale - such as Nils Politt, Florian Vermeersch and Silvan Dillier.
10:34 AM BST
Pogacar: team-mates around me mean cards to play
How does Tadej Pogacar win this race? It’ll be a challenge, but team-mates in front with him after the toughest sectors could be the key, he tells TNT Sports.
I’m interested to hear who Telegraph readers think will win - and how you are are following the race. I know from last weekend’s Flanders coverage that a fair few have not renewed their TNT subscriptions after the recent price hike. Let me know in the comments below.
10:29 AM BST
Paris-Roubaix is under way
The peloton has rolled through the neutralised section and race director Christian Prudhomme waves his flag from the lead car. They’re off. 259.2 kilometres to go...
The first attacks head off the front, with young British rider Robert Donaldson (Jayco-Alula) featuring, but they do not get much leeway from the bunch.
10:25 AM BST
Mathieu van der Poel: “You need to be lucky”
The Dutchman is looking to make it three wins in a row at Paris-Roubaix today.
“It is always a difficult race to win and I’m already happy with the two wins I had. Let’s see what we can today.
It is a bit the same as every year, only difference is there is one extra favourite [Pogacar]. I think Roubaix is one of the races where most riders have a chance to actually win the race. You need to be lucky as well.
Everybody knows how fast [team-mate] Jasper is and he feels good as well, so let’s hope he can be in the final with the two of us as well.
It’s always a battle towards the cobbles so once you’re on them, it does not change a lot. But we will see, it’s difficult to see if they will be wet or dry. We expect a bit of wet cobbles in some sections.”
10:15 AM BST
Rain will makes cobbles slippery
The race has just rolled out of Compiegne under a grey sky. Expect full-gas racing in the fight for the breakaway and to be at the front. The first sectors at Troisvilles comes 95km in, but the bunch will likely cover that within two hours.
We can also anticipate some muddy sectors after overnight rain, with a small chance of more downpours in the afternoon. That will mean less grip and room for error on the slippery cobbles.
10:11 AM BST
The outsiders
Much like last weekend’s Tour of Flanders, bookies reckon it will be a battle between Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar.
However, Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) split them on the podium and has good legs. Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) made the early running in Belgium and this race is suited to the Italian powerhouse.
Then, there is a resurgent Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike), who may be a neutrals’ favourite after copping a lot of bad luck in the last twelve months.
09:58 AM BST
Case in point about the Arenberg
The peloton do reconaissance rides of the route on the Thursday and Friday before Paris-Roubaix to re-acquaint themselves with the key sectors (and the punishment in store).
Here is contender Wout van Aert narrowly avoiding a crash on the Trouee d’Arenberg with some deft bike handling.
09:52 AM BST
The decisive cobbled sectors and how they are rated
The cobblestone sectors are numbered in descending order, from 30 to 1, and are rated a bit like hotels, only inversely: five stars for the gnarliest, longest and most difficult sectors, one stars for the easiest and briefest.
The most-feared sector is the one through the Arenberg Forest, an arrow straight 2.3km-run on a bumpy old mining road through a horror-film forest. Even 100 kilometres from the finish, any wannabe champion needs to come out of this test in a decent position.
Closer to the finish, the Carrefour de l’Arbre has been decisive as a place for winning breakaways.
28. Quievy to Saint-Python (104km) ****
20. Haveluy to Wallers (154.5km) ****
19. Trouee d’Arenberg (163.9km) *****
17. Hornaing to Wandignies (176.8km) ****
15. Tilloy to Sars-et-Rosieres (187.7km) ****
12. Auchy-lez-Orsies to Bersee (205.2km) ****
11. Mons-en-Pevele (210km) *****
5. Camphin-en-Pevele (239.4km) ****
4. Carrefour de l’Arbre (242.1km) *****
09:42 AM BST
A French first in the women’s race
In yesterday’s women’s Paris-Roubaix, Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Visma-Lease a Bike) attacked with 20km to go and rode solo to a fine victory. Her success came only months after her return to road racing after years of dominating the mountain bike cross-country scene, winning Olympic gold in Paris and several world titles.
09:36 AM BST
Poga-can he do it?
The cycling media headlines have been dominated by Pogacar’s presence and that question: will he win?
My two centimes: this year, no. One day, maybe. This classic rewards a little more learning of the race’s viccisitudes and rhythms. Frankly, it is also the least-suited of the five Monuments to him. With no hills, his tactics will have to be tip-top.
There are a lot more variables, plus Pogacar also has team-mates who finished on the podium here in the past who he could feasibly work for. Plus, Mathieu Van der Poel is in his element here. If he falters, the strong Visma-Lease a Bike and Lidl-Trek teams could have his number. Mads Pedersen finished second in the Tour of Flanders and looks to be on the form of his life.
Here’s what cycling’s dominant force had to say pre-race:
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09:31 AM BST
Clash on the cobbles
Paris-Roubaix is here. There is no other race in road cycling quite like it. France’s iconic monument one-day race is defined by its 30 cobblestone sectors, most of them coming in the race’s second half.
The misshapen pavé bullies bike and body alike, robbing speed and momentum. There is usually a fight to be in front before them, leading to some falls. If this storied 259.2km classic, first held in 1896, had been thought up today, it would be scoffed at on the grounds of health and safety.
Particularly today, with reports of overnight showers on the route, likely making the rough road parts even more treacherous for the peloton.
To win “the Hell of the North”, strength, endurance, timing, teamwork, positioning, bike handling, mental adaptation and a fair bit of luck is needed. To amend a Mike Tyson quote, everyone has a plan until they get a puncture on one of the sectors or get caught up in one of the many crashes.
Dutch master Mathieu van der Poel is the defending champion, delivering a virtuoso display last April, winning solo by three minutes. With his cyclo-cross pedigree and technical ability, he is rightly the pre-race favourite. He may be smarting after his Tour of Flanders defeat to Tadej Pogačar last Sunday too.
Yes, Pogačar is here. He has made headlines simply by choosing to participate in this idiosyncratic race, given Tour de France champions tend to swerve such a risky test.
The world champion is a born racer, but he is up against a level playing field, with no notable hills as potential attack launchpads for the crack climber. Pogačar can power away on the flat too, but he will have to use his noggin as much as his legs. Rivals like Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) and Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) will likely fancy their chances against him on this route.
Meanwhile, there has never been a British winner in the men’s race. Hopes rest with young time-trial talent Joshua Tarling (Ineos Grenadiers), who was disqualified in controversial circumstances last year.
Paris-Roubaix rolls out of Compiègne - yes, not actually Paris anymore – at 10:10 BST, set to finish in the velodrome at Roubaix around at around 16:00, where the dusty-faced, broken competitors will lie on the grass wondering what on earth just happened.
