Mathieu Van der Poel was whipped forward by thousands of cycling fans. © APA/afp / BERNARD PAPON

Van der Poel like a devil in the hell of the north

Road cycling world champion Mathieu van der Poel also won the 121st spring classic Paris-Roubaix in a confident manner.

07 April 2024

From: apa

Like last year, the Dutchman took victory after 259,7 kilometers, including 55,7 kilometers over the dreaded cobblestones.

Van der Poel's Belgian teammate Jasper Philipsen and the Dane Mads Pedersen took second and third place by a clear margin.

Mathieu Van der Poel won ahead of Jasper Philipsen (l.) and Mads Pedersen (r.) © ANSA / TERESA SUAREZ

Van der Poel had just won the Tour of Flanders single-handedly last week. He is the first driver since Swiss classics specialist Fabian Cancellara in 2013 to achieve this rare double. For the Dutchman, it is his sixth success overall at one of the five cycling monuments.

The decision was made with a good 60 kilometers to go when Van der Poel attacked and the competition could no longer follow.