Paris-Roubaix one-day race - Paris-Roubaix: Winner van Baarle takes the cobblestone

Outsider tip Dylan van Baarle leaned exhaustedly on the handlebars and buried his face in his hands in disbelief.

The Dutch professional cyclist won the fastest Paris-Roubaix in history on Easter Sunday and celebrated the greatest success of his career with his triumph in the "Hell of the North". With an average speed of 45.792 km/h, van Baarle crossed the finish line in the famous Roubaix velodrome as a soloist. Belgian rider Wout van Aert came second ahead of Swiss rider Stefan Küng. Former winner John Degenkolb was the best German in 18th place, while Nils Politt finished 22nd.

As usual, the trophy is a cobblestone

"I couldn't believe it when I rode into the velodrome alone. I looked to see where the others were. But I was alone. It was crazy," said van Baarle after the 254.5 kilometre ride over 30 cobblestone sectors. A fortnight ago, the 29-year-old had to settle for second place in the Tour of Flanders. Now he managed the big win. As usual, the trophy was a massive cobblestone.

Italian champion Elisa Longo Borghini won the women's race the day before as a soloist ahead of Belgian Lotte Kopecky and Lucinda Brand from the Netherlands. After 124.7 kilometres, Romy Kasper was the best German in the second edition of the women's race in 19th place.

The men's race picked up speed just over 200 kilometres before the finish. The British team Ineos-Grenadiers split the field at a wind edge and a leading group of over 70 riders formed. The favourites Mathieu van der Poel, van Aert and Kasper Asgreen all missed the attack, as did Degenkolb. Instead, Politt was at the front.

Several falls and defects

Although the group pulled out a lead of well over a minute, the race reorganised itself after the infamous sector in the Arenberg forest due to several crashes and punctures. A trio consisting of Matej Mohoric, Tom Devriendt and Laurent Pichon led the race with a good 80 kilometres to go, while the favourites in the peloton were around two minutes behind.

Mohoric, who is known for his long escapes, was a particular worry for the stars of the race. After all, the Slovenian had already celebrated victories at the Tour de France and Milan-Sanremo with daring escapes. Van Aert personally stepped up the pace around 57 kilometres before the finish, which meant that Degenkolb and Politt were finally left behind.

On the brutal five-star Mons-en-Pévèle sector, van Aert started again and the group of top riders narrowed once more. However, the Belgian champion was unable to get the race under control. His compatriot Yves Lampaert and the Dutchman Dylan van Baarle formed a new strong leading group with Mohoric and Devriendt with a lead of over 40 seconds.

Although Flanders winner van der Poel was finally left behind, van Aert did not see the front again. Van Baarle finally pulled away shortly before the 2100 metre long Carrefour de l'Arbre, one of the toughest sectors, and was not to be denied his triumph.

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