Naa Paris-Roubaix preview Mathieu Van der Poel was critical of the new chicane designed by the organization before entering the Arenberg forest. And it was on this cobblestone section where the Dutch runner launched the first of his attacks before 60 kilometers from the finish line that he gave the final push before setting a truly individual time trial of 60,000 meters to reach the André-Pétrieux Velodrome.
A spectacular achievement that had epic overtones as additional information about the success of the leader of Alpecin group. The first new piece of information has been found and it is the first edition of the ‘Hell of the North’ where two world champions achieved victory, he in the men’s category and the Belgian. Lotte Kopecky in the feminine. In this way Van der Poel succeeded Peter Sagan (2018) and wrote his name in the list of honor of six cyclists in the world capable of winning Roubaix with the rainbow jersey, after Marcel Kint (1943), Rik Van Looy (1962), Eddy Merckx (1968), Francesco Moser and Bernard Hinault.
Furthermore, the Dutch cyclist replaced the Belgian Tom Boonen as the only rider to win two consecutive editions of the classic of the classics and was three minutes ahead of his teammate in the Alpecin team, Jasper Philipsenit was the biggest difference by a winner since the Belgian won Johan Museum in 2002 (3’04’), the largest margin achieved by Eddy Merckx in 1970 (5’21”).
As if that wasn’t enough, the grandson of Raymond Poulidor achieved the fastest success in the 121st edition of the Paris-Roubaixcomplete 260 kilometers in 5h25’58” at an average of 47.85 kilometers, after completing 59.7 kilometers alone, the second longest distance in history after the Belgian victory Andre Tchmil in 1994.
With his victory this Sunday, Van der Poel now has six cycling monuments won, having won in the same year as Tour in Flanders and the Paris-Roubaix. Van der Poel made his road debut this year after winning his sixth cyclocross world title and winning 13 of the 14 CX races in which he participated, and in his first five races he won three (Paris-Roubaix, Tour of Flanders and E3 Saxo Classic). Having accomplished the first three goals of its spring classic season, it has Amstel Gold Race (April 14), which he won in 2019, and the Liège-Bastogne-Liègewho has only competed once, which was 6th in 2020 and where he will compete with the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar before focusing on Olympic Games in Paris.
Source: La Verdad
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