Mathieu van der Poel was insistent that he was happy to finish on the podium at Paris-Roubaix, conceding that he didn't possess the necessary energy to win a sensational edition of the race.
Riding the Hell of the North for just the first time in his career, the Alpecin-Fenix rider was one of the pre-race favourites, in part due to his cyclocross skills that he admitted aided him on the wet, muddy pavé.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
-
“I feel proud racing guys I used to watch on TV” says French teenage sensation Paul Seixas after climbing to 6th in Critérium du Dauphiné GCAs Romain Bardet prepares to bow out, 18-year-old Paul Seixas looks well prepared to take up his stage racing baton
-
Tadej Pogačar: I didn’t like Visma’s dangerous tactics on the Croix de Fer descent but that’s modern cyclingPogačar unhappy with rival team's approach during Critérium du Dauphiné's queen stage, as Jonas Vingegaard says “I hope that this race can help me get better"
-
Mathieu van der Poel fractures wrist in MTB crash, puts summer of racing in doubtVan der Poel diagnosed with minor avulsion fracture of the scaphoid bone after two crashes at MTB World Series event in Nové Město
-
I went to Paris-Roubaix Femmes and was shocked at how it is still treated as secondary to the men’s raceThe women’s version of the Hell of the North is five years old, but needs to be put more on equal footing with the men
-
Broken hips, hands, and collarbones: Paris-Roubaix's lengthy injury list lays bare brutality of race"It probably wasn't the best idea to continue," says one of weekend's many wounded riders
-
Professional riders need more protection from mindless 'fans' at major races to avoid another Mathieu van der Poel Paris-Roubaix bottle incidentCycling's authorities must do everything within their power to prevent spectators from assaulting riders
-
'I'll take a top 10, that's alright in the end' - Fred Wright finishes best of British at Paris-RoubaixBahrain-Victorious rider came back from a mechanical on the Arenberg to place ninth
-
'This is the furthest ride I've actually ever done' - Matthew Brennan lights up Paris-Roubaix at 19 years oldThe day's youngest rider reflects on 'killer' Monument debut
-
'One of the hardest races I've ever done in my life' - Tadej Pogačar finishes runner-up on Paris-Roubaix debut after crashWorld champion reacts to 'extremely hard' battle with Mathieu van der Poel
-
'I thought it would be dark by the time I got here' - Joey Pidcock, the last rider to finish Paris-Roubaix, on his brutal day outQ36.5 rider finishes outside time limit, but still completes race with lap of the Roubaix Velodrome
