Wout van Aert Defeats Tadej Pogacar to Win First Paris-Roubaix Title
Belgian cyclist Wout van Aert secured his first Paris-Roubaix title on Sunday, ending a decade-long streak of bad luck in the prestigious Monument classic. In a grueling race across the cobbles, the 31-year-old outdueled world champion Tadej Pogacar in the final sprint at the Roubaix Velodrome. The race was marked by mechanical issues for top contenders; both Van Aert and Pogacar suffered punctures, while Van Aert’s rival Mathieu van der Poel endured two mechanical failures that prevented him from contesting the finish. Van Aert’s victory marks his second Monument win, following his 2020 Milan-Sanremo triumph. He dedicated the emotional win to his late former teammate Michael Goolaerts, who died during the 2018 edition of the race. Jasper Stuyven finished third, 13 seconds behind, while Van der Poel took fourth place after losing significant time. Pogacar, who had previously won Milan-Sanremo and the Tour of Flanders this season, missed the chance to become the first Tour de France winner to claim Paris-Roubaix since 1981. Van Aert described the victory as a lifelong goal achieved despite repeated setbacks.
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Wout van Aert Defeats Tadej Pogacar to Win First Paris-Roubaix Title
Belgian cyclist Wout van Aert secured his first Paris-Roubaix title on Sunday, ending a decade-long streak of bad luck in the prestigious Monument classic. In a grueling race across the cobbles, the 31-year-old outdueled world champion Tadej Pogacar in the final sprint at the Roubaix Velodrome. The race was marked by mechanical issues for top contenders; both Van Aert and Pogacar suffered punctures, while Van Aert’s rival Mathieu van der Poel endured two mechanical failures that prevented him from contesting the finish. Van Aert’s victory marks his second Monument win, following his 2020 Milan-Sanremo triumph. He dedicated the emotional win to his late former teammate Michael Goolaerts, who died during the 2018 edition of the race. Jasper Stuyven finished third, 13 seconds behind, while Van der Poel took fourth place after losing significant time. Pogacar, who had previously won Milan-Sanremo and the Tour of Flanders this season, missed the chance to become the first Tour de France winner to claim Paris-Roubaix since 1981. Van Aert described the victory as a lifelong goal achieved despite repeated setbacks.
The Guardian