Van Aert finally conquers Paris-Roubaix, beats Pogacar in epic sprint finish

BELGIUM: Belgium’s Wout van Aert finally ended a long wait to win Paris-Roubaix on Sunday, edging out world champion Tadej Pogacar in a thrilling sprint finish after a brutal day on the cobbled roads.

The 31-year-old overcame tough conditions and setbacks, including a puncture, while Pogacar and rival Mathieu van der Poel also faced mechanical issues during the race. Van der Poel, who suffered two bike problems, was unable to contest the final sprint.

Despite the chaos, Van Aert stayed strong through the demanding cobbled sectors and timed his effort perfectly, launching a trademark burst of speed inside the Roubaix Velodrome to secure victory. The win marked his second Monument triumph after Milan–San Remo in 2020.

Fellow Belgian Jasper Stuyven finished third, 13 seconds behind, while Van der Poel came home fourth after losing significant time due to mechanical problems.

After the race, Van Aert described the victory as a dream come true, admitting he had stopped believing at times due to past misfortunes in the race but kept pushing to achieve it. He dedicated the win to his former teammate Michael Goolaerts, who tragically passed away during the 2018 edition.

Van Aert added that beating the reigning world champion in a sprint finish made the achievement even more special.

Pogacar, who had already won Milan–San Remo and the Tour of Flanders this season, was aiming to become the first Tour de France winner since 1981 to win Paris–Roubaix, but fell just short.

In the women’s race, Germany’s Franziska Koch claimed victory in a sprint finish ahead of Dutch great Marianne Vos, with Pauline Ferrand-Prévot also in contention during the finale.