And for once, no big surprise. Paris-Roubaix often likes to indulge in unexpected suitors, but this Sunday April 9, the legendary cycling event offered itself to the announced favorite: the Dutchman Mathieu Van der Poel. For his third participation, the grandson of Raymond Poulidor wins the Grail, at 28, confirming his very good form since the start of the season.
A hot start to the season
He actually displayed it well, the rider of the Alpecin-Deceunink team, at the start of this 120e edition of the race. A brilliant success, already, on Milan-San Remo, on March 18, 62 years after the triumph of his grandfather – who, no, was not always an eternal second – had signed his ambition. Then last week, in a Tour of Flanders of anthology, a huge fight with Tadej Pogacar and a second place behind the Slovenian said the class of the guy.
The winner of the Tour de France 2020 having not tried his luck again this year on the cobblestones, Mathieu Van der Poel seemed the best equipped to win in the scheduled duel with his lifelong rival, the Belgian Wout Van Aert. Since their tender youth, the two riders have been elbowing each other on the cyclo-cross tracks first, then on the road, and each of their appearances on one-day races panics amateurs and experts in the discipline. Were we going to witness again this time a great explanation between the Dutchman all fired up and the overpowered Belgian?
Cycling: the carbon footprint at the back of the peloton
The two champions did not take long to embark the peloton on a hellish train, hardening the race enough to leave with them only a handful of contenders capable of sheltering their debate. But 70 km from the finish, past the famous Trouée d’Arenberg, we already felt that the game was going to be played out between the two valiants, the quickest to try a few small pikes just to assess the forces present.
The other heavyweights, Mads Petersen, Stefen Küng, Filippo Ganna, were well in contact, but more followers than decision makers in this trip led at full speed (the speed record of the race was beaten, at 46.84 km / h) . And this is how the two men in a hurry entered the Carrefour de l’Arbre section, 17 km from the finish, a dented section which often serves as a justice of the peace. Except that mess.
Bad luck by Wout Van Aert
Everything was in place for a confrontation of giants, on the pedals, but it was misfortune who invited herself to play a nasty trick. And she fell on Wout Van Aert, victim of a puncture just after having placed an attack. 25 seconds will be enough to fix it, but it was already too late. Mathieu Van der Poel had taken advantage of the windfall to fly away.
Sport: weight issues also plague champions
On the Roubaix velodrome, the Dutchman was able to raise his arms without stress, with a lap ahead of his pursuers. Wout Van Aert finally gave up second place to Jasper Philipsen, teammate of Mathieu Van der Poel. Another disappointment for the Belgian, who is definitely struggling to build a track record on the great classics to match his talent. He is still chasing a success in one of the discipline’s five “monuments” (Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Tour of Lombardy), when Mathieu Van der Poel is already on its fourth (Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders in 2020 and 2022 and, therefore, Paris-Roubaix). The Belgian for the time being therefore remains above all the impressive winner of 9 stages on the Tour de France when his profile seems to promise him these classics which always refuse. Postponed ? Without a doubt.
Mathieu Van der Poel can display a big smile. Ninth in 2022, third in 2021 and first this year on the cobbles. Come on, a thought for his grandfather. In 18 appearances, Raymond Poulidor has never done better than fifth.
