Mathieu van der Poel dominated the 2024 Paris-Roubaix, overcoming a puncture and a fierce challenge from world champion Tadej Pogacar to claim his third straight victory in the Queen of the Classics.
The Slovenian cyclist made a costly mistake on a sharp bend, losing ground to Van der Poel’s relentless attack, which ultimately won him his eighth title in a Monument Classic. Despite being at a disadvantage due to his light weight and initial scare on his first offensive move, Pogacar pushed hard until he could no longer recover.
Van der Poel’s brutal attack 87km from the finish left Pogacar gasping for air, prompting the Slovenian to request assistance with glucose gels. However, when Van der Poel punctured a tire, Pogacar saw an opportunity and accelerated with 71km left. The Dutchman’s teammate Jasper Philipsen could not follow, leaving the two cyclists in a tight battle.
As they entered the final cobbled section, Van der Poel increased his lead before snatching the title. However, he wasn’t unscathed – a bottle thrown from a spectator struck him in the face. “Who on earth comes to a bike race to do that?” said Rob Hatch on TNT Sports.
Van der Poel’s victory marked a historic moment for the Netherlands and France, with Pauline Ferrand-Prévôt winning the women’s race on Saturday. For Van der Poel, it was a testament to his dedication and perseverance, saying “It means a lot…I’m just happy I found my good legs again.”
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/apr/13/mathieu-van-der-poel-fends-off-tadej-pogacar-bottle-thrown-face-win-paris-roubaix-cycling