Van Der Poel wins Paris-Roubaix after Degenkolb crash and Van Aert flat

Dutchman Mathieu Van der Poel powered his way to his first Paris-Roubaix victory on Sunday as he left his rivals reeling with a 15km solo attack at the end of a typically eventful “Hell of the North” race.

Van der Poel, of the Alpecin-Deceuninck team was part of a seven-rider leading group that seized control with 50km of the 257km race remaining. He then launched an attack on the Carrefour de l’Arbre cobbled section after John Degenkolb (Team DSM) crashed heavily and his main rival Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) punctured.

There was no stopping the 28-year-old Van der Poel then as he surged away in the sunshine towards the finish at the iconic Vélodrome André-Pétrieux.