Paris-Roubaix fantastic trio of Van der Poel (as Moser)
3' min read
3' min read
He is the only one, at least in the classics, to overshadow the Martian. To say no to him, to not give in to the overwhelming power of the (almost) unbeatable Tadej Pogacar.
The flying Dutchman, Mathieu Van der Poel, 30, won Paris-Roubaix for the third time in a row. A fantastic trio, in the race of stones, which in modern cycling had only been achieved by Francesco Moser between 1978 and 1980. More than 40 years ago, however. Another world, and not just cycling. A fact that says a lot about how difficult it is to achieve this feat in the most feared and loved classic of the North.
Stronger than the Martian, it was said, because Pogacar, for a skid at about 38 km from the finish, while he was in a breakaway with Van der Poel, lost the fleeting moment, arriving at the end with a gap of one minute and 18 seconds from the Dutchman who, however, in case of a sprint finish, would probably have had the better because he was stronger in the sprint. Third was Mads Pedersen at 2'10" ahead of Van Aert. On the other hand, it was a day to forget for Pippo Ganna, who was held up by a puncture 150 km from the finish. Thirteenth at the finish line and still first of the Italians. Now increasingly residual, apart from Ganna, in this generation of phenomena
An imperial Van Der Poel, therefore, which, however, in no way detracts from the courage and tenacity of Pogacar, for the first time in the Roubaix. By now the two are taking turns. One time one wins, the next the other. At the San Remo Mathieu had won, last week at Flanders Pogacar did.
"Don't think of it as revenge," observed Vdp when asked about their rivalry. "Tadej is world champion, to find him in front of me is quite normal, but this time I won. That incident definitely damaged him. Otherwise we would have arrived at the velodrome together. But this is Roubaix, you don't do it with ifs...".
