Category: Paris – Roubaix Men

Mathieu van der Poel’s season “could have been ended” by the fan who appeared to throw a cap towards the Dutchman’s back wheel during Paris-Roubaix, Adam Blythe said on Eurosport’s The Breakaway.

There have been numerous crashes in recent weeks in elite cycling, but this would have been an entirely avoidable one, and it was subject to discussion by the Eurosport panel afterwards.

Dan Lloyd began: “We saw at 42.2km to go that one of the fans threw a casquette – a sort of cloth cap – fairly deliberately that looks, I think I’m right in saying, into the back wheel of Mathieu van der Poel.

“[It’s] unlikely anything would have happened from that, but it goes on from last week in Flanders where a few people saw beer being thrown, there’s a lot of booing – I think booing’s probably fine – but you can’t throw stuff at the riders at any point.”

London 2012 gold medallist Dani Rowe added: “It’s just ridiculous, we’re talking about rider safety aren’t we? The riders being in control somewhat of their own safety, but the fans have got to take control as well. That’s just absolutely ridiculous.”

Former Lotto-Soudal rider Blythe pointed out that it was an act that could not only have taken the victory away from Van der Poel on the day, but that it could have curtailed the Dutchman’s season.

“It’s disrespectful,” he said. “Everything around that, they [the perpetrators] don’t understand the preparation before it, they don’t understand all the sacrifice he’s made.

“That could have been a crash that could have ended his season, not just that race. That’s what they don’t understand with it.

“They don’t understand the whole expense of the team, his life, his family, everything around it that could just go down like that.”

On that move, Lloyd said: “It seems like a really good step doesn’t it? We can identify them hopefully, because it’s such a small, small minority that could potentially spoil things for the rest.

“I don’t think they’re going to barrier the entire length of the 57kms of cobbles each year, but they might start to do something which makes the fans stand further back so that they can’t impede the riders in the way that we sometimes see.

“One of the great parts of this sport is that you can get so up close and personal but don’t touch them or throw anything at them.”

Mathieu van der Poel said a long-range solo attack that delivered him a comprehensive Paris-Roubaix double was not planned, as he revelled in a dominant day on the cobbles of Northern France.

His team-mate Jasper Philipsen took second to round off a triumphant day for Alpecin-Deceuninck.

Speaking shortly after crossing the finish line inside the Roubaix Velodrome, Van der Poel said: “It’s hard to believe actually – again with the team maybe even stronger than last year.

“I’m super proud of the boys and I’m very happy to finish it off.”

Quizzed whether his ambitious attack was planned, he responded: “No, not really.

“I just wanted to make the race hard from there on because I know that’s my strength and I felt super good actually today. When I had a gap, I knew that it was a tailwind to the finish for the most part.

“I had a really good day today.”

The ‘Hell of the North’ delivered its usual chaos via regular punctures and crashes, but the Dutch 29-year-old serenely plotted his way round the course as the race was reportedly completed in its quickest-ever time.

“Of course you always know in Roubaix a puncture is never far away,” Van der Poel continued.

“But today I felt incredible and I could really enjoy the last part.”

“I never could have dreamed of this as a child,” he added. “I was super motivated for this year – I wanted to show the [rainbow] jersey in a nice way.

“It goes beyond expectations and I’m a bit lost for words actually but I really want to enjoy this moment.”

Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) has said riders are the biggest problem for safety in the peloton, but he will continue to take risks in pursuit of victory.

Two-time Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard’s (Visma-Lease a Bike) defence of the yellow jersey is in doubt after he suffered a fractured collarbone, broken ribs and a collapsed lung in a crash that also saw Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) fracture his collarbone and Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates) suffer two thoracic spine vertebral body fractures.

The issue of rider safety is prominent in event organisers’ thoughts at Paris-Roubaix this weekend, as changes have been made to the approach to the Arenberg Forest section with a chicane added to slow the riders on their entry onto the cobbles.

Van der Poel was not happy about that decision, albeit he praised officials for looking to implement change.

“I think it’s good that they’re trying something,” Van der Poel said. “But in my opinion, the chicane is not the right solution and also to do it in the week before the race is not the best option either.

“Obviously, it’s one of the most dangerous places of the season, so it’s good that they’re thinking about change, but for me change isn’t always the best thing to do.

“If you go into Arenberg in 20th position, it’s pretty good, you’re still in the race, but if you go into the chicane in 20th position, I think everyone who is after positions five to 10 will get stuck and then you easily lose 30 seconds.”

Van der Poel is the hot favourite to win Paris-Roubaix for the second year in a row, and he will take risks if it helps him achieve his goals.

“I think the most dangerous part of cycling is the riders themselves,” the Dutchman said. “We take the risks and that’s the main problem, ­everyone wants to be at the front in the same place and it’s not possible. We can change a lot of things to make it better, but it’s never going to be completely secure.

“The riders are the main issue, but I’m also joining the party. If you want to win, you have to be where everyone wants to be at the crucial moments.”

Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) has said riders are the biggest problem for safety in the peloton, but he will continue to take risks in pursuit of victory.

Two-time Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard’s (Visma-Lease a Bike) defence of the yellow jersey is in doubt after he suffered a fractured collarbone, broken ribs and a collapsed lung in a crash that also saw Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) fracture his collarbone and Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates) suffer two thoracic spine vertebral body fractures.

The issue of rider safety is prominent in event organisers’ thoughts at Paris-Roubaix this weekend, as changes have been made to the approach to the Arenberg Forest section with a chicane added to slow the riders on their entry onto the cobbles.

Van der Poel was not happy about that decision, albeit he praised officials for looking to implement change.

“I think it’s good that they’re trying something,” Van der Poel said. “But in my opinion, the chicane is not the right solution and also to do it in the week before the race is not the best option either.

“Obviously, it’s one of the most dangerous places of the season, so it’s good that they’re thinking about change, but for me change isn’t always the best thing to do.

“If you go into Arenberg in 20th position, it’s pretty good, you’re still in the race, but if you go into the chicane in 20th position, I think everyone who is after positions five to 10 will get stuck and then you easily lose 30 seconds.”

Van der Poel is the hot favourite to win Paris-Roubaix for the second year in a row, and he will take risks if it helps him achieve his goals.

“I think the most dangerous part of cycling is the riders themselves,” the Dutchman said. “We take the risks and that’s the main problem, ­everyone wants to be at the front in the same place and it’s not possible. We can change a lot of things to make it better, but it’s never going to be completely secure.

“The riders are the main issue, but I’m also joining the party. If you want to win, you have to be where everyone wants to be at the crucial moments.”