Paris–Roubaix 2025: Third Consecutive Victory for Mathieu Van der Poel!

by Federico La Capria

Compiègne, April 13, 2025.

It’s a unique and special Sunday morning today in France. A day eagerly awaited by cycling fans, always eager to witness and take part in one of the most beautiful, toughest, and thrilling races in the world. Paris–Roubaix, the Hell of the North, has lost none of its century-old charm, continuing to deliver new stories and emotions that belong to the legend of cycling.

The race starts at 11:25 a.m. under favorable weather conditions. No rain—luckily it had fallen overnight—and a drying wind spared the riders both dust and mud.

The course spans 259.2 km, including 30 cobbled sectors covering a total of 55.3 km, starting after 95.8 km of road.

Italian rider Matteo Moschetti of Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team is the first to break away around the 12th kilometer. He is quickly joined by other riders, and following another attack by German Jonas Rutsch of Intermarché–Wanty, a lead group of eight forms at the front of the race: Rory Townsend (Q36.5), Oier Lazkano (Red Bull–Hansgrohe), Kim Heiduk (Ineos Grenadiers), Markus Hoelgaard (Uno-X Mobility), Max Walker (EF Education–EasyPost), Jasper De Buyst (Lotto), and Abram Stockman (Unibet Tietema Rockets).

Working well together and averaging over 50 km/h, the eight-man breakaway gains time and reaches the first cobbled sector with a lead of 3 minutes and 10 seconds.

Meanwhile, several crashes occur behind them, involving Italians Manlio Moro (Movistar) and Michele Gazzoli (XDS Astana), and later Wout Van Aert (Jumbo–Visma Lease a Bike), Matej Mohoric (Bahrain Victorious), and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin–Deceuninck). Around the 100 km mark, during the first cobbled sector, Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers)—considered a race favorite—suffers a mechanical issue and is forced to drop back. He receives a bike from teammate Conor Swift and continues.

This situation allows Mathieu Van der Poel (Alpecin–Deceuninck) and Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates XRG) to gain nearly a minute over their rivals.

After 130 km, Ganna completes an exhausting chase and rejoins the two favorites. Just under 100 km from the finish, Pogacar attacks before entering the Arenberg Forest.

Van der Poel stays with him through the cobbled sector and accelerates afterward, dropping Ganna once again.

The early breakaway riders are caught, and the new front group forms with Mads Pedersen (Lidl–Trek), Jasper Philipsen, Stefan Bissegger (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), Pogacar, and Van der Poel.

It becomes a race of attrition: Pedersen punctures, Philipsen and Bissegger drop off, and only Pogacar and Van der Poel remain, cheered on by massive crowds. It appears tightly contested until, 38.1 km from the finish—after the Pont-Thibault to Ennevelin sector—Pogacar misjudges a right-hand turn, veers off the road into the grass, crashes, and throws his chain.

Thanks to his exceptional cyclocross skills, Van der Poel stays upright, taking a tighter inside line and immediately gaining 20 seconds. Pogacar receives a new bike from his team car and begins a desperate chase.

Van der Poel, meanwhile, unleashes his full power, expertly navigating the remaining cobbled sectors and steadily increasing his lead. Behind them, Van Aert, Pedersen, and Florian Vermeersch battle for the final podium spot.

With less than 16 km to go, Van der Poel suffers a mechanical issue of his own but manages to switch bikes without losing time.

Approaching Roubaix, Van der Poel enters the André Pétrieux Velodrome to a deafening roar. He completes the first lap, and by the time the bell rings, Pogacar is still outside the track. At 4:57 p.m., after 5 hours, 31 minutes, and 27 seconds, Van der Poel crosses the finish line, arms raised, holding up three fingers to signal his third consecutive victory in the Queen of the Classics.

Only Octave Lapize (1909–1911) and Francesco Moser (1978–1980) had accomplished such a feat before him.

Tadej Pogacar finishes second, after a superb but ill-fated race.

In a sprint for third, Mads Pedersen beats Van Aert and Vermeersch, making it a podium composed entirely of former World Champions—testament to the exceptional level of this race, one of the toughest and most prestigious on the cycling calendar.

Filippo Ganna, despite his early misfortunes, finishes as the top Italian in 13th place, 6 minutes behind the winner.

Once again, the riders offered a breathtaking, unforgettable spectacle—fighting with honor, tackling every obstacle with courage and strength, reminding us that cycling is a true school of life. It is always the riders themselves, through their effort and bravery, who make a race great and who gift us their unforgettable exploits for the eternal history of sport.