Gallery: Inside the fastest-ever edition of Paris-Roubaix

Gallery: Inside the fastest-ever edition of Paris-Roubaix

Rouleur photojournalist James Startt captured a monumental Mathieu van der Poel on his way to his second Paris-Roubaix victory

Images: James Startt Words: James Startt

Mathieu van der Poel’s second consecutive Paris-Roubaix was nothing short of a masterpiece, completing the 259.9km race in a record-breaking five hours, 25 minutes and 58 secondsAnd coming on the heels of his memorable triumph in the Tour of Flanders last week, the world champion confirmed once again that he is the greatest classics rider of his generation. 

Rouleur followed Van der Poel from start to finish in a Sunday in Hell, documenting what will surely go down as one of the most historic editions in the event’s 121-year history.

Van der Poel steps out of his team bus as he makes his way to the start in the town of Compiènge. 

Alone in his thoughts, the world champion rides up to the sign-in podium with barely 10 minutes remaining before the Dutchman sets out to defend his Paris-Roubaix title.

Riders await the official start on the cobbled streets of Compiègne.

Denmark’s Kasper Asgreen (Soudal–Quick-Step) leads the traditional early-morning break, even if the pack gave them little room to run.

The peloton accelerates out of the tight corner on the first cobblestone sector in Troisvilles as the tension mounts.

From the very first sector of cobbles, Van der Poel seemingly never left the front of the race.

European champion Christophe Laporte (Visma-Lease a Bike) was one of the race's early victims. 

Van der Poel drives the pace through the mythic Arenberg Forest.

After launching his blistering attack on the Orchies sector, Van der Poel rides along over the Auchy-les-Orchies cobbles. Behind the gap only increases.

Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) leads the chase in front of former winner John Degenkolb (Team dsm–firmenich PostNL). The two are probably well aware that victory was well up the road already.

Van der Poel powers through the treacherous Carrefour de l’Arbre on his way to Roubaix.

The king in his arena. 

Winning Paris-Roubaix with the rainbow stripes of the world champion on your shoulders could only be a dream for any cyclist. Van der Poel makes it a reality.

Like last year, Van der Poel’s teammate Jasper Philipsen finished in second, powering past Mads Pedersen and Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates) as the Alpeci  team demonstrated why they are now the world’s best Classics team. Philipsen won Milan-Sanremo, and with Van der Poel’s victories in the Tour Flanders and now Roubaix, they have won every Monument so far in 2024.

Podium time with the world’s most cherished cobblestone.

British national champion Fred Wright (Bahrain-Victorious) reflects on his own Roubaix.

Van der Poel awaits his turn at the press conference.

Van der Poel relives his recent Roubaix with the journalists inside Roubaix’s modern Stab Velodrome, named after local hero Jean Stablinski.

Jasper Philipsen in the famous Roubaix showers. 

Van der Poel may have been the last into the historic Roubaix showers, but this didn't concern him.

Images: James Startt Words: James Startt

READ MORE

‘There’s a lack of support for retired riders’ - Grace Brown on navigating life after racing

‘There’s a lack of support for retired riders’ - Grace Brown on navigating life after racing

While the former Olympic and World champion is relishing new ventures in retirement, she is keen to ensure more support is in place for those...

Read more
Ratings of the Women's WorldTour teams at the Classics

Sprint dominance, cobbled mayhem and Ardennes surprises - rating the women's teams at the Spring Classics

From SD Worx-Protime's continued success to Canyon-SRAM's disappointment, Rouleur takes a look at how each squad performed at the Spring Classics

Read more
Alpecin and UAE delight but Visma and Red bull struggle - rating the teams' performances at the Spring Classics

Alpecin and UAE delight but Visma and Red bull struggle - rating the teams' performances at the Spring Classics

With the curtains closing on the Spring Classics, Rouleur looks back on the winners and losers of this year's campaign 

Read more
Tadej Pogačar in the pink jersey at the 2024 Giro d'Italia

How to watch and live stream the Giro d'Italia 2025

A guide to where you can catch all the Giro d'Italia action from home or on the go

Read more
Writing history: Why Kim Le Court’s Liège-Bastogne-Liège win is so important

Writing history: Why Kim Le Court’s Liège-Bastogne-Liège win is so important

The Mauritian trailblazer took the biggest victory of her career on Sunday after a challenging road to the top of the sport

Read more

READ RIDE REPEAT

JOIN ROULEUR TODAY

Get closer to the sport than ever before.

Enjoy a digital subscription to Rouleur for just £4 per month and get access to our award-winning magazines.

SUBSCRIBE