Mathieu Van der Poel wins Paris-Roubaix 2023. The Alpecin rider precedes teammate Jasper Philipsen and eternal rival Wout Van Aert after placing the decisive attack on the Carrefour de l'Arbre.

Attack by Wout Van Aert who lights up the race with 100 km to go , even before the Arenberg forest . Teammate Laporte , Van der Poel, Kung and Degenkolb accelerated together with the Belgian. Inside the forest of Arenberg Mads Pedersen attacks, remained slightly behind, with Filippo Ganna who tries to chase 15” behind.  

With 88 km to go, having passed the paved section of the Arenberg forest, the group of Ganna , also including two riders from Alpecin, Philpsen and Gianni Vermeersch returned to the group of Van Aert and Van der Poel; while Laporte lost ground due to a problem and awaited the chasing group in which Jumbo Visma's teammate Van Hooydonck and Florian Vermeersch managed to stay.

Thus two groups are formed, with the second platoon having about 1'15”, when there are 60 km left to finish.  

With 51km to go, Van der Poel stretches and takes Degenkolb on his wheel, with Van Aert who initially lets himself be surprised, but then catches up with his rival. Kung, Philipsen, Pedersen also make it back, as do Ganna, Rex and Walscheid. Just the German sprints at the beginning of Mons-en-Pévèle, with Ganna who takes the lead of the group to set the pace and soon returns to the Cofidis rider.  

Then Van der Poel extends again, but Van Aert follows him immediately, together with Philipsen, Kung, Ganna, Degenkolb and Pedersen, while Walscheid and Rex give way.  

With 45 km to go, Van der Poel stretches again and only Van Aert takes to his wheel, with the other five riders losing a few metres, but then managing to come back thanks, above all, to Ganna's work.  

On the Carrefour de l'Arbre Van der Poel and Deegenkolb touch, with the German falling, Van Aert takes advantage of this and extends, but Van der Poel promptly catches up; Van Aert punctures and Van der Poel goes away alone towards victory.

Behind Van Aert he stretches trying a desperate comeback, but Philipsen leaves him no space and in the sprint he earns second place, completing the one-two finish for Alpecin; third place for Van Aert, unlucky.  

  ARRIVAL ORDER:

1 VAN DER POEL Mathieu Alpecin-Deceuninck

2 PHILIPSEN Jasper Alpecin-Deceuninck 0:46

3 VAN AERT Wout Jumbo-Visma ,,

4 PEDERSEN Mads Trek-Segafredo 0:50

5 KÜNG Stefan Groupama - FDJ 360 ,,

6 GANNA Philip INEOS Grenadiers ,,

7 DEGENKOLB John DSM team 2:35

8 WALSCHEIDs Max Cofidis 3:31

9 REX Laurenz Intermarché - Circus - Wanty 3:35

10 LAPORTE Christophe Jumbo-Visma 4:11

11 VERMEERSCH Gianni Alpecin-Deceuninck ,,

12 VERMEERSCH Florian Dstny lot ,,

13BAX Sjoerd   UAE Team Emirates,,

14 VAN HOOYDONCK Nathan Jumbo-Visma ,,

15 KRISTOFF Alexander Uno-X Pro Cycling Team 5:36

Photo: Sprint Cycling Agency