15:25
Van Baarle throws in the towel
Impressive winner last year, Dylan Van Baarle has just given up. He had fallen heavily in the Trouée d’Arenberg.
15:20
Two minutes ahead for the leading men
The lead is now close to two minutes over the peloton, which has just recovered Laporte. Behind, we drive probably already beaten, except favorable circumstances…
15:11
It’s hard for Laporte…
The Jumbo had done everything well, but Laporte’s puncture ruined all his plans. The Frenchman, sandwiched between the peloton and the leading group, is now 1’30 behind…
15:03
The point 80km from the finish
Thirteen riders make up the leading group: – The favorites Wout Van Aert, Stefan Küng, Filippo Ganna, Mads Pedersen and Mathieu Van der Poel – The outsiders Jonas Koch, Max Walscheid, Jori Hollmann and Laurenz Rex – The team members Jasper Philipsen, Gianni Vermeersch
14:58
The leading group recovered a little
It does the business of a small group of pursuers, including Ganna, who picks up with two Alpecin, Van der Poel’s teammates: Vermeersch and Philipsen. Laporte is still on the hunt, all alone behind.
14:55
Pedersen recollege
Tremendous effort from the Dane, who filled twenty seconds to catch up with the leading group. Announced as one of the outsiders of the day, he has just made a strong impression.
14:53
Flat tire for Laporte!
The Frenchman was in the Van Aert group, but punctured on leaving Arenberg. The Belgian favorite loses his teammate, very bad news for the Jumbo.
14:51
Pedersen left alone
The Dane is making the effort to catch up with the Van Aert group, which has just regained the lead.
14:50
Huge fall in the peloton!
The peloton, chasing behind the Van Aert group, has just experienced a big crash… Many favorites are on the ground, including Mohoric, Van Baarle and Asgreen! This should do the business of the favorites who have anticipated.
14:49
Derek Gee out
In the breakaway, the Canadian lost his rim. It’s over for him!
Let’s go for the Trouée!
The terrible Trouée d’Arenberg has just been started by the leading men. This is the most difficult section of the race, 2,300 meters of suffering.
14:43
The Jumbo lit very early
The impulse from the Dutch team came even before the Trouée d’Arenberg and some favourites, including Filippo Ganna, were trapped. Composed of nine units, the Van Aert-Van der Poel group is less than a minute from the breakaway.
14:41
A group of tough guys break loose
Under the impetus of the Jumbo, a large group broke away, with Van Aert, Küng, Laporte and Van der Poel in particular!
14:39
The Jumbo-Visma is coming!
At the entrance to the Haveluy sector (four stars), the Jumbo, with Van Aert well placed, takes you flat out. The Belgian gets busy.
14:34
A small counter group before Arenberg
Behind the breakaway of four, a small group has formed with Anthony Turgis and Luke Durbridge in particular, who are anticipating the Trouée d’Arenberg.
14:29
Change of bike for Van Aert
It was obviously prepared with the Jumbo-Visma. The Belgian leaves immediately and should return to the peloton.
14:24
The favorites temporize
Van Aert is trailing at the back of the pack, Van der Poel has just changed bikes… The favorites don’t seem to be in a hurry to go on the offensive. But everything should change in the Trouée d’Arenberg, which arrives in about ten kilometers.
14:18
It gets back into the peloton…
It wouldn’t be surprising to see a second group come out in the next few miles. So far, the peloton has been very good.
Always 4 men in the lead
Jonas Koch, Derek Gee, Sjoerd Bax and Juri Hollmann are still leading the way, with a lead of 1’40. The quartet has few references, it is difficult to see it going to the end. Behind, Florian Sénéchal is still off the peloton.
13:59
Abandon pour Sagan…
TotalEnergies has announced the retirement of Peter Sagan, the winner of the 2018 edition, after his heavy fall a few kilometers earlier. It was his last Paris-Roubaix.
13:48
It’s a bit of a mess on the roads of Paris-Roubaix
And that’s what we like about this crazy race. The peloton is separated into two entities which are only 15-20 seconds apart. Some runners, including Florian Sénéchal, are a bit lost in the pampas. At the head of the race, it is still the four breakaway men who hold on, with a 1’30 lead.
13:42
The paved sectors follow one another…
Every 3 or 4 kilometers now. And the peloton is still well supplied, and suddenly there are too many people for no space on the road and we fall! The Serbian Rajovic on the ground and a big slowdown in the heart of the peloton. That’s why you have to drive at the front as much as possible in Paris-Roubaix.
13:35
And meanwhile, the Jumbo-Vismas are driving
The yellow army is at the head of the peloton and ensures a steady pace in the Saint-Python sector, 4* and quite long. Puncture for the French Florian Sénéchal, not a good time, but the race is not yet lost for him, who is really one of the outsiders.
13:33
Big fall in the peloton! Peter Sagan ashore
Vilaine fell in the peloton which put a dozen riders on the ground. These include former race winner Peter Sagan, who will retire from road racing at the end of the season. He wants to leave but his hopes on his last Paris-Roubaix are already over.
13:31
But by the way, what is this classification of cobblestone sectors?
Each of the 29 sectors is “graded” with a number of stars according to its difficulty (hardness of cobblestone, length), 5 stars being the hardest. There are 3 cobblestone sectors rated 5 stars along the route:- The Trouée d’Arenberg, about 100 km from the finish, which generally makes a first skimming and starts the race between favorites – Mons-en-Pévèle, 50 km from the finish, where the favorites go to war and a group of the strongest emerges – La Carrefour de l’Arbre, 15 km from the Vélodrome de Roubaix, where the last explanations take place
13:24
A smooth first sector
Everything is going well for the peloton in this first cobblestone sector. In single file anyway, proof that it goes fast. Important information, the cobblestones seem rather dry, as evidenced by the dust that flies away as the runners pass. Note also the flat of Kasper Asgreen, one of the outsiders for the Soudal-Quick Step. He still has time to come back.
13:20
IT’S GOING FOR THE COVERS!
We are there, in Troisville, for the first of the 29 cobblestone sectors of the day. Place in the Hell of the North for the breakaways, then in 1’30 for the peloton.
13:16
And behind, it rolls flat out before the cobblestones!
As expected, the peloton replaces its favorites 3 kilometers from Troisville and the first cobbled section! We will feast ! The race begins now.
13:15
The front four are gone, but…
Indeed, these four riders will form the breakaway of the day. But it does not seem destined to weigh on the race: it only has a 1’30 lead a few kilometers from the first cobblestone sector, does not contain any riders specializing in cobblestones and is not large enough in number to really stand up to the peloton.
13:09
Ah! Finally an escape?
It looks like 4 runners are clearing. Well, not exactly what we would call a dangerous breakaway, with more sidekicks than real outsiders. Koch, Bax, Gee and Hollmann created some distance with the peloton.
13:02
The list of cobbled sectors awaiting us today
The first in 15-20 minutes!
13:01
What if the peloton arrived together in Troisville?
This is a very rare but possible scenario. As no breakaway seems to be emerging and we are now less than 20 kilometers from the first cobbled sector, that of Troisville, it could happen this year. If so, that promises a big placement battle between the teams, who will want to take their leader at the head of the peloton in the first dangerous passage of this Paris-Roubaix. Suffice to say that it rides hard, “rubbing” between runners, and necessarily increased risk of falls.
12:46
Still no escapes
Several riders are trying their luck in turn, like Greg van Avermaert, but the peloton doesn’t seem determined to let it go.
12:45
250kms de torture
A day on Paris-Roubaix is a bit like putting your hands on a jackhammer and pedaling hoping that legend and luck will be with you, 250 km further on. Several runners tell.
12:29
A quiet first hour of racing
Despite several attempts, the breakaway has not yet formed: the peloton rolls together, before entering the first cobbled section.
12:28
Van Aert-Van Der Poel, duel au sommet
After many thrilling duels since the start of the season, rivals Mathieu Van Der Poel and Wout Van Aert are the big favorites of the day.
12:28
Hello everyone
Welcome to the Le Parisien website to follow the 120th edition of Paris-Roubaix with us, live with commentary!