Van Aert outsprints Pogacar to win Paris-Roubaix

Wout van Aert Wins Paris-Roubaix 2026 in Thrilling Sprint Over Pogačar

Wout van Aert claimed his first Paris-Roubaix victory on Sunday, outsprinting Tadej Pogačar inside the Roubaix velodrome to win one of cycling’s most storied one-day racesbbc. The Belgian rode for Team Visma | Lease a Bike and crossed the line in 5 hours, 15 minutes and 52 seconds, setting a new record for the fastest edition of the race at 48.91 kphbikeradar.

The 31-year-old dedicated the win to former teammate Michael Goolaerts, who died following a crash during the 2018 edition. “Ever since then, it has been my goal to come here and point my finger to the sky,” van Aert said. “This victory is for Michael, but especially for his family.”redbull

A Race Shaped by Chaos on the Cobbles

The 260-kilometer race from Compiègne to Roubaix was marked by mechanical problems that reshuffled the favorites. Defending champion Mathieu van der Poel suffered a double puncture in the notorious Arenberg forest, losing minutes to the leaders in a setback that derailed his title defense. Pogačar also dealt with a puncture of his own before fighting his way back to the front.cyclinguptodate

Van Aert and Pogačar eventually emerged together in the closing phase, trading attacks across the final cobbled sectors but unable to shake each other. They entered the velodrome side by side, where van Aert timed his sprint to perfection, surging past the fatigued Pogačar in the final 200 metres.bbc

Van der Poel’s Remarkable Chase Falls Short

Behind the leading duo, Jasper Stuyven of Soudal Quick-Step rode to third place, 13 seconds back. Van der Poel, rather than accepting defeat after his Arenberg misfortune, launched a solo chase that nearly brought him back into contention, ultimately finishing fourth after winning the sprint from the chase group.cyclinguptodate

Former professional Tom Dumoulin praised van der Poel’s effort, saying the Dutchman nearly pulled off “the greatest comeback in modern cycling history”. Van Aert, meanwhile, reflected on years of frustration in this race: “Even today, when luck was not on my side, I kept believing in it. Finally, the reward is there.”redbull