Bad luck derails Quick-Step's Paris-Roubaix, "there was nothing to be done" says Lampaert

Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team came to Paris-Roubaix with the pressure to perform after a spring where illnesses took a big hit on the once-dominating team, and it seemed as if a podium spot was to be taken by Yves Lampaert, but there was no luck as he crashed out of contention.

Not only him but Davide Ballerini, who had attacked with 112 kilometers along Matej Mohoric and Tom Devriendt for example, who finished the race in the Top5. The Italian was in a good position, both individually and tactically for the team, but a puncture at Arenberg brought down the team's offensive. With Kasper Asgreen having been caught out in a split and crash before the very first cobbled sector, the lead was eventually split between Yves Lampaert and Florian Sénéchal who were in the front group throughout the day.

Lampaert, who finished the race in tenth place, said in a post-race interview: “I did a perfect race. It was hard and full gas from the beginning, but I fought and did my best, managing to be part of that strong group with 50 kilometers to go. Then, as soon as I sensed an opportunity, I accelerated, and things went really well once the group formed. I began hoping and thinking of a podium. Despite being a bit on my limit on the Carrefour de l’Arbre, I was confident and feeling that a top 3 was reachable, really within my grasp.”

Lampaert was riding alongside van Baarle, Mohoric and Devriendt into the final cobbled sectors, and was riding alongside Mohoric in the final 10 kilometers in what seemed to be a podium-gathering performance until with seven kilometers to go, a spectator hit Lampaert causing him to crash.

It was a shocking accident, which left the Belgian outside of the podium contention and on a neutral service bike which had to be replaced once again at the team car. Despite having saved a spot in the Top10, there wasn't much to celebrate at the finish line: “What else can I say? When the crash happened, I tried to save it, but there was nothing to be done, and I hit the ground. I remounted and continued the race, but despite coming home in tenth place, the disappointment is huge thinking of what could have been."

Florian Sénéchal came to the finish in 13th place - also having had a crash at Mons-en-Pévèle - to wrap off another disappointing chapter in the team's spring campaign.