Dylan van Baarle conquers Paris-Roubaix

Dylan van Baarle is one of the most experienced and talented classics riders, and today has gotten a career-defining win at Paris-Roubaix after attacking the race in the final 20 kilometers, after a race in which INEOS Grenadiers collectively raced brilliant which saw action from start to finish.

With the race's past, it was no surprise to see a big battle take place early in the race for the day's breakaway. Whilst Laurent Pichon, Owain Doull and Aleksandr Riabushenko got a small gap, it could hardly be called a breakaway as with a whole 210 kilometers to the finish there was a big split in the peloton which saw many of the big favourites behind such as Wout van Aert, Mathieu van der Poel, Kasper Asgreen and Mads Pedersen. Whilst the Dane abandoned later in a crash, INEOS, Quick-Step and Bahrain drove the pace, with the gap reaching a maximum of around 1:30 minutes before the first cobbled sectors of the day.

Whilst crashes and punctures started to take a toll in the two pelotons, minor attacks surged in front but with little success as the pace never slowed down. With 112 the first serious attack came as Matej Mohoric saw Tom Devriendt, Laurent Pichon, Casper Pedersen and Davide Ballerini. Ballerini punctured in Arenberg, whilst Pedersen cracked later and the trio then kept rolling in front of the chasing group which saw the two pelotons unite.

With 57 kilometers to go Jumbo-Visma stepped on the gas and Wout van Aert split the group. Mohoric later punctured in front, later connecting with the chasing group. In the final 30 kilometers, with Devriendt alone in front, the attacks restarted in the chasing group that actually impacted the race as Yves Lampaert, Matej Mohoric and Dylan van Baarle attacked and were not covered.

The group went into Camphin-en-Pévèle with 18 kilometers to go where van Baarle took to the head of the group and got a gap. He built a gap over Lampaert and Mohoric who organized a chase. In the run-up to the finish Lampaert collided with a reckless spectator causing him to crash, and Mohoric to be caught by the chasing group, whilst van Baarle extended his lead to over a minute towards the velodrome.

The INEOS Grenadiers rider took second place in Flandres, but today has gotten the biggest win of his career after a brilliant collective performance by the British team. Second place went to Wout van Aert whilst Stefan Küng completed the podium.