Fastest Paris-Roubaix in history & longest men's solo in 30 years; Mathieu van der Poel's greatest ever performance?

Mathieu van der Poel has claimed a second successive Paris-Roubaix victory and in some style too after a dominant performance on the historic French cobbles this Sunday afternoon.

Breaking a record the Dutchman set last year, this was also the quickest Paris-Roubaix in the long and storied history of cycling's most famous one-day race. 12 months ago, the average speed was a blistering 46.8 kilometres an hour, a speed that was blown out of the water in 2024 with van der Poel's effort of 47.8, a whole kilometre an hour faster than ever before.

With his race-winning attack coming just under 60km from the line, van der Poel also took the longest men's solo victory at Paris-Roubaix in 30 years, a record dating back to Andrei Tchmil all the way back in 1994.

For the Alpecin-Deceuninck team too, it was a record breaking day as the became the first team ever to win the opening three monuments of the season (Jasper Philipsen Milano-Sanremo, Van der Poel Tour of Flanders & Van der Poel Paris-Roubaix ed.).

Plus, with Jasper Philipsen winning the sprint for second, Alpecin-Deceuninck secured a second-straight one-two finish at Paris-Roubaix.

Is this the greatest ever performance in the legendary career of Mathieu van der Poel? Let us know what you think!