John Degenkolb won Paris-Roubaix back in 2015. Ever since he had not been able to break in to the Top10 ever again, and struggled as a new generation emerged and took over the cobbled classics.
Yesterday he found himself in position to win, but saw his chances terminated with a dramatic crash.
The German however bounced back in incredible fashion, effective responding directly to the attacks of Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel, and entering the final 20 kilometers in a position to win the race. It was his best performance in years, but it ended in disaster. At Carrefour de l'Arbre, the final five-star sector, the leader of Team DSM collided with Mathieu van der Poel and hit the deck.
“If you come this far and are even in a position to fight for the win, then this fall is of course very disappointing. But that's the course," he told after the race. “I think we all touched each other. I also saw the photo in which he came to me when I was crying on the floor. Honestly, I didn't hear or see him apologise, but to see that picture means a lot to me. I'm glad he apologised. As I said, as long as something like that doesn't happen on purpose, it's a racing incident."
The moment was one of the hardest but in Roubaix crashes frequently take out even the strongest of contenders. It's a race where managing to stay upright isn't for everyone, and as was the case with Wout van Aert in the very same sector, he was taken out of contention for the win for a mishap. Degenkolb managed to get up and still roll across the line in a seventh place, but it was little consolation as he broke down in tears afterwards. Race winner van der Poel and Jasper Philipsen both apologized to him afterwards.
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