"I can see why it has the name 'The Hell of the North.' That was something else" - Tom Pidcock 17th on Paris-Roubaix debut

Having won Paris-Roubaix at both a junior and under-23 level, Tom Pidcock has now finally made his debut in the elite race and in a solid if unspectacular showing, picked up a 17th placed finish.

"It was epic. I can see why it has the name 'The Hell of the North.' That was something else," the 24-year-old Brit, who was actually only a last-minute call-up to the race, reflects afterwards in conversation with the official website of the INEOS Grenadiers team.

On a record-breaking day at Paris-Roubaix where the fastest-ever average speed was set by clear winner, Mathieu van der Poel, Pidcock showcased himself well, staying near the front for most of the race before fading slightly towards the end.

"It was full gas from the start with an average of 48 km/h. It was nuts really. I'm glad I got past that first section and up to the front. Then it was about trying to do the best I could. At the end of the day that was about as much as I had when the absolute power is not there," he concludes. "The cobbles are still as hard as they were before!"