Paris-Roubaix is known as one of the most unforgiving races
in cycling, and Joe Pidcock proved just how much resilience it demands. The 23-year-old,
riding for Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, was the final rider to cross the line in the
2024 edition, trailing winner Mathieu van der Poel by 53 minutes and 40
seconds. Yet the sheer act of finishing was a victory in itself.
When asked by Cycling Weekly what it felt like to
roll into the iconic Roubaix velodrome completely alone, Pidcock didn’t
sugar-coat it.
"About as fun as that sounds."
The young Brit admitted his form wasn’t ideal heading into
the race, but he was determined not to quit.
"I didn't come with the best shape but I had to
finish," he explained. "It didn't matter how long it took. I thought
it would be dark by the time I got here."
Despite fading from the bunch early, Pidcock kept turning
the pedals, spending nearly half the race riding solo over the punishing
cobbled sectors, an experience that tested his physical and mental limits.
"Before the cobbles, I almost got caught in three
crashes in a row," he said when asked about when his race was over.
"When [Wout] van Aert crashed he was so close to me, I think he touched
me, when he came down. After that I wasn't risking my life for it, I already
didn't have the legs."
Yet with nothing to gain in the standings and no teammates
around, Pidcock refused to climb off, motivated by the knowledge that simply
finishing Roubaix is something most riders never get the chance to do.
"I might not get to ride it again, so of course I've
got to finish," Pidcock said. "So many people don't get the
opportunity to ride here, to ride something like this."
"People actually want to finish this one more than most
races."
His journey through the northern French countryside was long
and lonely, but not without memorable moments, particularly the legendary
Forest of Arenberg.
"I was really excited for it before," Pidcock
said. "I'm not here because of my legs, I'm here because guys crashed and
weren't able to come. I was excited, I did it last year [the U23], it was
really fun. There were some mechanical problems then."
"Arenberg was still pretty cool, proper walls of
noise... There were still people [out there], but everyone was going home
already."
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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