Laurenz Rex following 9th placed finish: "Paris-Roubaix is clearly the craziest race"

Making just his second appearance at the startline of Paris-Roubaix, 23-year-old Intermarché - Circus - Wanty rider Laurenz Rex rode to an impressive 9th-placed finish, much to his delight.

"This is something that very few runners do," the Belgian exclaimed post-race. "You need a lot of luck, fortunately, our equipment is really on top and we had no problems. The atmosphere was amazing, with people yelling at you, you can't feel your legs anymore. Paris-Roubaix is ​​clearly the craziest race and my favourite."

In his only prior appearance at the Hell of the North, Rex rode to a 21st-placed finish back in 2021. Improving upon that with a top 10 this time around, Rex gives credit to Max Walscheid. "I broke down in Mons-en-Pévèle, I couldn't keep pace with Van der Poel. Then we rode together with Walscheid for 50 kilometres, we gave everything we had."

"We didn't ask ourselves any questions, we understood each other well, we wanted to finish in the top 10, and we were rewarded with this 9th place," Rex continues. "I knew that I had the legs at the start of the race, the whole week I felt great. After all the bad luck of our team, especially Biniam Girmay. I think it's the best gift I could give them. I'm empty, I'm in pain, I want to cry, laugh, but above all to go to sleep. It's an incredible feeling."