"The most frustrating Paris-Roubaix that I have raced" - Florian Sénéchal did not enjoy 2023 edition of the Hell of the North

Coming across the line in 63rd position, finishing nearly 12 minutes down on race winner Mathieu van der Poel, Florian Sénéchal was devastated and left rueing his bad luck.

"It's frankly the most frustrating Paris-Roubaix that I have raced," the Soudal - Quick-Step man told Ouest France. "I lost my chances from the first sectors. I could not be repaired directly because they were already changing the wheel of Kasper Asgreen. I certainly lost two or even three minutes at that time."

Senechal had hoped to end the wait for a French, Paris-Roubaix winner and become the first home rider to lift cycling's most coveted cobble. Sadly for the 29-year-old French national road race champion however, this was never really on the cards. "I was completely alone, so I had to go into a time trial. I was able to take Kasper back and together we managed to get back into the peloton. But we had already done too much effort to be able to imagine joining the fight," he recalls.

"We lost 4 guys in two sectors. Only Yves Lampaert and Tim Merlier did not have any technical problems. The race was already over for us then." Senechal continues before concluding with a message to the eventual race winner. "Congratulations to Van der Poel. I heard on the radio how he raced. He really is a great rider, he has class."