Paris - Roubaix 2026: Van Aert outsprints Pogacar in Roubaix Velodrome

fotobureau Cor VosThe 123rd Paris–Roubaix is a fascinating edition. Mathieu van der Poel chases back after misfortune on the Trouée Arenberg, while both Tadej Pogacar and Wout van Aert survive several punctures to sprint for victory in the Roubaix Velodrome. The Flemish powerhouse takes the spoils. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 2026 Paris-Roubaix

1. Wout van Aert (bel) 5:16:52
2. Tadej Pogacar (slo) s.t.
3. Jasper Stuyven (bel) + 0:13
4. Mathieu van der Poel (nld) + 0:15
5. Christophe Laporte (fra) s.t.
6. Mick van Dijke (nld) s.t.
7. Mads Pedersen (den) s.t.
8. Stefan Bissegger (swi) + 0:20
9. Nils Politt (ger) + 2:36
10. Mike Teunissen (nld) s.t.

Race report

Despite several attempts on the approach, there is still no breakaway after the first eight cobbled sectors. Then Tadej Pogacar punctures on secteur 22, with 120 kilometer remaining.

The world champion regains contact in the run-up to the Trouée d'Arenberg, after which Mathieu van der Poel suffers a puncture on the feared sector. It takes a long time before he can get going again, and he leaves the cobbles with a 2-minute deficit to the newly formed lead group: Tadej Pogacar, Wout van Aert, Mads Pedersen, Christophe Laporte, Stefan Bissegger, Laurence Pithie and Jasper Stuyven. In the run-up to secteur 17 Filippo Ganna and Jordi Meeus make it nine at the front.

The Italian punctures on the cobbles, while Meeus loses contact because he can't follow the pace. Back on smooth asphalt Pithie suffers a mechanical.

At 72 kilometres from the finish, Pogacar punctures for the second time, and on the following secteur (15), Van Aert also suffers a puncture. He sees the Slovenian go flying past, who quickly rejoins the lead group. Van Aert takes a bit longer, but at 61 kilometres to go he also gets back on, together with Meeus and Pithie.

In the background, Van der Poel and Ganna have joined forces and are closing in on the leaders to within 25 seconds. In their slipstream are Nils Politt, Daan Hoole, Gianni Vermeersch, Mick van Dijke, Mike Teunissen, Lewis Askey, Mathias Vacek, Max Walscheid, Alec Segaert and Anthony Turgis.

Just before entering secteur 12, Van Aert accelerates. Pogacar and Pedersen regain contact on the cobbles, but the Dane is dropped again when Pogacar throws in another surge. Shortly after leaving those cobbles, Van der Poel is left with only Van Dijke, and they catch Laporte, Bissegger, Stuyven and Pithie.

On the cobbles of Mons-en-Pévèle, Van der Poel and his group also bring Pedersen back, before Van Aert and Pogacar leave the sector with a 35-second lead.

On Camphin-en-Pévèle, Van der Poel raises the pace again and closes to within 25 seconds, with Pedersen, Laporte, Bissegger, Stuyven and Van Dijke in his wake. On the Carrefour de l’Arbre, Pogacar puts Van Aert under pressure, but the Belgian does not crack. They leave the final hard sector of the day with a 23-second lead over the chasers.

In the Vélodrome André-Pétrieux in Roubaix, Van Aert launches his sprint before the final bend. He opens such a gap that Pogacar is unable to close it, so he wins a gripping edition of the Hell of the North.

Other interesting reads: route and start list 2026 Paris-Roubaix.