Hello and welcome to a sunny day here in France as we embark on the most legendary trip around the French cobbles in existence.
Here's the quick refresher of the 254kms separates the peloton from their goal today, the legendary Velodrome in Roubaix.
And we have barely gotten away from the startline as Mengoulas is the first rider to launch an attack, he’s followed by Cannister and Hecht. The three of them create a small gap immediately.
However they are not the only ones trying to get into the break today, as we have raced the first 5kms of the stage more than 17 riders are trying their hand at getting the valuable TV time!
With 242km to go the big group of 20 riders is shut down by mixed work in the peloton, but primarily by Hvideberg. However a group of 4 riders launch the counter attack. Those four are: Kench, Lauk, Ballerini and Kurianov.
Another wave of four riders try to make a move for it as Poljanec, Alaphilippe, Hesters and Boutopoulos try to reach the aforementioned four.
The Poljanec move is quick shut down which makes space for another round of attacks this time from Dakteris, Jurado, Cannister and Mengoulas.
And finally, after close to 30kms of explosive action in the front of the pack we finally have our break of the day as Nieuwenhuis joins Kench, Lauk, Ballerini and Kurianov at the front of the pack, the group has a little under a minute.
Or so I thought as there is more action at the front: Hesters, Nommela, Wright and Stewart launch another attempt at getting away. This leads to another round of counter attacks which all amount to nothing.
Or should I say mostly nothing as Boutopoulos manages to sneak away and join the front group that now has 3 minutes with 210 to go. Just to refresh the front group now consists of: Nieuwenhuis, Kench, Lauk, Ballerini, Kurianov and Boutopoulos.
First big puncture of the day, Altur finds himself in a spot of a bother as he punctures on the second paveé but he is wellpositioned and doesn’t suffer massively from it. Other riders who suffered punctures are De Witte and Stavrakakis. The Belgian is in the first group behind the pack while the Greek managed to stay with the pack without issues. At the front Kench has to clench since he's been dropped by the break as he’s not strong enough on the cobbles to keep up. The break’s gap is up to almost 5 minutes.
At 127kms to go the break’s advantage stands at a nice 4’20” with Grieg and Aker upping the pace in the pack.
A few kilometres later it’s game over for Kench as the Aussie looks conceded after being reeled in by Hvideberg. Gap to the front is now down to exactly 4 minutes.
One of the key helpers for Aker Laporte suffers a puncture with 109km to go but stays with the group. The break’s gap is down to just 3 minutes now. We’re not far away from the favourites having the course to themselves.
In the break we have another casualty as the Italian Ballerini has been dropped by the leaders.
In the pack interesting things are unfolding as the gap dwindles away a new group is trying to catch the old one! Boros, Rutsch, Hamilton, Bolivar, Siric and most importantly Senechal are trying to establish a new stronger group!
As that group gets around 20 seconds to the pack another group launches an attack Monk, Chokri and Meiler seem to think they have something to offer here.
Meanwhile the front group has exploded as the only two riders at the front that aren’t completely empty seem to be Kurianov and Boutopoulos
As we enter the final 80 kms it is still Swift who is at the front controlling the race but the group with Senechal’s gap is up to a little over a minute. Some riders such as Polanc and Vermeersch have reportedly gotten hit with punctures but should make it back to the peloton in no time.
At the front of the race Senechal is putting in the work to try and maintain this lead he has to the pack, that is currently at around 1½ minutes with 66kms to go.
While a fair few riders seemed content with the status quo Kortsidakis makes a shortlives attempt at getting away from the pack.
With 50kms to go Senechal’s ambitious sneak attack sees its end as the pack finally shuts it down. 70 riders remain in the pack as we can look forward to the finale starting shortly as a lot of favourites have made their way to the to front.
With 46kms to go the first attack is launched. Anderberg launches the move out of a roundabout and is followed by Vanbilsen, Van Hooydonck and Pedersen. Very early for the Dane to be put into the position but maybe this is the right move for him?
With 40kms to the aforementioned group’s gap is up to 30 seconds as Meeus and Van den Berg tries their best to reel them back in!
With 35 to go the group is brought back and Vanbilsen launches his counterattack instantly. He is followed by Van Hooydonck and Per.
This move provides a bunch of chaos that saw various groups slip away over the course of a few kilometres but no gaps are created and at the end of it we’re left with a front group consisting of 31 riders.
With 25kms to go the world champion launches his attack and instantly creates a gap of over 10 seconds, he simply takes the front on a pavee and then instantly launches an attack the second they reenter the tarmac!
As the move seems too strong the other favourites decide to reply and leap up to the Pole. Pedersen, Altur and Kasperkiewicz are the first three riders to respond.
Despite their best efforts it is really difficult for the group to shut down Wisniowski. With 17kms to go his gap has increased to 21” to 10 man group consisting of Gerts, Spengler, Per, Teunissen, Altur, Van Hooydonck, Pedersen, Kasperkiewicz, Vanbilsen and Polanc.
With just under 10kms to Wisniowski’s gap sits at 30 seeconds. It is very difficult to see anyone take this win away from him!
However, it seems like Per wants to give it another shot as he launches an attack in the chasing group.
His efforts doesn’t give him a gap but it does put a big dent into Wisniowski’s lead as it’s now down to under 10 seconds as we enter the Velodrome.
However, the world champion massively increases his acceleration and as he enters his final lap the gap has now increased back up to 25 seconds, there is no stopping him now!
1km to go and Wisniowski might be fading as the final moves are being launched in the group as Per, Altur and Pedersen are starting to launch.
500 metres to the finish line! It is about to turn into an absolute disaster for Wisniowski as he fades and can see Per come flying past him as the Slovenian makes himself the favourite to take an incredible victory! But he starts fading and the Dutch Champion Gerts is flying on a rocket about to cruise past Per for the win!
But he starts fading and the Dutch Champion Gerts is flying on a rocket about to cruise past Per for the win!
Gerts HAS DONE IT HE IS YOUR 2023 PARIS ROUBAIX WINNER. A most unlikely outcome as this race is about as flat as they come!
Per locks in second place followed by Wisniowski who looked like a surefire winner for most of the finale.
The remaining top 10 positions are handed out in the final order: Spengler, Teunissen, Kasperkiewicz, Altur, Pedersen, who will probably be incredibly disappointed in his performance today, Van Hooydonck and Vanbilsen. Best Tinkoff rider on the day is Kamyshev, a result that manager OlefTinkoff might not be too happy with but it did seem like something wasn’t quite right today when Senechal made his early move.
This wraps up our coverage Paris – Roubaix, the full results can be found below!
