Paris – Roubaix is a race that needs no introduction. The organizers think one of these riders will be the first past the line:
The riders will be glad the weather is good as they roll out under the start banner.
10k gone the first group of attackers has just been brough back by Van Tricht
The second attack, which is smaller, has more success. With 23k gone they have 1’28 on the peloton. This group includes Colombo, Havik, Buttigieg, and Kurianov. It looks like Nommela (19 seconds back) and Hollmann (+37) will be allowed to join them.
200k to go, Nommela reached the front group but poor Hollman could only close to 20 seconds and now he is fading and has a 38 second gap. The peloton 5’19 behind him with 1 rider from each of EA (John), Tinkoff (Strakhov), Grieg (Ssabagwanya), Assa Abloy (Kolev) and Rabobank (Vader) contributing.
The lead is about the same as the break hit the second cobbled sector (Troisviles – Visely, 3 star, 4.5k) which marks the beginning of the real race. 169k to go, Hollman is back in the peloton.
On the next sector Kurianov punctures. ( Stuyven also punctured in the pack and is chasing back on).
About 5k later Nommela suffers the same fate. Stuyven made it back to the peloton.
150k to go, the first batch of cobbled sectors is over but there are still plenty more to go. The five breakaway riders are back together and their lead is 5’21. Finkst and Ssabagwanya on the front of the peloton, about 25 riders have already been dropped but nobody important.
As the peloton hits the Haveluy – Wallers section of cobbles (2.5k, 4 star) the lead is down to 3’13, Abrahamsen, Sulimov, Kalf, Cannister, and Gunnlaugsson doing the work now.
Soon after Theuns punctures but is able to stay in the group.
Grieg are well represented near the front as the peloton hits the Trouée d’Arenberg (5 stars, 2.5k). Break’s lead is 2’49.
By the end of that sector the peloton is down to 110, young Blume Levy among those dropped.
After a heroic solo chase Blume-Levy is able to rejoin the peloton, but he won’t be much good to anyone after that. Peloton trails the break by 2’27 with 94k to go.
The Hornaing – Wandignies cobbled sector (3.6k, 4 star) puts an end to Nommela’s time out front.
As they go on to the Tilloy – Sars-et-Rosiéres sector (5 star, 2.3k) Colombo and Buttigeig have to let go leaving just Kurianov and Havik out front. Peloton at 1’26 with Van Gestel, Sulimov, and Sweeck setting the pace. 79k to go.
Over that sector we have the first surprise of the day - Siric is dropped. No mention of a puncture on race radio. Still 80 riders left in the peloton. Up front Havik has dropped Kurianov.
Fedorov and Poljanec drop back to help Siric but he has almost made it back on his own. The peloton is within 1 minute of the lead with 75k to go.
With Kurianov almost caught we get the first attacks from the peloton. It is Teunissen, Boros, and Vermeersch. Monk also trying to come across.
The three attackers quickly pass Kurianov and Havik and establish a 27 second lead. Monk in between. Siric back in the peloton and trying to work his way up to the front.
66k to go, as they finish the Orchies sector (1.7k at 3 stars) Schreurs attacks with Ulloa on his wheel. The three previous attackers have 43 seconds, Monk has been caught. De Gendt leading for Grieg.
They are joined by the other Vermeersch and quickly make it across to the leaders to make it a 6-rider group including two from Xero.
As they hit the Auchy – Lez-Orchies – Bersée sector (2.8k, 5 star) some hesitation in the middle of the pack creates a split after the first 24 riders. Siric again caught out, Gaday and Neilands miss the split. The 6 leaders have 46 seconds.
By the end of the sector the leaders are almost caught. Sulimov has been dropped. Behind Poljanec was unable to close the gap for Cedevita and it is growing. Monk and Siric himself working to close it now.
And with 57k to go we have the first move from a favorite, Wisniowski attacks, Ferreira tries to follow.
Wisniowski, with Ferreira on his wheel, hits Mons-en-Pévele (2.8k, 5 star) with a 20 second lead over the chase group which is led by Kamyshev. The Siric group is another 28 seconds back with a number of teams contributing to the chase.
About half way through the sector Pedersen goes to the front causing the Siric group to lose ground. By the end of the sector Ulloa is dropped and Vermeersch punctures leaving just 18 riders in the first chase group
With 48k to go Wisniowski and Ferreira (ahead of the motorcycles) have just 12 seconds on the main chase group which is lead again by Kamyshev and Siric has closed the gap to his group back to just 33 seconds.
With 44k to go they all come back together and immediately Ferreira counters, he is followed by Pedersen, Tiller and Anderberg.
The favorites recognize this is a dangerous move and Spengler, Polanc and Per all contribute to the chase.
Theuns leads a counter-attack and there is hesitation behind and 12 riders get a gap.
That group is too big to work well and Pedersen and Tiller launch a new attack while Neilands works to close the gap behind. In 4.5k they will reach the Cysoing – Borghelles sector (1.4k, 3 stars) which marks the beginning of the last group of major cobbled sector. The others are Bourghelles – Wannehan (1.2k, 3), Camphin-en-Pévele (1.9k, 4), Le Carrefour de l’Arbre (2k, 5) and Gruzon (1.1k, 2).
The front 12 keep on attacking but none of them are able to generate a gap until Per gets free and goes 9 seconds clear. Behind 6 chasers have separated themselves and are 19 seconds further back. The race situation before they start the Cysoing – Borghelles cobbles:
On the Cysoing – Borghelles cobbles 3 of the 6 chasers are able to bridge back over. Van den Berg doesn’t make it and and Neilands and Girmay are almost immediately dropped again. Per continues to hang on to a narrow lead.
An attack from Senechal closes down Per. 15 riders in the front group with 25k to race and 1.7k to Camphin-en-Pévele. These are all team leaders so no workers to close gaps. The winner will come from this group.
They neutralize each other through the Camphin-en-Pévele sector but just before Le Carrefour de l’Arbre Van Hooydonck loses the wheel in front and Gerts pulls the front 6 free. With him are Wisniowski, Altur, Senechal, Anderberg, and Tiller.
Le Carrefour de l’Arbre puts an end to the hopes of Ferreira and Siric. 24 seconds separates the front 6 from the next 7. Gerts and Van Hooydonck leading the two groups. Just under 20k to go.
On the Gruson cobbles, Gerts attacks and gets a little daylight.
Senechal quickly shuts him down. But the attack expands the lead over the 2nd group to 39 seconds. Teunissen is dropped from that group. Two of the top favorites, Pedersen and Per, are marooned in that group, they will need to do something soon.
The leaders reach the final real cobbled section (3.3k, 3 star) with a lead of 37-seconds, Gerts doing most of the work in the front group while Polanc has taken responsibility for the case behind.
8k to go, Per launches an attack in the second group. Ahead Gerts appears to have tired of doing all the work and they look to be hesitating.
Per bridges the gap bringing along Pedersen, Polanc and Spengler. He then immediately goes on the offensive. Behind Theuns has cracked and appears to be out of it while Van Hooydonck is struggling to cross the gap.
Per’s attack fizzles out and Van Hooydonck is able to bridge across.
They slow down and Theuns almost makes it back to them just as Altur attacks on the final mini cobbled section. 5.4k to go.
On to the velodrome Altur’s lead is 18 seconds. He made only one attack all race, has he timed it perfectly?
Altur’s lead holds around the first turn but as he is about to hear the bell Senechal winds up and launches an attack. Tiller 2nd wheel.
Senechal closes to 15 seconds but then eases off, Altur still leads as they reach the far end of the track.
Nobody is willing to do the work to close the gap. Altur just has to survive a quarter lap now.
Finally, the defending champion makes one last push. The big guns all on his wheel – Per, Wisniowski and Pedersen.
It looks like heartbreak for Altur, the foursome almost on him. Tiller and Senechal next. Theuns has been gapped.
Per cracks, Pedersen to the front with 100 meters to go.
Pedersen wins his first Paris – Roubaix. Wisniowski is second and Gerts completes the podium.
Altur takes 4th ahead of Per.
A strong finish from Anderberg nets him 6th ahead of Tiller and Senechal.
Spengler and Polanc complete the top 10.
Healy misses the time cut.
Pedersen is the first rider to complete the RVV - PR double in 7 years. The last was Bewley in 2017. Bewley ('15-'17) and Boonen ('07, '09, '12), both did it three times. They are the only other riders to win both races in the same season. Pedersen has put himself in elite company
Paris - Roubaix 
