DUTCH RIDER DYLAN van Baarle of Ineos Grenadiers won the 257km Paris-Roubaix cycling classic on Sunday, emerging in the bright sunshine from the 30 cobbled sections of dusty old mining roads for a solo triumph.
Van Baarle held his head in his hands crossing the line before leaping off his bike and hoisting it in the air as he screamed with joy and relief.
Belgian Wout van Aert of Jumbo was second and Swiss Stefan Kung of FDJ was third after Van Baarle entered the Roubaix velodrome on his own.
His win is doubly special as Paris-Roubaix, known as “The Queen of the Classics”, because of its extreme length and difficulty, is rarely taken by a solo winner.
The 29-year-old Van Baarle had been threatening to win such a race after finishing a narrow second at the recent Tour of Flanders and at the 2021 world championships.
The winner dropped his last companion in style, on the toughest cobbled section of the closing stages, when Slovenia’s Matej Mohoric could no longer hold on.
It is also the first time Ineos Grenadiers have won this race.
The British team recently also won the Amstel Gold with Poland’s Michał Kwiatkowski while American Magnus Sheffield claimed the Brabantse Pijl.
On Sunday, Van Baarle took 5hrs 37mins to finish the 257km course in bone-dry weather which made the 2022 course extremely fast at an average speed of over 45kmh with riders avoiding the bumpy cobbles by racing in the dirt tracks alongside them.
The often bleak flat fields that skirt the Belgian border were a glistening green in Sunday’s sunshine in stark contrast to the 2021 mudfest that took place in a deluge last October.
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I think considering the circumstances, Dillane could have been relased
@jay bernard: wouldn’t look good for Andy Farrell if one of the starting locks picks up
an injury and Dillane is playing with Connacht
Even if Gallagher was fit it would be something. Would any other province be left with one squad lock and one academy lock? Surely they should be allowed a medical joker? This is a huge game in regards the pool too
That weakened second row likely to cost Connacht you’d think? Murray is still very raw and even though Maksymiw has shown up more this season together they are big step down from Dillane, Roux and Thornbury.
I haven’t seen Jonny Murphy this season I think? I’ll be interested to see how he goes when he comes in, I guess a lot of that will depend on how the game is going at that point.
Interesting to see Eoghan Masterson back on the bench, no word on whether he is extending his contract or throwing his lot in with Scotland?
@Darragh Murray: absolutely will, squad wise Edinburgh have a massive edge especially at home. Murray is talentrd but physically a couple of years away from being ready for this level. Really disappointed that Copeland is yet again not listed in a Connacht squad. Utter waste of talent, at his best he should have been pushing Heaslip for the Ireland jersey but since Cardiff he’s been real flanker injury / attitude wise…
Edinburgh are a top top side even without their international contingent. Can’t see anything other than an Edinburgh win.
Copeland injured?
@s mc: isn’t he always? Either that or again out-of-favour, although I’d have thought he could have done a job in the second row for this one. Connacht unlikely to beat Edinburgh away with Maksymiw and Murray at second row.
@David Finn:
I like Murray as a player but he is still fierce light… Bundi weights more than him and he is 8 inches taller. I think he is only a few months out of playing for the U20 this season again…
I think Joe is improving but he is in tough position that our main three 2nd rows are international class. Thornbury has everything but the cap, injury has been his curse.
IT is a big game for the two of them but they are surrounded with our best and they can make a name for themselves. Good Luck…
Jesus, that’s a big Edinburgh pack compare to Connaughts.
@Harry O’Callaghan:
Connacht is giving away an average of a stone a man…. Second rows alone are giving over 5 stone… Lineouts and open field running lads, less of the scrums..