A hat-trick in Hell: Mathieu van der Poel wins third Paris-Roubaix in a row

Mathieu van der Poel has won Paris-Roubaix again, the Dutchman taking his third consecutive victory in the Hell of the North.

The much-anticipated battle with Tadej Pogačar had begun more than 100km out on the most dramatic of dramatic days on the cobbles, the world champion almost knocked off by his own team car before crashing out of contention as Van der Poel rode to another imperious Monument victory in the iconic Roubaix Velodrome.

𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐒-𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐁𝐀𝐈𝐗 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄-𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐓

Take a bow, Mathieu van der Poel 👏

🪨 🪨 🪨 pic.twitter.com/AUAiQjKq8C

— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) April 13, 2025

Van der Poel's win was somewhat marred by an incident which, like last year, saw him hit by something thrown from the crowd, this time what appeared to be a Visma-Lease a Bike-branded water bottle.

Mathieu van der Poel hit by bottle at Paris-Roubaix (credit: TNT Sports)

> Mathieu van der Poel hit by bottle thrown from crowd at Paris-Roubaix

However, the incident (and a late puncture) fortunately had no impact on the result, Van der Poel crossing the line 1:18 ahead of Pogačar before Mads Pedersen won the sprint for third ahead of Wout van Aert.

Mathieu van der Poel wins 2025 Paris-Roubaix (credit: Zac Williams/SWpix.com)

"It means a lot," Van der Poel said afterwards. "I was really suffering. Too bad Tadej had his mistake in the corner, but then I just had to go for it [...] the speed was super high and I think he misjudged the turn a bit. I was just quick enough to save it.

"No, not really [it wasn't about revenge after last week's result at the Tour of Flanders]. I'm just really happy I found my good legs again, we all know what an incredible champion Tadej is, what he did here in his first Roubaix... it doesn't surprise me but it's also not normal, he's just an exceptional talent.

2025 Paris-Roubaix podium (credit: Zac Williams/SWpix.com)

"It would have been the two of us in the velodrome, so I guess we'll see him back next year to take his revenge."

How Van der Poel completed his Roubaix hat-trick

The early breakaway of eight included Britain's Max Walker, Oier Lazkano and former Irish national champion (and recent road.cc podcast guest) Rory Townsend, their first few sectors enviably calmer than back in the peloton where the usual cocktail of crashes and mechanicals almost immediately blew the race to pieces.

Jasper Stuyven Paris-Roubaix crash (credit: TNT Sports)

Jasper Stuyven and Jasper Philipsen had crashed before the first cobbled sector had even began, numerous riders going down on a couple of slippery bends.

Jasper Philipsen Paris-Roubaix crash (credit: TNT Sports)

Filippo Ganna and Ineos Grenadiers were the big losers on the early sectors, mechanicals for the Italian and Connor Swift putting the team on the back foot and chasing, more than a minute behind and alongside the crash-hampered Philipsen. Also chasing was Van Aert, the Belgian able to re-emerge back with the favourites soon enough as Lidl-Trek and Alpecin-Deceuninck pushed the pace, Van der Poel and Pogačar stalking close behind.

"Absolute carnage," TNT Sports commentator Carlton Kirby screamed, the race still more than 150km from the velodrome. There was plenty more carnage to come...

Not long after, Alexander Kristoff, Edward Theuns and many others became the victims of the next major pile-up, the Belgian left sat in the road holding his collarbone.

Paris-Roubaix crash (credit: TNT Sports)

Ganna and Philipsen returned, the race settling down for the briefest of moments as all the main favourites were back together. It wasn't long before the carnage continued, Niklas Behrans and Alec Segaert the next to crash before Davide Ballerini somehow stayed upright with a miraculous save to dodge a roadside soigneur.

Davide Ballerini crash save (credit: TNT Sports)

> "What a save!": Paris-Roubaix pro miraculously dodges crash with soigneur who stepped into road

"It just goes on and on... when does this stop?," the now-exasperated commentator Kirby asked after yet another crash moments later.

"It doesn't," 2004 winner Magnus Bäckstedt deadpanned.

Pedersen, Pogačar and Van der Poel were keen to get on with things, Van Aert again missing from the lead group following the Trouée d'Arenberg and unable to chase back on and regroup with teammate Matthew Brennan, the 19-year-old Brit impressing on Roubaix debut.

Eventually the aforementioned trio did make it clear, joined by Van der Poel's teammate Philipsen and Swiss time trial specialist Stefan Bissegger. The world champion survived a scare when he made contact with his own team car, having looked increasingly desperate for a feed in the kilometres leading up to the incident.

Tadej Pogačar hit by own team car at Paris-Roubaix (credit: TNT Sports)

> Tadej Pogačar almost knocked off bike by his own team car at Paris-Roubaix

However, any suggestion that Pogačar was cracking was quickly dismissed as the Slovenian launched a race-splitting move on the Tilloy à Sars-et-Rosières sector which only Van der Poel could follow. An untimely puncture left Pedersen to drop back to the chase group of Van Aert, but Van der Poel's teammate Philipsen was able to rejoin the leading pair after the sector.

Pogačar attacks, Mad Pedersen punctures! Can the Dane make it back to the front?! 😮 pic.twitter.com/xd7ETwnsJo

— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) April 13, 2025

That was the major selection, Pedersen left to chase behind, the three riders ahead to decide the race.

With 50km to go, on the five-star Mons-en-Pévèle sector, the overnight rain was visible in the puddles and roadside mud, Van der Poel making the first move but quickly shut down by Pogačar who jumped straight back to the front to distance Philipsen.

15km later it was Pogačar chasing, that after a crash on a corner mid-sector, the Slovenian finding himself 20 seconds down on Van der Poel after getting his chain back on and resuming.

💥 🇸🇮@TamauPogi crashed!

💥 Chute de 🇸🇮@TamauPogi ! #ParisRoubaix 😈 pic.twitter.com/ng73a5YWZ8

— Paris-Roubaix (@parisroubaix) April 13, 2025

The gap came down briefly but stabilised and had started to go out again by the time a mechanical saw Pogačar require another bike change, increasing Van der Poel's advantage.

There was still adversity to overcome, Van der Poel struck by a bottle thrown from the crowd and needing a bike change after a later mechanical, but he had more than enough time in hand to bask in the glory of his achievement as he rolled into the velodrome, three fingers held up to the crowd.

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