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PARIS-ROUBAIX 2021

03/10/2021

  SONNY COLBRELLI WINS PARIS-ROUBAIX It’s a historical victory for Bahrain Victorious as Sonny Colbrelli took the Queen of the Classics. The most brutal race on the calendar and the most awaited after an absence of more than a year. At his first appearance at the Paris-Roubaix the reigning European Champion put on an impressive performance across the 55Km of wet and muddy cobblestones, spread over the 257.7km legendary course from Compiègne to the velodrome of Roubaix, where he outsprinted his companions of a late attack Florian Vermeersch (Lotto Soudal) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin Fenix).   Sonny Colbrelli: “It was my first Roubaix, and I can’t still believe I won it. This morning I [...]

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PARIS-ROUBAIX 2021 data: 03/10/2021 - partenza: PARIS - arrivo: ROUBAIX - lunghezza: 258 km - dislivello:  m

 
SONNY COLBRELLI WINS PARIS-ROUBAIX

It’s a historical victory for Bahrain Victorious as Sonny Colbrelli took the Queen of the Classics. The most brutal race on the calendar and the most awaited after an absence of more than a year.
At his first appearance at the Paris-Roubaix the reigning European Champion put on an impressive performance across the 55Km of wet and muddy cobblestones, spread over the 257.7km legendary course from Compiègne to the velodrome of Roubaix, where he outsprinted his companions of a late attack Florian Vermeersch (Lotto Soudal) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin Fenix).


 
Sonny Colbrelli: “It was my first Roubaix, and I can’t still believe I won it. This morning I couldn’t think about a win. I started without any pressure, I just wanted to have fun on a race I always dreamt about. I felt well and better km after km. So I wanted to try to take my opportunity, attacking maybe a bit early, but I learned watching past editions that it was a good moment to try. I worked well with Van der Poel, and I was also lucky not to have any bad luck, any puncture or mechanical. I almost crashed a few times, but I was very focused to stay up. Then I gave everything that I had left to take the win. I’m speechless. I can’t believe I won the Roubaix. I want to dedicate it to my family, the whole team and my fans. It has been a fantastic season for me so far”.
 
The 118th edition didn’t disappoint those looking for an epic day. After almost twenty years since the last time, it was pouring rain at the start and all along the first half of the course.
Bahrain Victorious team was among the most active, with two riders in the breakaway earlier in the race, Fred Wright and Marco Haller. The experienced Heinrich Haussler also showed how much this race is his favourite one, finishing his 15th Roubaix in tears for the happiness of this team’s success and finishing in the top ten.

Head of Performance, Roger Hammond: “No words we can say to describe this fantastic achievement for Sonny. The performance he did was outstanding. It was a combination of a lot of hard work of many people in the team. You have to be prepared to face a race like Roubaix taking care of every aspect and the unexpected. Everybody in the team, including the staff members, did everything perfectly and as planned. From the team car, Rolf Aldag and I gave suggestions to Sonny, particularly for the sprint as at Roubaix is not normal. But he was very confident and he took the victory of a lifetime”.

(All pictures can be used for editorial and non-commercial usages only and are copyright @Bettiniphoto @TeamBahrainVictorious)


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Impressive Florian Vermeersch powers to second place at memorable Paris-Roubaix

 

Lotto Soudal rider Florian Vermeersch finished on an impressive second place at Paris-Roubaix. After a true battle of attrition in the Hell of the North, Mathieu Van der Poel, Sonny Colbrelli and Florian Vermeersch sprinted for victory on the Roubaix velodrome. The 22-year-old Belgian was the first to launch a powerful sprint, only to be overtaken in the final metres by the Italian Sonny Colbrelli. That way, Vermeersch had to settle for second place on his debut at Paris-Roubaix.

“At the moment, I am mainly disappointed after this second place, but I think this will soon turn to pride. This performance gives me a lot of confidence towards the future because actually, I never thought to be this close to the victory today. But a second place is also a bit sour as well”, reacts an emotional Florian Vermeersch.

An epic 118th edition of Paris-Roubaix will be one for the history books. While the rain came pouring down, a big breakaway of about thirty riders went clear at over 200 kilometres from the finish. This move included three Lotto Soudal riders: Harry Sweeny, Tosh Van der Sande and Florian Vermeersch. From the first cobbled sector, the field was thinned out and it was the duo Eekhoff-Vermeersch who were the first riders to enter the forest of Arenberg.

“It felt like war out there, but it gave me a huge kick to be the first rider to take on several cobbled sectors like the mythical Trouée d’Arenberg. Also the many Belgian fans along the course gave me wings. And my experience as a cyclocross rider came in handy today. Despite it’s been a long time I competed in a cyclocross race, sliding on the cobbles still felt familiar.”

Following a real battle of attrition after the famous five-star sector Trouée d’Arenberg, three riders eventually remained at the front: Gianni Moscon, Florian Vermeersch and Tom Van Asbroeck. When Moscon went solo just before Mons-en-Pévèle, Vermeersch and Van Asbroeck were forced to chase. The Italian built up a nice advantage but after a puncture and crash at around 30 kilometres from the line, a chasing group including Florian Vermeersch caught Moscon. Eventually, Sonny Colbrelli, Mathieu Van der Poel and Florian Vermeersch remained at the front after the infamous Carrefour de l’Arbre sector. These three riders would also sprint for victory on the Roubaix velodrome. Vermeersch tried to surprise and was the first to launch a powerful sprint, only to be passed in the final metres by Colbrelli. That way, the 22-year-old Belgian ended his debut at Paris-Roubaix in a fantastic second place.

“After putting in a first attack in the final, I immediately felt that I would not be given any room to play with. I waited a bit and attacked again at two kilometres from the finish. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get away. Colbrelli and Van der Poel are able to win bunch sprints so I had to go for a surprise move. That also succeeded, as I was the first to come out of the last corner. Unfortunately, I was cramping up and Colbrelli could pass me in the final metres.”


Image: Photo News.

 



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