The 2026 men’s Paris-Roubaix was the fastest ever in its 123 editions, with winner Wout van Aert and runner-up Tadej Pogačar recording a blistering new high average speed of 48.91kph over the race’s 258 brutal kilometres, breaking the previous record set by Mathieu van der Poel in 2024.
Two years ago, the average speed was 47.802kph, meaning the latest Sunday in Hell was more than a full kilometre per hour quicker, with a strong tailwind and a lack of an early breakaway contributing to the new record.
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When racing reached the first of 30 cobbled sectors at Troisvilles, it had been full gas all the way out of Compiègne, and with no break getting ahead, it was only going to heat up from there, with punctures and bike changes forcing all of the big names to chase at different points.
The pace lulled when eventual runner-up Pogačar frantically had to swap onto a Shimano neutral service bike with 120km to go, but having been brought back just in time for the crucial five-star Trouée d’Arenberg sector, he didn’t miss the race’s full explosion into life.
The leading group was mostly powered by Pogačar for the final 90km, who worked to keep a chasing Mathieu van der Poel behind, who punctured twice in the Arenberg forest and emptied the tank to try and bring back his main rivals.
But ultimately, it came down to a two-man race for victory as Van Aert made his move with 54.2km to go. Pogačar and Mads Pedersen followed, but the Dane dropped when the rainbow jersey took over and powered through Mons-en-Pévèle.
He tried for the remaining kilometres to drop the Belgian with no joy, as a change in wind direction meant a headwind dampened his power. Entering the…
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