![\"Mathieu](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/parisroubaix2026-mathieuvanderpoel-2-69dcb95577a09.jpg@webp.webp\")
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What followed was not a single mistake, but a cascade of problems that quickly took Van der Poel out of contention. Roodhooft described how the situation escalated within seconds, noting that \u201cthere was a long chain of events leading up to it,\u201d while also stressing how fine the margins were in that moment: \u201cWe should simply have been there a minute earlier.\u201d<\/p>\n
The sense of lost opportunity only grew when reflecting on the position they held before everything went wrong. \u201cAt that point, I think we were in a really good position in the race,\u201d he said, underlining just how quickly the situation turned.<\/p>\n
Among the issues was Van der Poel\u2019s front-wheel puncture, which forced an improvised solution that only added to the disruption. \u201cHe eventually takes Jasper\u2019s bike, but it had different pedals on it,\u201d Roodhooft explained, a detail that would soon become central to the post-race discussion.<\/p>\n
Prototype gamble backfires<\/p>\n
That decision has since come under heavy scrutiny. Alpecin had opted to use prototype pedals as part of ongoing testing, a call Roodhooft openly addressed. \u201cThey are prototype pedals. I had agreed for them to also be tested in competition,\u201d he said, before admitting the consequences could not have come at a worse time: \u201ctoday it came at an incredibly bad moment.\u201d<\/p>\n
With hindsight, the responsibility was clear in his own mind. \u201cRight now I think it was very stupid of me,\u201d he said, before adding, \u201cI don’t understand how I didn’t think of it. It\u2019s more unlikely than winning the lottery, all of it falling together like that.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also made clear that lessons had already been taken from the incident. \u201cIt won\u2019t happen again. But it\u2019s done now.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Mathieu van der Poel at the 2026 Paris-Roubaix<\/p>\n
Chaos without control<\/p>\n
The situation was compounded by the unique circumstances inside Arenberg. For the first time, no personnel were allowed in the sector with spare wheels, while team cars were unable to move forward due to the blockage at the entrance. As Roodhooft put it, \u201cwe had no chance to fix it or to be there,\u201d leaving riders to react on instinct.<\/p>\n