As is happened: No broken records as fan favourite puts on a masterclass at Paris-Roubaix 2026

They head into the Vélodrome André-Pétrieux with Tadej Pogačar leading Wout Van Aert.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Van Aert leads onto the final town cobbles as Stuyven attacks behind! Pedersen tried to follow but Van der Poel follows and Stuyven is kicking clear.

Van Dijke launches in the chase but Bissegger and Van der Poel close it down.

2026-04-12T14:20:02.609Z

It is a bit of a drag uphill as they head into Roubaix with 4km to go.

2026-04-12T14:16:40.963Z

Pogačar leads the whole sector and Van Aert comes through as soon as they go onto the asphalt. Just 6km to go.

The final proper cobbled sector, the heroes sector. Pictures of the previous winners along the side of this. The scene that saw Lampaert get throw from one side to the other after clipping a spactator, and Johan Museeuw puncturing as he tried to take another win at this great race.

2026-04-12T14:11:57.947Z

10km to go and this looks almost certain that it will be between Van Aert and Pogačar.

2026-04-12T14:10:47.735Z

Van Aert is looking superb on the wheel of Pogačar. He is refusing to come through until now. 30″ back to Van der Poel, Pedersen, Stuyven, Van Dijke, Laporte and Bissegger.

2026-04-12T14:07:54.620Z

There’s 6km to go until the penultimate sector.

Pogačar kicks again but Van Aert is overlapping the wheel!

2026-04-12T14:05:41.562Z

And that is the five star sector done.

2026-04-12T14:05:17.876Z

Everyone back with Van der Poel as the gap drifts out to 23″ again.

2026-04-12T14:04:03.060Z

Van der Poel splitting the chase group at 17″ with Pogačar unable to drop Van Aert.

Tadej Pogačar goes from the start! But a double wheel slide sees Van Aert right back in his wheel.

The final five star sector! The chasers are now 21″ back.

2026-04-12T14:01:16.980Z

Van Aert still halfwheeling Pogačar as the world champion continues not to launch.

2026-04-12T14:00:21.090Z

The gap is closing to the chasers! Van der Poel and Pedersen are on a mission. 28″ gap now!

2026-04-12T13:59:17.329Z

There’s a bit of a cross head wind for the riders on this sector. He may wait to launch until the final 5 star sector.

Onto the final four star sector of the day with Pogačar leading Van Aert. 35″ back to the chasers.

2026-04-12T13:57:30.148Z

Van der Poel ups the tempo in the chase with 35″ gap now. They are working together very well. 20km to go as Van Aert gets a chat with his team car.

2026-04-12T13:55:41.803Z

Average speed up at 49.2kph, which is well on track to be the fastest ever Paris-Roubaix.

2026-04-12T13:55:03.565Z

The four star Camphin-en-Pévèle is just 3km away now wih 41″ back to Van der Poel, Pedersen, Laporte, Stuyven, Bissegger and, apparently, Mick van Dijke, not Tim.

Van Aert and Pogačar taking it steady a bit on these lesser star sectors as they wait for the four and five star sectors to come.

2026-04-12T13:51:43.611Z

I think Pogačar is a bit uncomfortable, or at least more than he should be on the cobbles. He is stretching his back a lot and getting out the saddle whenever he can.

Pogačar leads onto the cobbles again with Van Aert halfwheeling the world champion.

2026-04-12T13:48:12.308Z

While all this goes on and the leaders are about 2km to the next sector, don’t forget the women’s race is on as well! Follow the live report in the link below…

This is a split one star sector.

2026-04-12T13:39:34.285Z

The gap to the chasers has gone out to 42″ as Van Aert and Pogačar ride well together and the legs go out of the chase. The UAE Team Emirates-XRG and Visma-Lease a Bike cars are coming across to the leaders.

2026-04-12T13:34:54.269Z

Van der Poel goes into the ditch on a corner but still manages to keep riding for now. Maybe a puncture from that. He’s now at the back of the chase group.

Tadej Pogačar goes once again but Wout Van Aert is almost grazing the rubber of the Slovenian’s tyre.

31″ back to the Van der Poel group as everyone seems to be taking a breathe.

2026-04-12T13:31:26.800Z

Pogačar taking a chance to have a stretch and a rest as Van Aert taps through.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Van Aert is riding with Pogačar but isn’t going hard as he has Laporte behind. The chasers are now down to 32″ again.

2026-04-12T13:26:59.652Z

Pogačar attacked again on the bridge but Van Aert stayed with him.

2026-04-12T13:26:08.449Z

Pogačar asked Van Aert through and the Belgian says no.

Tadej Pogačar goes again but Van Aert is staying with him as they finish Mons-en-Pévèle.

Laurence Pithie (RBH) he went down hard as Van der Poel and co catch Pedersen.

Tadej Pogačar

Van Aert is stuck to his wheel! This is one of the biggest days in Van Aert’s career. This is a huge chance for him.

One of the hardest sectors. The second five star sector is led onto by Pogačar. Van Aert is just sitting on his wheel.

2026-04-12T13:20:15.986Z

Pogačar and Van Aert have 20″ on Pedersen with the Van der Poel group about to catch him at 28″.

Filippo Ganna

He is having a terrible day luck wise.

Tadej Pogačar

Van Aert follows as Pedersen is starting to lose touch.

Wout Van Aert attacks! Pogačar chasing hard and makes it back to him.

2026-04-12T13:11:19.257Z

This is very cagey in the front. Van der Poel is now 22″ behind them.

2026-04-12T13:09:59.271Z

Politt gets back onto Van der Poel’s group again. Pogačar could maybe be getting a teammate back.

2026-04-12T13:09:19.617Z

The contrast between Van der Poel and his issues with Pogačar when he had his issues. Van der Poel has been cool, calm and collected. Pogačar has been far happier since getting back into the peloton.

2026-04-12T13:08:01.289Z

Van der Poel has Gianni Vermeersch, Ganna and Tim van Dijke on his wheel.

2026-04-12T13:07:15.165Z

The average speed is sat at 50kph in this astonishingly fast race. Van der Poel now just 37″ down!

2026-04-12T13:06:13.134Z

Meeus goes to the front of the lead group for Pithie on this Orchies sector.

The gap back to Van der Poel and co is now under a minute!

2026-04-12T13:04:26.568Z

Van Aert, Pithie and Meeus rejoin the leaders again.

2026-04-12T13:04:00.125Z

1’02” back from the front, Van der Poel and Ganna are working together well.

2026-04-12T13:03:18.770Z

Van Aert, Pithie and Meeus are so close but so far from the back of the leading group with 60km to go.

2026-04-12T13:01:23.765Z

Pithie is pushing hard and passes Van Aert, dropping Meeus. They’re together again now at just 16″ back on the leaders.

Pogačar back onto the front with Van Aert, Meeus and Pithie 17″ down on the leaders. Just over a minute back to Van der Poel, Ganna and the rest.

2026-04-12T12:57:26.277Z

Van der Poel and Ganna chatting in their group that are now 1’07” behind the leaders.

2026-04-12T12:56:53.202Z

Van Aert with Pithie and Meeus at 25″ as Laporte tries to slow things down in the lead group.

2026-04-12T12:56:22.759Z

Pogačar back with Pedersen, Laporte, Stuyven and Bissegger.

2026-04-12T12:55:42.231Z

Van der Poel makes it to the Ganna group at 1’14”.

2026-04-12T12:53:42.806Z

Van der Poel starting to distance Politt and Heiduk in his quest to return to the front, but he is still 1’26” back on the leaders.

2026-04-12T12:52:37.111Z

Van Aert looks to be dropping Pithie who has been having to push for a while since his puncture.

Wout Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike)

Pogačar has already gone passed the Belgian as Pedersen, who had his issue long before everyone else, is puching the pace with Stuyven. This race is bonkers!

Pogačar much calmer this time and is just 10″ down.

Tadej Pogačar with another bike change! This is bizarre how many issues the big leaders are having.

2026-04-12T12:48:04.263Z

Milan punctures out of the Van der Poel group.

2026-04-12T12:47:10.681Z

Van der Poel is flying, just 1’27” further back than where he wants to be.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-04-12T12:46:15.734Z

PIthie leads Meeus behind on the Warlaing à Brillon as he tries to get back to the leaders.

2026-04-12T12:45:38.400Z

Van der Poel has Politt, Heiduk and Milan on his wheel. Three riders who will absolutely not work with him.

Bissegger leads onto the three star sector.

2026-04-12T12:43:43.058Z

Leaders have 49″ on Pithie and Meeus then 1’06” to the Ineos led Ganna group and then 1’33” to the Van der Poel group.

2026-04-12T12:42:51.306Z

Meeus and Pithie now both riding with the Belgian sprinter working for his leader who has looked in amazing form.

2026-04-12T12:41:46.362Z

Pithie with a puncture! Meeus stops to give him his wheel.

2026-04-12T12:41:18.030Z

Van der Poel drops Brennan and catches Milan, but Pogačar has dragged the gap back to 1’33” as Van Aert comes through at the front.

2026-04-12T12:40:29.094Z

Van der Poel has Politt, Brennan, Turner and a couple of others on his wheel, but he has destroyed that chase group.

2026-04-12T12:39:50.132Z

Pogačar is giving it a lot of welly on this sector as Meeus is being distanced after all the work he did with Ganna to get back in.

2026-04-12T12:39:04.344Z

80km to go as Ganna is now over 40 seconds back. Van der Poel is slowly closing the gap at 1’27” now.

2026-04-12T12:38:20.693Z

Philipsen leads Van der Poel onto sector 17 and the defending champion looks locked in and is very focused.

2026-04-12T12:37:09.479Z

Another puncture for Ganna who has given so much to get back to the front is now out the back again as Pogačar is really pushing on this four star sector.

Leaders:

Pogačar (UAD)
Van Aert (TVL)
Laporte (TVL)
Pedersen (LTK)
Ganna (IGD)
Pithie (RBH)
Meeus (RBH)
Stuyven (SOQ)
Bissegger (DCT)

Van der Poel is now closing a bit. 1’58” down as Pogačar pushes the pace out front.

2026-04-12T12:25:25.622Z

Leaders:

Tadej Pogačar (UAD)
Wout Van Aert (TVL)
Chrisophe Laporte (TVL)
Mads Pedersen (LTK)
Jasper Stuyven (SOQ)
Laurence Pithie (RBH)
Stefan Bissegger (DCT)

Van der Poel now has a puncture! An absolute nightmare for the reigning champion.

2026-04-12T12:22:31.689Z

Van der Poel is now 1’30” behind the lead group of seven that includes Van Aert and Pogačar.

2026-04-12T12:21:16.979Z

Del Grosso is taking the wheel off his bike and puts it on his leader’s bike.

A disaster for Van der Poel who takes Philipsen’s bike and it isn’t right so has to give it back. That is game over for him.

A rider from NSN looking in a lot of pain.

2026-04-12T12:19:30.095Z

Huge crowds on the trench today as the riders battle to try and move up off the main racing line. Van Aert and Van der Poel well placed.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-04-12T12:18:37.985Z

Pogačar having to make another effort to move up as Brennan sits up and Van Aert leads onto the cobbles.

The first five star sector is here. The brutal Arenberg. The push is flat out with Brennan leading the way with Van Aert very well placed as they go into the chicane.

2026-04-12T12:16:22.205Z

Florian Vermeersch drops back and drags Tadej Pogačar back into the lead group. Vermeersch straight to the front.

2026-04-12T12:14:38.865Z

Pogačar joins the second group on the road and is now about 10″ off the back of the front of the race as they head to the Arenberg.

2026-04-12T12:13:53.679Z

The front group has eased dramatically with a lot of looking around. Gianni Vermeersch (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) comes back to the front.

2026-04-12T12:12:52.338Z

Into the final 100km and Pogačar has a long line of the domestiques of his main rivals on his wheel.

2026-04-12T12:11:38.311Z

The answer is yes. Van Aert comes through with Teunissen and Hoole. Van der Poel looking very twitchy. 18″ back to Pogačar.

2026-04-12T12:10:47.959Z

Off sector 20 and Van der Poel looks around to ask for help. Will anyone give it with 7km to go to the Arenberg?

2026-04-12T12:10:10.705Z

Van der Poel is not going full, yet. He has Laurence Pithie (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) on his wheel. Philipsen, Pedersen, Van Aert, Hoole, Laporte, Bissegger and a few others.

Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech)

The three time winner goes all in with 103km to go! This is the best way to completely kill off the chances of Pogačar.

A few years ago, Visma-Lease a Bike detonated the race on this sector. Now, they are working with Alpecin-Premier Tech with a 20″ lead over the Pogačar group. Pinarello-Q36.5 doing a lot of work in the bunch as well for Fred Wright. Ineos Grenadiers also well placed.

2026-04-12T12:00:40.195Z

The pace is very high in both groups. Pogačar is now 35″ off the back of the peloton that is led by Visma-Lease a Bike and Alpecin-Premier Tech.

2026-04-12T11:59:46.296Z

Bjerg and Politt drop back for Pogačar. They are frantically chasing for the world champion.

2026-04-12T11:58:46.464Z

It is the longest gap between sectors now, so a good opportunity for UAE to bring things back together again.

2026-04-12T11:57:48.012Z

Morgado is now with Pogačar and now Politt is dropping back, too. He is now 45″ behind the peloton.

2026-04-12T11:55:19.737Z

Bike change for Pogačar. He shouts at the TV moto to get out of the way. He seems very rattled.

2026-04-12T11:54:46.320Z

Pogačar finally has a car who has come to the middle of the group. They’re very panicked.

2026-04-12T11:54:18.811Z

Pogačar is about 45″ down on the now Visma led peloton. Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe also leading the bunch with Alpecin-Premier Tech.

2026-04-12T11:53:21.929Z

Puncture for Dillier.

Pogačar getting very frustrated with no team car near him yet. All his riders drop back apart from Vermeersch.

2026-04-12T11:51:03.364Z

Puncture for former winner, Dylan van Baarle (Soudal-Quickstep).

2026-04-12T11:50:37.684Z

Pogačar looks very uncomfortable on the Shimano neutral bike. Alpecin-Premier Tech and Visma-Lease a Bike lead the front peloton.

The world champion has to get a neutral service car with the second peloton catching him and utter carnage as the cars and riders meet.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-04-12T11:48:01.214Z

Turner just about to get back on as they start this three start sector.

Off sector 23 and, before they can catch their breaths, they’re onto sector 22 with Bjerg leading the way.

2026-04-12T11:45:59.723Z

Tarling coming down after a frustrating season so far…

Tarling (IGD)
Turner (IGD)
Ballerini (XAT)
Bittner (TPP)

More cobbles with UAE leading.

2026-04-12T11:42:29.711Z

Bjerg back on the front of the peloton.

2026-04-12T11:41:41.631Z

Rasmus Tiller (Uno-X Mobility) leads his team’s train as Abrahamsen is in the second group.

2026-04-12T11:39:36.065Z

Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), Biniam Girmay (NSN) and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) all looking good early doors.

2026-04-12T11:38:02.071Z

Ganna still at the back with Tibor Del Grosso (Alpecin-Premier Tech) and Marco Haller (Tudor) as Morgado is dropped.

Brennan brings Van Aert to the front alongside UAE, Decathlon and Alpecin.

2026-04-12T11:36:01.291Z

Puncture for Per Strand Hagenes (Visma-Lease a Bike). He drops out of the front peloton.

2026-04-12T11:31:54.372Z

There’s a bit of crosswind on this sector. Pogačar in second wheel. Van der Poel in about seventh wheel. Van Aert, Pedersen and Ganna all poorly placed with the latter right at the back of the peloton.

The next sector begins and UAE win the battle yet again with Morgado.

2026-04-12T11:28:56.492Z

The pace eases a bit and more teams come to the front of what is left of the peloton.

2026-04-12T11:28:01.304Z

Lots of Visma and Ineos riders in the second group that are over 30″ down. Molano and Oliveira in that group as well after doing their job for UAE.

2026-04-12T11:26:04.515Z

Bjerg is going flat out on the front of the peloton. The team of the world champion are destroying the peloton.

2026-04-12T11:25:11.625Z

Puncture for Lukáš Kubiš.

2026-04-12T11:24:50.970Z

Huge gap between the front group and the second. Mikkel Bjerg leading the way for UAE, now.

2026-04-12T11:24:16.850Z

Groups all over the road with Kubis being one of the riders caught out.

2026-04-12T11:21:46.597Z

Issues for Lampaert now as well. He’s out the back on the Briaste sector as the head of the bunch leaves that sector.

UAE have complete control of the peloton. First time this sector has been used in 11 years with the max elevation of 81 metres peaked here.

2026-04-12T11:19:23.167Z

Sector 27 done and very dusted. The dust cloud is huge.

2026-04-12T11:17:41.760Z

Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Intermarche) out of the back.

2026-04-12T11:17:02.925Z

Antonio Morgado (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) leads the peloton now. Pogačar is right up at the front with Florian Vermeersch.

Van Aert using Doull to get back in on this sector. He gets in and will have to do what Pedersen did and take his time to move up.

2026-04-12T11:15:00.052Z

Mechanical for Wout Van Aert! He has Owain Doull coming back for him. Bike change for Abrahamsen as well. A UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider with an issue too.

2026-04-12T11:12:05.607Z

UAE Team Emirates-XRG, Alpecin-Premier Tech and Soudal-Quickstep leading the peloton as they finish sector 28.

2026-04-12T11:11:08.404Z

Mechanical for Titouan Fontaine (Groupama-FDJ United).

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-04-12T11:09:10.996Z

Front puncture for former Tour of Flanders winner, Kasper Asgreen (EF Education-EasyPost).

2026-04-12T11:08:49.402Z

The riders are surrounded by the yellow flowers of the Oil Seed Rape fields.

2026-04-12T11:08:16.802Z

Pedersen is back in the peloton. A teammate will now come back for him to try and move him up but he needs to try and stay calm. Something I would definitely be struggling with in his situation. Fortunately, I only have to do it on Pro Cycling Manager!

The first four star sector of the day. UAE controlling the race really well at the moment with their Colombian sprinter, Molano.

2026-04-12T11:06:27.570Z

They leave sector 29. Pedersen had to negotiate a few stopped cars who were servicing riders. He joins William Blume Levy (Uno-X Mobility) at the back of the peloton. So many riders stopping with issues. Including Toon Aerts (Lotto-Intermarche).

2026-04-12T11:05:12.860Z

Molano leading the peloton and Teunissen is caught.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-04-12T11:04:55.693Z

UAE Team Emirates-XRG leading the peloton with Pogačar in fourth wheel.

2026-04-12T11:04:21.424Z

So much wasted energy for the former world champion.

2026-04-12T11:04:06.889Z

Pedersen trying to quickly make his way through the cars but is being kicked about all over the pave.

Teunissen leads onto the Viesly à Quiévy sector with about 10″ on the peloton. Pedersen 38″ out the back.

2026-04-12T11:02:27.614Z

Puncture for Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) and he stops for a bike change. Lidl-Trek said that their new special double inner tube/tubeless tyres were puncture proof. The first cobbled sector proves otherwise.

2026-04-12T11:01:12.482Z

Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility) was one of the riders caught out.

2026-04-12T11:00:07.929Z

So many mechanicals and punctures with various teams involved.

2026-04-12T10:59:26.352Z

Mike Teunissen (XDS-Astana) is the rider who is solo out front.

2026-04-12T10:58:51.792Z

More mechanicals and punctures very early on.

2026-04-12T10:58:34.327Z

Stafan Bissegger (Decathlon-CMA CGM) rolled off the front but, as they leave the cobbles, he sits up with an XDS-Astana rider going over the top.

2026-04-12T10:57:46.311Z

Several punctures on this first sector of cobbles with Lorenzo Milesi (Movistar) being one of them.

2026-04-12T10:57:07.564Z

Connor Swift (Ineos Grenadiers) and Matthias Vacek (Lidl-Trek) moving to the front too on the early cobbles.

2026-04-12T10:55:49.682Z

Tarling flicking his elbow, he doesn’t want to lead for too long.

Govekar (TBV)
Pickrell (MAP)

Both back up and waiting for their cars.

Onto the sector 30, Troisvilles à Inchy. The pace is extremely high and, leading onto it, is Edoardo Affini (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Josh tarling (Ineos Grenadiers).

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-04-12T10:52:58.976Z

Bike change for Niklas Märkl (Pinic-PostNL). A nightmare time to get a mechanical with about 3km to the cobbles.

2026-04-12T10:52:01.652Z

Visma-Lease a Bike, Uno-X Mobility, Decathlon-CMA CGM, Ineos Grenadiers, Alpecin-Premier Tech and UAE Team Emirates-XRG all on the front of the peloton with 165km to go.

2026-04-12T10:51:05.899Z

So, no breakaway today. The peloton will hit the cobbles all together.

2026-04-12T10:50:43.574Z

Ineos Grenadiers now appears on the front of the peloton for Ganna.

Really not far now until the riders clatter through the gates of hell and onto the cobbles.

2026-04-12T10:45:22.322Z

UAE Team Emirates-XRG, Visma-Lease a Bike, Alpecin-Premier Tech, Lidl-Trek and Decathlon-CMA CGM leading the peloton as the attacks seem to have stopped and the big guns start to control things.

2026-04-12T10:33:56.294Z

20km to go until the first cobbled sector, the Troisvilles à Inchy.

2026-04-12T10:31:07.976Z

Cofidis tried a new move and, for a moment, it looked like he’d be allowed to go. A few more saw this as a chance and the fight gets going all over again.

2026-04-12T10:30:20.024Z

Pogačar and Ganna still out the back with the world champion now in the wind. A small moment where the cars weren’t with them. But now they get back in.

Almost 60km of racing done and still no breakaway.

2026-04-12T10:07:54.276Z

Groupama-FDJ United now getting involved in the latest moves. Bahrain Victorious and several Modern Adventure riders also at the front. No gap formed yet, though.

2026-04-12T10:05:15.224Z

So many attacks but nothing is getting away. With this strong tailwind, there is a very big chance that there will be no breakaway at all today.

2026-04-12T10:04:18.063Z

25 years since Servais Knaven won this race. Today, his daughter, Mirre of EF Education-Oatly, races the same cobbles…

Racing begins for the 123rd Paris-Roubaix and immediately, the attacks come. Led by debut team, Modern Adventure with Cofidis, NSN, Picnic-PostNL and Unibet-Rose-Rockets with more surging out the bunch.

2026-04-12T09:07:37.630Z

Fabian Lienhard (Tudor) makes it back into the peloton.

2026-04-12T09:06:32.348Z

There will be a delayed start as there are some mechanicals.

2026-04-12T09:03:21.279Z

Just 1km to the official start.

2026-04-12T09:03:00.853Z

As we wait for the start, why not have a go at our little quiz we put together! Can you name every podium from the last decade? I’ll give you a clue, Van der Poel is in a few of them!