Paris-Roubaix is a one-day Elite cycling competition in northern France, starting in Paris and finishing in Roubaix on the Belgian border. It is a race with a great history and is called the "Hell of the North" for good reason.
The race stretches 257km from Compiegne via Paris to the legendary Roubaix Velodrome on the Belgian border, 247.7km of mud, cobblestones and country roads. The peloton met the first cobblestone section in Troisville.
This year was also the first edition of the 118.4km women's race, which began in Denain with three laps before tackling the first of 17 sectors with the famous "cobblestones"
The start saw the new world champion, Elisa Balsamo of Valcar, at the start with her Cannondale bike and Prologo Custom saddle with the world iris.
But the show was then taken over entirely by Sonny Colbrelli
Sonny made history on Sunday when he became the first Italian to win Paris-Roubaix with an incredible sprint victory in a grueling, mud-filled race in 22 years. In his race debut, European champion Sonny Colbrelli prevailed by a bike length over the 22-year-old Vermeersch, with Mathieu van der Poel third. The win extended Colbrelli's incredible rookie year with victories at the Tour of Benelux, the green jersey at the Tour de Romandie-Dauphine and success at the European road championships.
Colbrelli completed the most feared endurance test of the season in 6: 01min 57sec. Violent overnight thunderstorms fueled fears that the northern inferno would be more difficult and unpredictable than usual, but the storm died down in time for the epic Paris-Roubaix bike race, which began on a course so bad that there were numerous crashes along the way.
Upon arrival, after this legendary feat the Italian burst into tears as he collapsed on the lawn of the Roubaix velodrome. Tears of joy and happiness for an epic effort.
What a season for the young Brescian, who in 2021 wore both the Italian and European champion jerseys, taking Italy and his team, Bharain Victorious, to the top levels of international cycling.
