"Only in delirium": Degenkolb winner of the hearts in Roubaix
DPA
· 10.04.2023
Completely dirty and exhausted, John Degenkolb lay down from the Team DSM in the legendary Roubaix velodrome and let his tears run free.
Paris-Roubaix 2023: Fastest edition in history
The veteran showed a magnificent performance in the fastest edition in the history of Paris-Roubaix, but when he crossed the finish line in seventh place to the roaring applause of the fans with his head hanging down, he was only the winner of hearts. A crash after a collision with the eventual triumphant Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) had shattered the dream of a second success in the Hell of the North after 2015.
"It's been a long time since I've had such a good race. It's really disappointing that I was robbed of the chance for a good result. I certainly wasn't the strongest in the group, but Roubaix is Roubaix and anything can happen," Degenkolb lamented with red eyes. It was the kind of crash that happens in almost every race in cycling. It is almost impossible to find someone to blame. But the moment, around 18 kilometres before the finish in the tough Carrefour de l'Arbre sector, ruined everything Degenkolb had built up in the 240 kilometres beforehand.
Fans celebrate Degenkolb
When he reached the velodrome more than two minutes after solo winner van der Poel, the fans celebrated him frenetically. They had watched the drama on the course on the big video screen. "Taking in the atmosphere here was just emotional," Degenkolb told CyclingMagazine. "I was just delirious. I rode as fast as I could to just get to the finish after the crash."
The fact that Degenkolb already has a large cobblestone, which the Roubaix winner receives, at home was little consolation. "I'm a racer and I haven't hung up my bike yet. I had more in me today than just seventh place," said the 34-year-old. Degenkolb has a very special connection to the race. Not only is it his favourite event of the year, he even saved the U23 race once. As a thank you, they named one of the 29 cobblestone sectors after him. An honour that even Eddy Merckx received just a few days ago.
Degenkolb omnipresent
Degenkolb will probably have to nibble on one question for a while. Will he ever have a race like this again at Paris-Roubaix? The Thuringian-born rider was omnipresent, sticking to the right rear wheel during Wout van Aert's first burst of speed as well as during van der Poel's attacks. In addition to the nose and the legs, the material was also right. Out of the group of seven favourites, it might have been enough for the podium.
In van der Poel and second-placed Jasper Philipsen, the two pros whose riding line was Degenkolb's undoing, celebrated on the podium. In third place, favourite van Aert stood grim-faced in the velodrome. The Belgian had stepped up the pace when van der Poel and Degenkolb got stuck. But when he rode in front with the Dutchman at the end of the Carrefour de l'Arbre, his rear tyre went flat.
Van der Poel races to victory at Paris-Roubaix 2023
Van der Poel raced to victory in the fastest Roubaix with an average speed of 46.841 km/h. "I had one of the best days on the bike. I attacked again and again, but I couldn't hold off the others. When Wout had a defect, I rode as fast as I could. Of course that's bad luck, but that's part of the race," said van der Poel. The cyclo-cross world champion has now won three of the five cycling monuments. Victories at Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Tour of Lombardy are still missing.
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