PARIS-ROUBAIX’21: Colbrelli Conquers the Cobbles!

Race Report: At the end of a wet and muddy Paris-Roubaix, Bahrain Victorious’ Sonny Colbrelli was the fastest in the sprint ahead of Gianni Vermeersch (Lotto Soudal) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix). A tough winner of a tough race. Sonny Colbrelli won an heroic edition of Paris-Roubaix. After more than 257 kilometres and many soaking wet cobblestones, he was the first to cross the finish line on the Roubaix cycling track after an exciting battle of three men. He beat Florian Vermeersch and Mathieu van der Poel.MapParis-Roubaix covers 257.7 kilometres, of which 55 kilometres are cobblestones spread over thirty cobblestone sections. There are 500 metres more cobbles than two years ago. The route also has one cobblestone section more this year. After a neutralised zone of 7.2 kilometres, the race can really start. After 96.3 kilometres, the Troisvilles-Inchy sector is the first cobblestones of the day. But unlike in 2019, this section of 2.2 kilometres will be run in its entirety. The route then leaves the Biastre section, after which 29, 28 and 27 follow each other in rapid succession. At Saint-Python the route heads north to the short cobbled section of Haussy to Saint-Martin-sur-caillon (26). The section from Vertain to Saint-Martin-sur-caillon will be done in the opposite direction, meaning the riders will have to climb. Then the course goes a little more east, over Capelle-Ruesnes (24). This section was discovered in 2005, but has not been included in the Paris-Roubaix route since 2016. After this, the riders still...