🎥 Pure enjoyment in Roubaix: Hayman breaks Flemish Hearts, Colbrelli wins apocalyptic edition, and Van der Poel goes solo

As we reach the end of the Holy Week of Cycling, it means Paris-Roubaix is just around the corner. The Hell of the North traditionally brings plenty of destruction and suffering, but it's always a fantastic race to watch. At IDLProCycling.com, we dove into the archives and selected the three most memorable editions from recent history.

2016: Mathew Hayman breaks Flemish hearts and beats Tom Boonen in the sprint

Our first foray into history takes us back to 2016, the cycling world's eyes were on Peter Sagan and Fabian Cancellara, fresh off his Tour of Flanders win, as the favorites in the Hell of the North. The race heated up early with Cancellara making a move in the Forest of Arenberg but a crash 50 kilometers from the finish line derailed his efforts. Sep Vanmarcke's bold attack on the cobbles of Carrefour de l'Arbre was thrilling, yet he couldn't shake off his pursuers. In an unexpected turn of events, Tom Boonen found himself in a sprint for the finish alongside Matthew Hayman, one of the day's early breakaway survivors, and Ian Stannard.

On paper, Boonen was the easy pick, aiming for a record fifth win. However, after an incredibly tough race, the Belgian sprinter fell short in the sprint against Hayman, who afterwards could not believe what had happened to him.

Check out the footage below and continue reading.

2021: Sonny Colbrelli wins apocalyptic autumn edition ahead of Van der Poel and Vermeersch

The 2021 edition might be one of the most apocalyptic races in the history of Paris-Roubaix. Due to the coronavirus, the race was moved to October, placing the riders in rain throughout the day. It turned into a true battle of endurance: numerous riders, including Belgian champion Wout van Aert, went down in the mud, while others seized the opportunity to exceed their limits. Gianni Moscon's solo break was thwarted by a flat tire, allowing Sonny Colbrelli, Mathieu van der Poel, and early breakaway rider Florian Vermeersch to catch up.

Eventually, Moscon had to drop back, setting the stage for a sprint finish among the trio. The European champion outpaced Van der Poel and Vermeersch, crossing the finish line in a mix of pain and joy. It was a goosebump-inducing moment...

Check out the footage below and continue reading.

2023: Van der Poel takes advantage of Van Aert's flat tire

For the latest edition, we only have to go back a year. Mathieu van der Poel, having conceded the Tour of Flanders to Tadej Pogacar, faced tougher competition from Wout van Aert in the Hell of the North. With a hundred kilometers to go, the duo battled fiercely, but it was Van der Poel, with numerous attacks, who aimed to shake off his major Belgian rival. On Carrefour de l'Arbre, Van Aert seemed to be making his move but suffered a flat tire at the worst possible time. "Thank you," said Van der Poel, who finished solo at the Roubaix Velodrome. Jasper Philipsen would eventually secure a one-two finish for Alpecin-Deceuninck, with Van Aert taking third.

Check out the footage below.