Van der Poel wins Paris-Roubaix for third year running

Dutch cyclist Mathieu Van der Poel has claimed victory at Paris-Roubaix. Slovenian rider Tadej Pogačar crossed the line in second, ahead of Denmark's Mads Pedersen. Despite using the revolutionary Gravaa system to optimise tyre pressure, Belgian rider Wout Van Aert finished fourth.

Last week, Van der Poel was beaten by Pogačar in the Tour of Flanders. But today it was the Dutchman's turn to cross the line first - his third consecutive win in the "Hell of the North" - even after suffering a puncture at the Carrefour de l'Arbre just before the finish.

Earlier in the race, Van der Poel was also hit in the face by a water bottle thrown by a spectator while riding over a cobbled section, but managed to stay upright. A few weeks ago he was harassed at the E3 Saxo Classic by another spectator who spat in his face.

Gravaa system

Although Van Aert started Paris-Roubaix on a bike equipped with the Gravaa system - which allowed him to adjust tyre pressure during the race using handlebar-mounted controls - it did not lead to victory. However, his French teammate Pauline Ferrand-Prévot won the women's race on Saturday using the same system, which she described as a major advantage.

Gravaa is a system integrated into the wheel hubs that allows riders to inflate and deflate tyres while moving. Controlled by buttons on the handlebars, the main benefit is the ability to maintain optimum tyre pressure at all times: lower on cobbles for comfort and reduced rolling resistance, and higher on paved sections to minimise speed loss.

^{© ​ BELGA PHOTO JASPER JACOBS}