Three punctures extinguish Kristoff’s fire

In a Paris-Roubaix that sanctifies Philippe Gilbert among the greatest in cycling, Alexander Kristoff had to deal with an opponent who, in the Hell of the North, is often present and insidious: bad luck.

The bad luck had already knocked on the UAE Team Emirates’s door overnight in the form of a fever that forced Fernando Gaviria to abandon the race before it even begun in Compiègne.

During the race, Kristoff’s performance was hit by three punctures: the Norwegian of UAE Team Emirates thus had to say goodbye to any hope of polishing off his successful Northern Classics campaign with a victory. He already had won in Ghent-Wevelgem and placed third in the Tour of Flanders over the last two weeks.

Kristoff reached Roubaix in 56th position with a delay of 14’15” from Gilbert, who beat Nils Politt (Katusha-Alpecin) in a two-up sprint.

Kristoff: “I’m sorry that today was a bad day for me and the team. Unfortunately, if you suffer three punctures, it’s hard to come back to the group every time. I was fine, but I could do little in the face of these unexpected events, which are typical of this race, however.”

Results:
1 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Deceuninck-Quick Step 5h58’02”
2 Nils Politt (Ger) Katusha-Alpecine s.t.
3 Yves Lampaert (Bel) Deceuninck-Quick Step 13″
56 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) UAE Team Emirates 14’15”