In this roundup of an epic cycling week, PEZ celebrates Wout van Aert’s Paris-Roubaix win, and asks readers: Will Pogačar ever win the Hell of the North? Then we look deeper into the race, including the celebrations, pay due attention to the women’s race — and look to the future of cycling, Paul Seixas. Don’t just read, readers — please respond to our poll!
TOP STORY
- Reader Poll: Will Tadej Pogačar Ever Win Paris-Roubaix?
RACE NEWS
- Franziska Koch Surprises at Paris-Roubaix Femmes
- Belgium, Visma Celebrate van Aert’s Victory
- Itzulia Basque Country: Seixas Seals His Statement
TEAM, RIDER AND PRO CYCLING NEWS
- Pedal SNAFU Costs van der Poel Valuable Seconds at Paris-Roubaix
- Why Madis Mihkels Rode Wider Tires and Rims at Paris-Roubaix
- UCI Shares Statement Concerning the Punching Incident at Dutch Race
- UCI to Host Mobility & Bike City Forum
Reader Poll: Will Tadej Pogačar Ever Win Paris-Roubaix?
Note: Because we love hearing from you, my fellow PEZzers and I have decided to conduct weekly reader polls. Got a poll suggestion? Send it my way at mike@pezcyclingnews.com.
For a few moments after Wout van Aert’s historic Paris-Roubaix victory, I considered conducting a poll along the lines of How awesome was Wout’s win? (Possible responses: Really, really awesome! And Pretty awesome, but not quite as much as you’re implying by conducting this poll.
Instead, though, I’m calling on your prognosticatory skills: After seeing the absurd measures Tadej Pogačar took on the “road” to Roubaix, only to come up barely short…Do you think he can ever win this race?
Post your response below — and once again, send your thoughts, justifications and elucidations mike@pezcyclingnews.com.
Meanwhile…Chapeau, Wout!
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.
RACE NEWS
Franziska Koch Surprises at Paris-Roubaix Femmes
Franziska Koch has won the sixth edition of Paris-Roubaix Femmes. The German champion entered the velodrome alongside Marianne Vos and defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot — both from Visma | Lease a Bike — where she edged out Vos in a tight sprint.
The race started in Denain and covered 143.1 kilometers to the Roubaix velodrome, crossing twenty cobblestone sections including Mons-en-Pévèle and the Carrefour de l’Arbre, though not the Forest of Wallers.
The Early Break
In the opening hour, Rosa Maria Klöser (CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto) rode solo at the front, building a one-minute gap before being swept up with 77 kilometers remaining. Crashes thinned the peloton, but the favourites were still together cresting Mons-en-Pévèle.
The Decisive Move
No major splits occurred on Mons-en-Pévèle itself, though Koch (FDJ United – SUEZ) tested the group with a sharp acceleration. The race broke open on the sloping asphalt immediately after, where Ferrand-Prévot launched the decisive attack. Only Koch, Blanka Vas, and Marianne Vos — making her comeback after missing the Tour of Flanders following her father’s death — could follow. The quartet extended their lead to over a minute with 27 kilometers to go before SD Worx-Protime, the team of Lotte Kopecky and Lorena Wiebes, began to chase.
Down to Three
The chase was likely triggered by Vas signallng she was struggling. She dropped on the Cysoing à Bourghelles section, where Koch attacked again and Ferrand-Prévot briefly fell off the pace before fighting back. At Camphin-en-Pévèle, Ferrand-Prévot again battled on the cobbles but held on, and the trio arrived at the final five-star section — Carrefour de l’Arbre — together.
Koch drove the pace through the section while both Visma riders followed: Ferrand-Prévot just barely, Vos more comfortably. Vos attempted an attack on the second half of the sector but couldn’t break free.
Behind them, Kopecky had moved clear with Megan Jastrab and Lucinda Brand — until Brand went down hard after a spectator stepped into her path at Carrefour de l’Arbre. The remaining two chasers never seriously threatened the leaders.
Sprint to the Line
With 4.5 kilometers to go, Koch attacked from second wheel. Vos responded instantly, but Ferrand-Prévot briefly opened a gap before Koch eased and waited. A small counter from Ferrand-Prévot came to nothing, and the three entered the velodrome together — though it was effectively a two-rider race, with the Frenchwoman spent after her earlier efforts.
The sprint opened with half a lap remaining. Vos swung wide to come alongside Koch but could not pass her. The two crossed the line nearly side by side, Koch’s winning margin little more than a tire’s width in a true photo finish. Vos was second, Ferrand-Prévot third.
Top Ten — Sixth Paris-Roubaix Femmes Hautes-de-France (courtesy of Pro Cycling Stats)
Belgium, Visma Celebrate van Aert’s Victory
It seemed that even the die hard Pogačar (and van der Poel) fans couldn’t help but cheer for Wout van Aert as he emerged victorious at Paris-Roubaix.
Social media recounted celebrations across Belgium: at soccer stadiums, on TV, and, of course, in beer halls.
Van Aert’s Visma | Lease A Bike teammates also were elated as they watched Wout win.
In fact, I was about to write that the only people not celebrating van Aert’s win were Pogačar and van der Poel, but then I saw this:
Seems like just about everyone was pretty happy with the result.
Itzulia Basque Country: Seixas Seals His Statement
Get used to it.
The closing three stages of the 2026 Itzulia Basque Country delivered drama, attrition, and a generational talent staking his claim. From stage four onwards, the race’s central narrative was already written in yellow.
Stage four was a breathless affair, raced at full gas for 167km around Galdakao across seven categorised climbs. Alex Aranburu took the stage win, claiming his third career victory at his home race, edging Tobias Halland Johannessen on the uphill drag to the line. But the real story was Seixas. The Frenchman played a defensive hand before unleashing his descending skills in the finale, going clear from the peloton and gaining yet more time on his rivals.
Stage five — the queen stage — was where Seixas truly bared his fangs. On eight categorized climbs, attacks ignited early, with Seixas and Florian Lipowitz finally going away together on the Trabakua climb with 30km remaining. Lipowitz tried to go early in the sprint, but couldn’t get a jump on the 19-year-old, who powered his way to a hat-trick of stage wins.
The finale brought rain, chaos, and one last test of character. Tobias Johannessen’s Uno-X squad launched a mass assault that forced Seixas to chase alone for the best part of the final hour. Yet the yellow jersey held. On the final climb, 20-year-old Andrew August of Ineos Grenadiers broke free from the lead group to solo to a brilliant stage victory — another stellar young talent confirming his promise.
Seixas’s triumph gave France its
first overall winner of a WorldTour stage race in 19 years — a result that signals the dawn of something special.
Top Ten — 65th Itzulia Basque Country, General Classification (courtesy of Pro Cycling Stats)
TEAM AND RIDER NEWS
Pedal SNAFU Costs van der Poel Valuable Seconds at Paris-Roubaix
Alpecin-Premier Tech team manager Christoph Roodhooft expressed frustration after Paris-Roubaix, where a series of mishaps ended Mathieu van der Poel’s race hopes — or at least contributed to their not being realized.
The trouble began in the Wallers Forest, when Roodhooft’s team car was blocked by a doctor’s vehicle responding to a crash involving another rider. The delay kept the car stationary for over a minute, leaving Van der Poel without support when he suffered a flat tire.
Teammate Jasper Philipsen offered his bike as a solution, but the plan fell apart due to an unexpected incompatibility — the two riders use different pedals. Philipsen currently rides on prototype pedals, which Van der Poel couldn’t use effectively.
“That was the end of the story,” Roodhooft said. “It was an incredibly bad moment.”
The team manager acknowledged that the situation was a combination of bad luck and an avoidable oversight. “It should never have happened,” he admitted. “We must not forget that this had a very long build-up. We should have been there a minute earlier with the team car.”
Van der Poel ultimately finished fourth on the day.
Why Madis Mihkels Rode Wider Tires and Rims at Paris-Roubaix
Madis Mihkels arrived at Paris-Roubaix targeting an improvement on his tenth-place finish two years ago. Central to EF Pro Cycling’s preparation was a wheel and tire combination developed with engineers from Vision and Vittoria: 32 mm Vittoria Corsa Pro tires on Vision SC 48 i25 rims, a hybrid road/gravel wheelset with a 25 mm internal diameter.
The wider rim produces a more stable, less rounded tire profile at low pressures, reducing lateral movement and improving traction, rolling efficiency, and aerodynamics. Below 3.5 bar, the setup absorbs cobble impacts with less energy loss.
“That rim with that tire was a very fast combination when we tested it in the lab. This race is getting faster and faster. With 50-plus kilometers of cobbles, we do need to think about comfort, but we can’t forget speed, said Andreas Klier, EF Pro Cycling sports director.
Mihkels ran a single-chainring SRAM RED setup with a 10-28 cassette, a Cannondale LAB71 SuperSix Evo frame, and Fizik Solocush bar tape to dampen vibration. He tested the setup on a couple of thorough recon rides prior to the race.
“The new wheels that we have for this year are definitely helpful. I’m confident in the material that we have,” he said before putting those wheels on the start line.
Note: EF Pro Cycling released this account prior to Paris-Roubaix. Mihkels finished 81st at Paris-Roubaix.
UCI Issues Statement on Punching Incident at Dutch Race
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has announced that the sadly, exquisitely named Kiwi rider Kiaan Watts has been retroactively disqualified from the Dutch Salverda Bouw Ster van Zwolle race after video footage showed Watts reaching towards another rider and delivering a closed fist punch.
Watts was also fined CHF 200 and docked 25 UCI Points, and will serve a 25 day suspension (April 9 to May 2).
The UCI issues a reminder that, as holders of UCI licenses and members of the cycling community, riders enjoy rights and assume responsibilities aimed at promoting the values of cycling and protecting the integrity of the sport. These rights and responsibilities are set out in the Riders’ Charter of Rights and Responsibilities. Respecting this Charter fosters an environment in which sportsmanship, fairness, and respect prevail.
UCI to Host Mobility & Bike City Forum
Here’s some better news out of the UCI: in partnership with the City of Athens and Kyvernitis Travel Group, cycling’s governing body will host the 8th edition of an annual event dedicated to cycling for all and sustainability. The 2026 UCI Mobility & Bike City Forum will gather international experts, city leaders, academics, and event organisers who will explore how cycling can advance tourism development, sustainable urban mobility, city-level transformation, international event legacy and road safety.
Conference highlights include a welcome addresses by UCI President David Lappartient, as well as presentations on Kigali’s cycling revolution, urban mobility strategies, sustainable sport tourism and global road safety.
The event, taking place May 10 and 11, will also feature activities across Athens, including a community ride on the ΔEH Tour of Hellas race circuit, a bike tour of historical city locations and a chance to witness the finish of the ΔEH Tour of Hellas in the city centre. The winners of the 2026 UCI Cycling for All & Sustainability Awards will be announced during the event.
If you’re lucky enough to make it to the Roubaix Velodrome on Friday, you’ll recognize this scene –
Gotta Comment, thought or suggestion? Drop us a line at Content@PezCyclingNews.com
The post EUROTRASH: Hell of a Week: Van Aert, Koch, and the Future of Cycling appeared first on PezCycling News.
