Italian Rider Ends 22-Year Wait with Muddy Triumph in the Rain-Soaked Hell of the North
Sonny Colbrelli made history on Sunday by becoming the first Italian to win the prestigious Paris-Roubaix Monument classic in 22 years. After a grueling 257.7-kilometre race through 30 cobbled sectors, the European champion from Team Bahrain Victorious crossed the line in a dramatic three-man sprint finish, securing his place in cycling’s history.
Colbrelli, drenched in mud after the rain-soaked Hell of the North, collapsed in tears on the grass of the Roubaix Velodrome. He edged out Belgian Florian Vermeersch (Lotto Soudal) and Dutch star Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix), who finished second and third, respectively.
Van der Poel, one of the pre-race favorites, put in an impressive effort in the chase, but despite his hard work, he fell just short. The race saw early drama as Italian Gianni Moscon (Ineos-Grenadiers) was forced to abandon his lead after suffering a puncture and crash, leaving Colbrelli to emerge victorious. Moscon finished fourth, 44 seconds behind, as the Italian rider claimed the coveted title for the first time since Andrea Taffi’s victory in 1999.
