Arenberg chaos for Van der Poel as double mechanical dents Paris-Roubaix challenge
After Tadej Pogacar suffered an untimely mechanical, Mathieu van der Poel suffered a double mechanical at the worst moment possible as the race was kicking off on the iconic Trouée d’Arenberg.
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With just under 100km remaining, Mathieu van der Poel was in prime position ahead of the first five-star sector, Trouée d’Arenberg, while Tadej Pogačar had been forced to chase after suffering a mechanical with 120km remaining on sector 22 Quérénaing to Maing.
The world champion managed to return just in time for the Arenberg, but as Wout van Aert was pushing the pace on the brutal cobbles, Van der Poel suffered a mechanical.
The three-time defending champion initially remained cool, as he received the bike of his teammate Jasper Philipsen, but soon there was panic when a problem emerged with the bike.
Philipsen took his own bike back, and Van der Poel then took a wheel change from Tibor Del Grosso. However, there was more misfortune for the Dutchman as he suffered another mechanical problem - most likely a puncture - before the end of the Arenberg forest.
This meant that Van der Poel found himself nearly two minutes behind a front group which had formed, featuring Pogačar, Mads Pedersen, Christophe Laporte, Wout van Aert, Stefan Bissegger, Filippo Ganna, Jasper Stuyven, Jordi Meeus and Laurence Pithie.
With 90km to go, Van der Poel faced a fierce pursuit to try to keep his dream of winning a fourth straight Paris-Roubaix alive.
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