7 conclusions from Paris-Roubaix

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The final podium – Lampaert, Gilbert and Politt (L-R)(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Demol looks to build Katusha's Politt bureau of Classics riders

In a season of turmoil and disappointment, the emergence of Nils Politt for Katusha-Alpecin offers the struggling team a foothold in the campaign and a rider on which to build their future. His status as a dark horse for the podium in Roubaix was justified with a well-rounded and impressive performance, but it wasn't just his legs that made the grade, with other tell-tail signs to suggest that he can be a consistent force in the future.

While Gilbert deserves special praise for the manner of his victory, it cannot be discounted that the Deceuninck-QuickStep roster flooded the top 10 with more than half their squad. First, third, sixth and eighth were simply an emphatic display of domination and proof that this squad is the Team Sky of Classics riding. The team have interchangeable leaders, numbers when it matters and an astonishing ability to avoid misfortune while their rivals are forced into mistakes. After defeats in Gent-Wevelgem and Flanders normality across the cobbles has been restored.

However, it could have been very different. At the finish in Roubaix, Tom Steels admitted that the boys in blue hit the panic button when a large group escaped in the first 100 kilometres and only Tim Declercq was present. The Belgian is a decent rider but he's no closer, and with so many riders clear, Quickstep would have been left floundering had Lampaert not made it across a few kilometres later. The Belgian nation champion saved the day at that point in the race and became a foil for the unstoppable Gilbert later.

With two riders in the key selection and Stybar mopping up counter attacks from the chase, Lampaert and Gilbert could work over the last opposition that Sagan and Van Aert could mount before Gilbert matched Politt's late move. Had QuickStep failed to win a second Monument this spring then the gloss would have worn off their campaign, but Roubaix merely acted as the final act in a story of almost complete dominance. The win also represented Lefevere's 700th win at the helm of a team. In a sport in which sponsors come and go, one of Lefevere's skills is to keep the wheels turning. It's a trait that has helped build a one-day dynasty. (DB)

Kristoff admitted the choice was a "big risk" after the race, but the decision shows that even teams and riders seemingly at the top of their game can make mistakes. The extensive testing and recons failed to highlight that the chaos of Paris-Roubaix rarely lets you ride the best line over the narrow, cobbled roads and perhaps the wrong choice would've been more obvious had Kristoff ridden off of the best racing line during recons.

Van Aert finished 22nd in the Roubaix velodrome. On paper that is worse than his 13th place in 2018, yet his performance was arguably one of the best and bravest of the race, as he fought back from a puncture in the Forest of Arenberg, a high-speed slide out on a corner, a bike change and two chases through the team cars on the cobbles. Despite all of that he made the decisive selection of the race with Philippe Gilbert and Peter Sagan, only to crack and blow-up in the race to the finish.

The Roubaix victory was the culmination in Gilbert’s transition from explosive puncheur to diesel engine capable of winning on the flatlands of Roubaix. Though Flanders contains punchy climbs, Gilbert’s 55km solo effort - born not of an attack but sustained forcing - did contain enough evidence of the direction he was taking. Given the remarkable success he has enjoyed on the cobbles since joining QuickStep on a one-year deal in 2017, it makes you wonder if it was actually a mistake not to have done more of these races earlier. The BMC years, where he was deployed in the Ardennes amid tension with Greg Van Avermaet, can seem in hindsight like a waste, even if they did yield an Amstel title and the rainbow jersey. Yet perhaps age was what saw his engine naturally develop into a diesel.

And yet, it’s that change that might just render the ‘Strive for Five’ all the more difficult, despite how close it now seems and despite the fact that if you were to look at Gilbert a few years ago and asked to pick the one Monument he’d be most unlikely to win, you’d have said Paris-Roubaix - not San Remo, where he finished third in 2008 and 2011. While Gilbert has been a regular aggressor on the Poggio over the years at Milan-San Remo, you feel he lacks his explosiveness of old and would struggle to match the likes of Alaphilippe and Sagan.

It’s similarly hard to see him winning a larger group sprint, even if he showed in Roubaix he still has a strong kick at the end of a hard race. Maybe he’d need to attack on the Cipressa and open up a race that normally remains shut until the Poggio. It seems fanciful, but Gilbert has talked about panache and taking inspiration from riders who take the race on from distance. He has a keen appreciation and respect for the history of the sport and proved that his Monument quest was to be taken fully seriously. It’s still a long shot, but no one will count Philippe Gilbert out anymore.