Paris-Roubaix 2026 LIVE: Wout van Aert holds off comeback king Tadej Pogacar for emotional win in the velodrome

The unprecedented prospect of one rider winning all five Monuments in 2026 is no longer on the cards after Tadej Pogacar’s winning streak was ended in dramatic fashion on the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix Hauts-de-France by an imperious Wout van Aert on Sunday.

In a frenetic race rode at a record-breaking pace, Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) powered past the world champion Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) on the final bend in the Roubaix velodrome to end his long wait for a maiden cobblestone trophy.

Belgium’s Jasper Stuyven (Soudal Quick-Step) took the final spot on the podium ahead of triple defending champion Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech), who battled back from two mechanicals on the crucial Arenberg Forest section of cobbles.

Both Van Aert and Pogacar also suffered mechanical issues at key points in the race, the Slovenian forced to ride a neutral service bike after an untimely puncture with 120km remaining.

Despite his best efforts to ditch Van Aert on the infamous Carrefour-de-l’Arbre section of cobbles with 20km remaining, Pogacar was unable to shake off his foil.

So, instead of witnessing the four-time Tour winner become the reigning champion in all five of cycling’s Monuments, fans were treated to the emotional sight of Van Aert finally winning a race that has always eluded him.

His lips blackened by the dust and grit, Tadej Pogacar denied that luck simply wasn’t on his side today and congratulated Van Aert on his win.

On whether he will be back to win Paris-Roubaix:

Having finished second, third and fourth in his previous three editions, Wout van Aert finally has the win that has eluded him in his illustrious career so far.

Here's how he used his experience of the Roubaix velodrome to outfox the world champion and end Tadej Pogacar's reign of terror.

Speaking after his win., Wout van Aert paid tribute to the his former Verandas Willems-Crelan team-mate Michael Goolaerts, who suffered a fatal heart attack during the 2018 race where Van Aert made his debut.

1. Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike)
2. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates XRG) ”
3. Jasper Stuyven (Soudal Quick-Step) +0:13
4. Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) +0:15
5. Christophe Laporte (Visma-Lease a Bike) ”
6. Tim Van Dijke (Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe) ”
7. Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) ”
8. Stefan Bissegger (Decathlon CMA CGM) +0:20
9. Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates XRG) +2:36
10. Mike Teunissen (XDS Astana Team) ”

Jasper Stuyven held on for third place, but it’s impossible to look beyond Van Aert’s win today. We can feel for Pogacar – especially after that courageous fightback – but Van Aert’s victory was what the world of cycling wanted and perhaps needed.

Lovely to see Mathieu van der Poel one of the first to come over and congratulate his big rival there, too.

Pogacar bangs the handlebars in frustration but all eyes are on Van Aert, who collapses to the ground, his head in his hands, in floods of tears – he finally has his cobblestone trophy. A career-defining win for the 31-year-old Belgian.

It’s Pogacar who is forced to lead it out and he has no answer when Wout van Aert powers past on the final bend to take an emotional win.

What a race.

The Leaders complete the final cobbled sector and then pass under the flamme rouge before swinging into the velodrome for the most iconic finish in the Classics calendar.

The Slovenian is no sprinter, but that didn’t stop him in Milano-Sanremo…

How cooked is Van Aert?

So tense!

The third rider on the podium could be Stuyven, who has just kicked clear of the chasers.

Still 27 seconds for the two leaders, who will shatter the record for the fastest Paris-Roubaix of all time today. We could have the prospect of the chasers completing their first lap of the velodrome just as Van Aert and Pogacar sprint for the win. Anyone else got butterflies?

The leaders hit the cobbles at Willems a Hem, which is just two stars and only 1.4km in length. They have 33 seconds to play with, which should be enough provided they don’t start looking at each other ahead of – or in – the velodrome.

Will the win go to the history-maker or the Belgian who has somehow never won this race before? Either would make a worthy story and it’s simply impossible a call to make.

Second place would be so cruel for Van Aert, and he’s the faster finisher, but after such a difficult race, and with his recent record, Pogacar cannot be dismissed.

The Belgian refuses to pull as the duo approach the finale of this race. I take that back – here he is, coming to the front to lend a hand. The Van der Poel group is back up to 28 seconds behind so it looks like these two will both battle for a maiden Roubaix title.

Let’s hope neither pick up a mechanical because that would be seriously anti-climatic after all the drama we’ve seen today.

Nothing separates the two leaders on the Carrefour-de-l’Arbre, so there’s just a few more ”easy” sections of cobbles to go until the finale at the Velodrome.

First up is sector 3 at Gruson, which is ** and 1.1km. Pogacar is going for it but Van Aert has his measure.

There’s a double wheel-slide from the world champion as he looks to throw down the hammer on the Carrefour. Somehow he managed to stay upright and he continues his pursuit of history – but Van Aert won’t let him go.

Van der Poel now within 20 seconds! A more tense finish to a bike race I haven’t seen in a very long time… This is pure madness.

Wow – this could be quite extraordinary… The Dutchman has dragged the chasers to within 24 seconds of the leaders on the Camphin sector. We saw a lull on that sector from the leaders as they looked to recover ahead of the all-or-nothing section on the Carrefour…

It’s Camphin-en-Pevele time, the first of two tough cobble sections remaining before the finish. This could be where the race is won or lost – but it’s a battle of attrition for the leaders, whose advantage is down to 33 seconds.

No one has ever held all five Monuments at the same time, so Tadej Pogacar will write a piece of history today if he can beat Wout van Aert in the Roubaix velodrome. But it’s a big if because Van Aert will never have a better chance of winning his first ever Paris-Roubaix.

The leaders are on sector 6 at Bourghelles a Wannehain with their 40-second lead intact. Pogacar prefers the muddy verge while Van Aert floats over the cobbles.

The winning move could come on the next two sectors of Camphin-en-Pevele and the infamous Carrefour-de-l’Arbre.

That said, both riders look to be on the limit.