Paris-Roubaix 2014, la photo gallery
Le emozioni della mitica Parigi-Roubaix 2014 nelle immagini del fotografo professionista Stefano Sirotti per il magazine Road Cycling UK. La 112a edizione della grande classica del nord è stata vinta dall’olandese Niki Terpstra, protagonista di un attacco solitario iniziato a oltre 6 km dall’arrivo.
Guess who’s back
Bradley Wiggins delivered a performance at Roubaix that was arguably his best since winning the 2012 Tour de France. Ph: ©Sirotti
Daring, opportunistic, audacious – call it what you will, the fact of the matter is that Niki Terpstra’s late solo bid for glory at Paris-Roubaix was a race-winning move. Breaking clear of an elite leading group, the Dutchman’s attack saw him ride solo into the Roubaix velodrome to the biggest victory of his career. An incident-packed race had lived up to its billing as a Classic in all senses of the word – crashes, attacks aplenty and a strong ride from Sir Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky) to boot. The day belonged to Omega Pharma-Quickstep’s Terpstra however, and photographer Stefano Sirotti was on hand to capture the action.
Not like the valleys
Geraint Thomas, like team-mate Wiggins, enjoyed a top-ten finish for Team Sky. Ph: ©Sirotti
Hot pursuit
John Degenkolb and Fabian Cancellara tackle the brutal pavé of the Arenberg Forest with a four-man breakaway still up the road. Ph: ©Sirotti
Mechanical misfortune
Alexander Kristoff suffers an ill-timed puncture in the Arenberg Forest. Ph: ©Sirotti
Crash…
Marcus Burghardt and Gregvan Avermaet come to grief on the fearsome pave. Ph: ©Sirotti
Bang…
Crashes were, as ever, a regular feature of the race. Ph: ©Sirotti
Wallop…
…with several team suffering sit downs. Ph: ©Sirotti
Attack…
The leading contenders all made breaks for freedom, with Sep Vanmarcke launching an assault on the twisting cobbled road from Pont to Thibau. Ph: ©Sirotti
…counter-attack
Peter Sagan also made numerous solo bids for glory. Ph: ©Sirotti
At ease
While Niki Terpstra saved his single effort for the final six kilometres. Ph: ©Sirotti
Celebrate good times
Niki Terpstra roars in delight as he crosses the Roubaix finish line solo. Ph: ©Sirotti
Plaudits
John Degenkolb celebrates second-place, to accompany his Gent-Wevelgem win. Ph: ©Sirotti
One for the collection
Terpstra examines the latest addition to his mantlepiece: the famed cobble trophy of Roubaix. Ph: ©Sirotti
Not this time
Fabian Cancellara finishes on the podium once again, but a record-breaking third Ronde-Roubaix double was just beyond him. Ph:©Sirotti
Podium
Degenkolb, Terpstra and Cancellara celebrate on the podium. Ph: ©Sirotti
Final Results
Dutch rider Niki Terpstra attacked just over 6 km from home to stun a host of favorites and win Paris-Roubaix at the end of 257km of racing on Sunday. The race had seemed set for a sprint finish among 11 riders but Terpstra took advantage of the marking of favorites Tom Boonen, Fabian Cancellara and Peter Sagan to go solo and win in the Roubaix velodrome after six hours nine minutes and one second. German sprinter John Degenkolb won the sprint for second 20 seconds later with Cancellara third. Having finished fifth two years ago and third last year, 29-year-old Terpstra, who rides for Omega Pharma, finally delivered on his immense potential on the biggest Spring Classics stage of all. In so doing, he became the first Dutch winner of the ‘Hell of the North’ since Servais Knaven in 2001.Sagan was sixth while Wiggins trailed home in ninth and Boonen tenth.
1. Niki Terpstra (NED/OPQ) 6hr 09min 01sec
2. John Degenkolb (GER/GIA) at 20sec
3. Fabian Cancellara (SUI/TRE) same time
4. Sep Vanmarcke (BEL/BKN) s.t.
5. Zdenek Stybar (CZE/OPQ) s.t.
6. Peter Sagan (SVK/CAN) s.t.
7. Geraint Thomas (GBR/SKY) s.t.
8. Sebastian Langeveld (NED/GRM) s.t.
9. Bradley Wiggins (GBR/SKY) s.t.
10. Tom Boonen (BEL/OPQ) s.t.
11. Bert De Backer (BEL/GIA) 26
12. Arnaud Demare (FRA/FDJ) 47
13. Bernhard Eisel (GER/SKY) s.t.
14. Sebastien Turgot (FRA/ALM) s.t.
15. Bjorn Leukemans (BEL/WGG) s.t.