Mathieu van der Poel triumphed in the 2025 Paris-Roubaix, securing his third consecutive victory amidst fierce competition from Tadej Pogačar, who faced his own setbacks including a crash. Van der Poel completed an impressive 39km ride to take the title, further solidifying his place in cycling history as he joins a select group of riders with three consecutive wins. In his post-race comments, Van der Poel commended Pogačar's abilities, likening him to cycling legend Eddy Merckx, and highlighted the potential for Pogačar to become one of the sport's all-time greats.
"It's not a big surprise that he's there in front. He's one of the best riders of the moment and probably one of the best ever," Van der Poel told the throng of journalists assembled for the post-race press conference almost two hours after he crossed the line.
"It's quite exceptional what he does, and for sure, he'll be back to try and win this race. If you see what he's doing, I think he's also the only rider who can pull this off."
"I said it after San Remo as well - that he's also the only rider who can make the actual difference on the Cipressa. He's 26, so there's so much more to come."
"When his career is finished, we'll look a bit like Merckx back at his career."
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