Page 19 - ARUBA TODAY

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SPORTS Monday 9 april 2018

Sagan's 1st Paris-Roubaix win

overshadowed by rider's death

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN meters (15.5 miles). Sagan best," Sagan said.
PARIS (AP) — World cham- launched the sprint in the The 257-kilometer race is
pion Peter Sagan out- Roubaix Velodrome and also known as the "Hell of
sprinted Silvan Dillier to the used his greater power to the North" because of its
finish line to win the presti- prevail. treacherous profile includ-
gious Paris-Roubaix race, "It's amazing to win Paris- ing 54.5 kilometers of cob-
but his first victory in the Roubaix. I'm tired after this blestones spread out over Slovakia's Peter Sagan right, sprints to win the 116th edition of
race known as the Queen race but not as tired as in 29 sectors. In 2017, nearly the Paris-Roubaix cycling classic, a 257,5 kilometer (160 mile)
of the Classics was over- previous years when I didn't half of the riders did not one day race, with about 20 per cent of the distance run on
shadowed by the death of win it for some reasons," make it to the finish in the cobblestones, at the velodrome in Roubaix, northern France, on
Belgian rider Michael Goo- Sagan said. "I have to say Roubaix Velodrome.q Sunday, April 8, 2018. Switzerland's Silvan Dillier finishes second.
Associated Press
laerts on Sunday. that I was not involved in
Goolaerts' team said the any crash or puncture or
23-year-old rider died in a any kind of mechanical
Lille hospital where he had this time, so I could save
been admitted following some energy for the finale.
his collapse at the one-day I attacked at the right mo-
classic. ment and I kept going until
"It is with unimaginable the finish." Dutch rider Niki
sadness that we have to Terpstra, who won the Tour
communicate the passing of Flanders last week and
of our rider and friend Mi- the 2014 edition of Paris-
chael Goolaerts," his team, Roubaix, completed the
Veranda's Willems-Crelan, podium. The race was also
said in a statement. marred by several crashes
The team said Goolaerts that ended the hopes of
died "in the presence of his outsiders Sebastian Lan-
family members and loved geveld and Matteo Tren-
ones, who we keep in our tin close to the Trouee
thoughts." Goolaerts had d'Arenberg sector. Trentin's
been evacuated by heli- Mitchelton-Scott team said
copter after crashing about the 28-year-old Italian rider
150 kilometers (93 miles) suffered a fracture in the
from the finish. TV footage thoracic region and will re-
of the race showed Goo- main hospitalized for a few
laerts lying unresponsive days. Sagan countered
on the side of the road as an attack from Greg Van
the peloton passed him. He Avermaet of Belgium with
was quickly attended by 55 kilometers left and went
a medical team and ap- solo to catch Dillier and the
peared to receive CPR. last members of an early
Goolaerts rode in support breakaway that formed
of cyclo-cross world cham- about 200 kilometers from
pion Wout van Aert of Bel- the finish.
gium. His most significant Sagan tried to drop Dillier
result this season was 20th on the cobblestone sec-
at Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. tion of the famed Carre-
Sagan became the first de- four de l'Arbre but the Swiss
fending world champion rider did not lose contact
to win the one-day clas- with his rival, guaranteeing
sic along cobbled streets some suspense until the fi-
since Frenchman Bernard nal sprint.
Hinault 37 years ago. "It's really nice to win this
Sagan, the three-time world race with the world cham-
champion from Slovakia, pion jersey. I said before
and Dillier rode together at the race that my goal was
the front for the last 25 kilo- to do my best. I've done my