Dutchman wins Paris-Roubaix race for first time

ROUBAIX, France (AP) — Dylan van Baarle timed his attack on the final cobblestone sections perfectly to win the Paris-Roubaix race for the first time on Sunday.

The 29-year-old Dutchman, who rides for the Ineos Grenadiers team, won in 5 hours, 37 minutes after 257 kilometers (159 miles) of grueling racing. His average speed of 45.8 kilometers-per-hour (28.4 miles-perhour) was a record.

Belgian Wout van Aert edged a tight sprint to finish second ahead of Swiss rider Stefan Kung in third — both 1 minute, 47 seconds behind Van Baarle.

Although he won the Dwars door Vlaanderen (Across Flanders) race last year, but this was by far Van Baarle's biggest victory and he milked the applause upon entering the Roubaix Velodrome alone.

The sunny conditions were far removed from last year's mud-splattered and rain-soaked race held in October. Mathieu Van der Poel was third then, but the Belgian rider was ninth this time.

The race is one of cycling's five high-profile classics, along with the Tour of Flanders, Milan-San Remo, Liege-Bastogne-Liege and the Giro di Lombardia.