Road Gallery, Paris-Roubaix: Sagan conquers the cobbles World champion Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) won his second "monument" on Sunday at the "Hell of the North," Paris-Roubaix. Share this Facebook Icon Twitter Icon Email Icon Join VeloNews.com Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. Join for free Already have an account? Sign In Join VeloNews.com Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. Join for free Already have an account? Sign In Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) was relaxed at the start in Compiegne. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images With 29 cobble sectors, the guide sheet that most riders put on their stems was long. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images The peloton rolled out of Compiegne under sunny skies. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images Zdenek Stybar (Quick-Step Floors), twice second at Paris-Roubaix, rolled out at the back of the peloton. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images It took over an hour, but finally the day’s breakaway escaped the peloton’s grasp. Nine riders formed the lead group in the early hours of the race. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images Finally, after 93.5 kilometers the riders hit the famed cobblestones of northern France. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images The peloton followed the breakaway onto the cobblestones about seven minutes later. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images Geraint Thomas (Sky) crashed on one of the early sectors. He remounted, but abandoned the race a short time later. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing) was gapped on the first sector, as the defending champion got stuck behind a crash that blocked the road. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images The famous forest of Arenberg. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images Philippe Gilbert (Quick-Step) attacked in The Forest with Mike Teunissen (Sunweb). On the pavement, Nils Politts (Katusha-Alpecin) bridged to the duo. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images As the race got selective, Tour of Flanders revelation Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) injected a bit of pace in support of Jasper Stuyven and John Degenkolb. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images Fans lined every cobbled sector on Sunday, even if some appeared to be in the middle of nowhere. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images Oliver Naesen (Ag2r-La Mondiale) had a tough day on Sunday. The Belgian champion got stuck behind multiple crashes and suffered multiple punctures. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images Sagan made his move with over 50 kilometers to go. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images Phinney’s final run at Roubaix turned out to be his most successful, landing him a top-10. Photo: Tim De Waele | Getty Images Wout Van Aert (Veranda’s Willems-Crelan) has been a sensation during his inaugural spring classics season. He finished 13th on Sunday. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates) crashed heavily just before the five-star Mons-en-Pévèle sector and lost contact with the chase group. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images Sagan caught the remnants of the breakaway and drove the pace. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images Only Silvan Dillier (Ag2r-La Mondiale) was be able to stay with Peter Sagan at the 2018 Paris-Roubaix. Photo: Tim De Waele | Getty Images Sagan forced Dillier to lead out the sprint in the Roubaix velodrome and beat the Swiss national champion to take the French cobbled monument. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images Tour of Flanders winner Niki Terpstra (Quick-Step Floors) jumped away from the chase group in the final kilometers to take third on the day. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images After the finish sprint, Dillier and Sagan exchanged a few words. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images Van Avermaet beat Stuyvan and Sep Vanmarcke (EF Education First-Drapac) to fourth place. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images Sagan’s face showed the brutality of nearly six hours on the roads and cobblestones of northern France. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images Race organizers ASO pulled out all the stops for the podium ceremony. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images Sagan has a new trophy for his collection. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images
