Van der Poel wins Paris-Roubaix again with Pogačar in second place after late crash

ROUBAIX, France (AP) — Dutch rider Mathieu van der Poel benefited from Tadej Pogačar's late crash on Sunday to win the Paris-Roubaix race for the third straight year.

Pogačar's debut appearance at the one-day classic saw him seeking to become the first Tour de France champion to win it since Bernard Hinault in 1981.

The 259.2-kilometer (161-mile) race is called “The Hell of the North” because of its numerous cobblestone sections and reputation for crashes.

Pogačar found that out with 38 kilometers to go.

The 26-year-old Slovenian was neck-and-neck with Van der Poel when he misjudged a turn on a cobblestone section and went into the crash barriers.

Although he was unhurt, his chain came off and he had to change bikes, losing crucial time. Then, when he picked up a puncture with 20 kilometers to go, his victory chances were gone.

The grueling race is one of the five “monuments” in one-day cycling along with Liège–Bastogne–Liège, the Tour of Lombardy, Milan-San Remo and the Tour of Flanders.

Van der Poel, who raised his bike in the air in celebration, and Pogačar have won eight monuments each.

“It means a lot. It’s such a hard race, I was suffering. I just had to go for it,” Van der Poel said. “I’m just happy I found my good legs again. We know what an incredible champion Tadej is.”

Although Van der Poel had a puncture with 16 kilometers left, he changed bikes without losing much time and entered the Roubaix velodrome all alone.

He bowed his head and then raised three fingers when he crossed the finish line in 5 hours, 31 minutes, 27 seconds.

Pogačar got a loud ovation and waved to the crowd when he finished second, 1 minute, 18 seconds behind. Danish rider Mads Pedersen took third place after a three-way sprint to the line, finishing 2:11 behind Van der Poel.

The 30-year-old Van der Poel added another prestigious win to his glittering career and got the better of Pogačar again after beating him last month at the prestigious Milan-San Remo, which Pogačar has never won.

On Saturday, Pauline Ferrand-Prévôt overcame sickness and a crash to win the Paris-Roubaix women’s race for the first time after a well-timed solo breakaway. The 148.5-kilometer women’s race featured 29.2 km of cobbles.

Sunday's race had been billed as a showdown between two of the greatest cyclists of the modern era: the versatile and tactically shrewd Pogačar versus the super-fast and powerful Van der Poel.

Van der Poel outsmarted him at San-Remo, but Pogačar bounced back with a victory last Sunday with a trademark solo attack at Flanders.

When Pogačar launched an attack with 71 kilometers left, Van der Poel and Jasper Philipsen were soon on his wheel.

Philipsen was then dropped as the pace increased, but Pogačar’s inexperience on the cobbles showed when he entered a turn too fast and ultimately lost the race.

“The speed was super-high and he missed the turn a bit,” Van der Poel said. “It was the two of us going into the Velodrome if he didn’t make the mistake. I think it would have been very difficult to drop him.”

Pogačar has won three Tour de France titles and one Giro d’Italia and is notoriously hard to beat.

Last month, he won the Strade Bianche race in Italy for the third time despite falling.

But this time he could not overcome his setback.

AP cycling: https://apnews.com/hub/cycling

Second placed, Tadej Pogacar, of Slovenia, winner Mathieu van der Poel, of the Netherlands, and third placed Mads Pedersen, of Denmark, pose on the podium of the Paris-Roubaix cycling race in Roubaix, France, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Second placed, Tadej Pogacar, of Slovenia, winner Mathieu van der Poel, of the Netherlands, and third placed Mads Pedersen, of Denmark, pose on the podium of the Paris-Roubaix cycling race in Roubaix, France, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Mathieu van der Poel, of the Netherlands, poses on the podium as Tadej Pogacar, of Slovenia, pass behind after he winning the Paris-Roubaix cycling race in Roubaix, France, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Mathieu van der Poel, of the Netherlands, poses on the podium as Tadej Pogacar, of Slovenia, pass behind after he winning the Paris-Roubaix cycling race in Roubaix, France, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Mathieu van der Poel, of the Netherlands, celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the Paris-Roubaix cycling race in Roubaix, France, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Mathieu van der Poel, of the Netherlands, lifts the cobblestone trophy while second placed Tadej Pogacar, of Slovenia, and third placed Mads Pedersen, of Denmark, look on, on the podium of the Paris-Roubaix cycling race in Roubaix, France, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Mathieu van der Poel, of the Netherlands, approaches the finish line on her own to win the Paris-Roubaix cycling race in Roubaix, France, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Mathieu van der Poel, of the Netherlands, approaches the finish line on her own to win the Paris-Roubaix cycling race in Roubaix, France, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Mathieu van der Poel, of the Netherlands, celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the Paris-Roubaix cycling race in Roubaix, France, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Police in Uganda on Saturday denied reports that the main opposition candidate in this week's tense election had been arrested, terming the reports as “deceitful and inciteful.” They urged citizens to remain peaceful as the country awaits the results in the presidential vote.

Uganda held a general election on Thursday amid an internet shutdown that has been in place for four days, with the military heavily deployed across the country and pockets of violence erupting as people protested parliamentary election results in various parts of the country.

President Yoweri Museveni, 81, is seeking a seventh term in office and is leading in the provisional results with more than 70% support. His main challenger, musician-turned-politician Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, better known as Bobi Wine, is currently holding 20% of the vote. Wine dismissed the announced results as “fake,” and asked his supporters to ignore them.

Police on Saturday said that Wine was “not under arrest,” as claimed by his National Unity Platform party. Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke said Wine was free to leave his house, but there was “controlled access” for others trying to go into the property, to prevent people from using the premises to incite violence.

“It should not surprise you when we have a pickup or two near the residence of Kyagulanyi,” Rusoke said.

Ugandan electoral officials are set to announce the final presidential results on Saturday, as constitutionally required. The chairperson of the national electoral commission said Friday that everything was on course to announce the final result by the end of the day Saturday.

The voting was marred by delays due to the late delivery of materials to polling stations after opening time and the failure of some biometric machines.

President Museveni said he agreed with the electoral commission’s plan to revert to paper voter registration records, but Wine alleged fraud, claiming that there was “massive ballot stuffing” and that his party’s polling agents were abducted to give an unfair advantage to the ruling party.

The security forces were a constant presence throughout the election campaign, and Wine said authorities followed him and harassed his supporters, using tear gas against them. He campaigned in a flak jacket and helmet due to his security fears.

Wine wrote Thursday on X that he was unable to leave his house, and on Friday his party wrote that he had been arrested and taken away in an army helicopter.

Uganda has not witnessed a peaceful transfer of presidential power since independence from British colonial rule six decades ago.

Veteran opposition figure Kizza Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate, remains in prison after he was charged with treason in February 2025.

Uganda's security forces patrol a street during protests following the announcement of the preliminary results in Kampala, Uganda, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

A Ugandan police officer makes a gesture behind a burning fire amid protests following the announcement of the preliminary results in Kampala, Uganda, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Girls run during protests following the preliminary results in Kampala, Uganda, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)