The battle unfolds on the roads leading the peloton from Compiegne to the velodrome in Roubaix. The cobbles take their toll. The opportunists take their chances. And the leaders inevitably come to the fore when it really matters. Some would falter because of crashes, others fell by the wayside because of mechanicals… but one German did everything right in the finale and he scored a rock to put in his trophy cabinet. There’s much more to it for John Degenkolb than that though. From 12 April 2015 onward, he’ll be referred to in a different way – he’s now a winner of Paris-Roubaix.

That title was issued to a German: Joseph Fischer was the first champion of ‘The Hell of the North’… and now there’s a second German name on the honour roll.

Our full report for RIDE #68 is being compiled and it’ll be part of our Classics coverage from the 2015 season in the next issue. In the meantime, here is a gallery of images taken by Wei Yuet Wong on the day Degenkolb beat all others to take one of cycling’s most prestigious titles.

 

– Photos by Wei Yuet Wong

 

Click the photos below to our slideshows from Paris-Roubaix 2015.

 

– Part 01: The bikes of Roubaix

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– Part 02: On the road to ‘hell’

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– Part 03: Portraits… before and after

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