'It's the hardest race I've done in my life - Tadej Pogačar suffers, crashes but enjoys Paris-Roubaix battle with Mathieu van der Poel

Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates-XRG leads Mathieu Van Der Poel of Alpecin-Deceuninck in the breakaway.

The head-to-head duel of world champions came to fruition at this year's Paris-Roubaix between Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), but after sparring in a lead group for almost 60 kilometres until Pogačar overshot a corner, lost his chain and hope of victory.

He got up and chased van der Poel all the way to the Roubaix velodrome but could only congratulate his special spring Classic rival on his third victory.