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James Moultrie

The fastest Paris-Roubaix in history – Wout van Aert and Tadej Pogačar set blistering new highest average speed of 48.91kph, smashing previous record

Wout van Aert leads the 2026 Paris-Roubaix group of favourites through the Trouée d'Arenberg.

The 2026 men's Paris-Roubaix was the fastest ever in its 123 editions, with winner Wout van Aert and runner-up Tadej Pogačar recording a blistering new high average speed of 48.91kph over the race's 258 brutal kilometres, breaking the previous record set by Mathieu van der Poel in 2024.

Two years ago, the average speed was 47.802kph, meaning the latest Sunday in Hell was more than a full kilometre per hour quicker, with a strong tailwind and a lack of an early breakaway contributing to the new record.

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