Andrew “AJ” August (Ineos Grenadiers) did make it to the velodrome to conclude his inaugural ride at Paris-Roubaix, and he made the record books, but it was not a number he had on the radar. The now-youngest rider of Paris-Roubaix came up short of an official time by just one minute and 31 seconds after 260km of racing. A tough day at his new office.
At the age of 18 years and 178 days, August did notch a mention of notoriety as the youngest competitor in the men’s elite field. Last year his teammate Josh Tarling broke the record as the youngest man to ride the crushing cobbles which had stood for 86 years, with Paul Botquint setting the mark in 1937 at 19 years and 53 days. Tarling, now 20, was just 16 days younger than Botquint, but August lowered the bar by another 224 days.
