A mud-bath, an over-inflated spare tyre, and a domestique holding the cobblestone trophy – Servais Knaven relives his iconic Paris-Roubaix victory 25 years on

Servais Knaven, reflecting on the 25th anniversary of his iconic 2001 Paris-Roubaix victory, shared insights with CyclingNews regarding Domo-Farm Frites-Latexco's historic podium sweep. The Dutchman detailed the mud-soaked conditions, an over-inflated spare tyre incident, and how he ultimately secured the cobblestone trophy. He also highlighted a significant evolution in rider preparation that has enabled modern stars like Tadej Pogačar to excel on the pavé, a stark contrast to the specialist-dominated era of his own triumph.

Knaven's 2001 win, part of a dominant performance by Johan Bruyneel's Domo-Farm Frites squad with teammates Johan Museeuw and Romāns Vainšteins completing the podium, represented the zenith of the 'Lion of Flanders' era and the classic hardman approach to the Hell of the North. His observations on Pogačar's recent success at Flanders underscore a broader trend: the erosion of the traditional classics specialist, replaced by all-rounders who now target and conquer races previously deemed too specific for their skill set.

It seems the days of a rider's entire season being built around a single, muddy Sunday in April are as antiquated as Knaven's over-inflated spare. Modern cycling, it appears, prefers its champions versatile, even if it means fewer dedicated cobblestone warriors.