Theodor August Clemmensen (Denmark) secured fifth place at the U19 edition of the “Hell of the North”. Paul Fietzke was the best German, finishing eighth.
The cycling classic Paris-Roubaix is known as the “Hell of the North”. The reason is that a significant part of this one-day race goes over cobblestone sections, posing unique challenges to both riders and equipment. Therefore, Paris-Roubaix is considered one of the most important races of the year, not just in professional cycling but also in the U19 category. The level of competition was accordingly elite, featuring 15 national teams and various U19 squads from WorldTeams, among them the BORA - hansgrohe U19 squad GRENKE - Auto Eder.
The starters of the race this Sunday had to cover a distance of 111 kilometres, including 17 cobblestone sections. Team GRENKE - Auto Eder’s leaders, Theodor August Clemmensen (Denmark) and Paul Fietzke (Germany), showed good performances throughout the race. Clemmensen kept pace with the fastest riders on the demanding pavés until the end of the race and was even able to launch several attacks. His efforts were ultimately rewarded with fifth place. Fietzke, who was fourth in the previous year, displayed a commendable performance by finishing eighth, despite encountering technical difficulties. Completing the team’s results were Noah Lindholm Møller Andersen (Denmark, 21st), Patrick Casey (Ireland, 30th), Kryštof Král (Czech Republic, 55th), and Thibaut Van Damme (Belgium, 56th).
Team GRENKE - Auto Eder’s next race is the stage race “Eroica Juniores,” which will take place from April 18th to 21st around Siena (Italy).
Quotes
“From start to finish, the race was very hectic. With my attack on the Mons-en-Pévèle sector, I was able to initiate the finale and narrow down the front group. On the last tough sectors, I tried to break away again because I knew I had little chance in a sprint. However, the strong wind prevented this. Still, I am satisfied with the fifth place and the proof that I am one of the best classic riders in the U19 peloton.” – Theodor August Clemmensen
“I performed well, though the race was a bit of a mixed bag. Sadly, another rider crashed into my derailleur, which resulted in technical issues for the remainder of the race. I also took a turn too wide later on. These setbacks made it difficult to catch up with the leaders. Still, I did the best I could.” – Paul Fietzke
“Our leaders, Theodor and Paul, put in a strong performance. However, luck wasn’t quite on our side to secure the podium spot we were hoping for. Still, our riders are in great shape, giving us a positive outlook for the next races.” – Dr. Christian Schrot, Sports Director
Photo: Matthis Waetzel