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Wout van Aert’s mangled hands shows you how tough Paris-Roubaix is

The Monument destroys your body

Wout van Aert riding in Paris-Roubaix Photo by: Sirotti
April 19, 2022
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Dutchman Dylan van Baarle tool the biggest victory of his career, beating Belgian Wout van Aert. Trek-Segafredo kept the Paris-Roubaix Femmes title on the team after Elisa Longo Borghini’s 34-km solo triumph on Saturday. But everyone who finished the race can most likely attest to why it’s called “Hell of the North.”

Not only is the pace high, with everyone fighting to get in the right position before each cobbled section, but when you actually hit them, it takes a toll on your body.

Riding the cobbles can mean pushing bigger gears, so you are more stable as you fly over the rocks. That means your back will be sore. Your knees will ache. Almost everyone crashes at least once, or has a near-crash, so you’ll probably get a bit of road rash, on the best of days.

But no matter what, R.I.P your poor hands. Riding the cobbles means that your hands and arms become shock absorbers, and it doesn’t matter how thick your gloves are, your hands will be blistered and wrecked.

Take a look at van Aert’s hands after the race. Of note is his giant swollen thumb.

To put into perspective just how destroyed the pro men and women’s hands are, here’s a throwback to Ineos-Grenadiers rider Salvatore Puccio’s hands, a full 11 days after!