'I learned that I want to come back next year' – The youngest rider at Paris-Roubaix on his 'crazy' day out

Ezra Caudell, the youngest rider at the 123rd edition of Paris-Roubaix, experienced a challenging but memorable debut in the iconic race. At just 19 years old and standing 6ft 8in tall, the American cyclist from Modern Adventure Pro Cycling was notable not only for his age but also for his stature. Despite having no high expectations before the race, Caudell approached the event with a calm mindset, hoping simply to finish the gruelling course known as the ‘Hell of the North’. The race proved to be a brutal test, with Caudell finishing in 120th place, over 17 minutes behind winner Wout van Aert. The event was the fastest Paris-Roubaix on record, with an average speed nearing 49km/h, and featured 30 cobbled sectors that pushed riders to their limits. Caudell described the experience as chaotic and intense, highlighting the difficulty of maintaining positioning and coping with mechanical issues during the race. Nonetheless, he felt strong across the cobbled sectors and was proud to complete the race, a feat many riders aspire to simply achieve. Reflecting on his experience, Caudell expressed a sense of disbelief and excitement upon crossing the finish line in the famous Roubaix velodrome. He admitted that the reality of the race only truly hit him after it was over, noting how the atmosphere and historic significance made the accomplishment feel surreal. His background in mountain biking and his physical size were advantages in the power-demanding race, reinforcing his belief that Paris-Roubaix suits his strengths. Looking ahead, Caudell is eager to return and improve his performance, inspired by the achievements of Modern Adventure’s team boss George Hincapie, who has multiple top-10 finishes in the race. He intends to work on his positioning and race tactics to have a stronger showing next year. For now, the young rider plans to recover and reflect on his ‘crazy’ day, already motivated to come back and tackle the challenging cobbles of Paris-Roubaix once more.