John Thomson’s Third Classic Photo Gallery: As the pro peloton heads into the Giro d’Italia, photographer John Thomson says good-bye to the Classics season with his final photo gallery from Belgium and northern France – As always an eclectic mix from John’s world of the cat-walk and the road-side.
*** You can see the full archive of John Thomson’s photo galleries HERE. ***
John Thomson: “This is part three and the last of my 2026 Holy Week Photo Galleries. Lots more pics from Flanders and Roubaix, including a cobbles crash, some vintage magazine scans, Paris glam, artworks, fans and beer. And a big thanks to Al and Rich for putting up with my ginormous galleries.”
Paris-Roubaix cobbles on the Carrefour de L’Arbre
A super strong Mathieu leading the chase on the Carrefour de L’Arbre. And without the Trouée d’Arenberg, who knows?
Solid gold Poupou on a classic cover from 1966
Raymond Poulidor in Compiègne at the start of Paris-Roubaix in 2018
Pogi and Wout on the Carrefour de L’Arbre
Wout kept it close on the Carrefour de L’Arbre
“So Beautiful.” Photo: Baziz Chibane/La Voix des Sports
German Rolf Wolfshohl (1938-2024) was a three time world cyclocross champion and also won the 1965 Vuelta a España
Obligatory Flemish stew in Bruges
A fine second place behind MvdP in the E3 Saxo Classic. Per Strand Hagnes at the Tour of Flanders
A top ten finish for Christophe Laporte at the Tour of Flanders
Just out of the top ten at Paris-Roubaix. Max Walscheid here at the Tour of Flanders
“Paul-Gustave van Hecke and His Wife Norine De Schrijver” by Frits Van den Berghe (1883-1939) at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp
Two time Swiss Elite National Road Race Champion Silvan Dillier at the Tour of Flanders
A 12th place at Paris-Roubaix and a nice top-ten finish here at the Tour of Flanders for Gianni Vermeersch
Obligatory shot of the great photog (and Pez alumnus) Jered Gruber at the Tour of Flanders
A two time national junior cyclocross champion. Spaniard Carlos Canal at the Tour of Flanders
Now riding his first Grand Tour at the Giro d’Italia. Slovakian champion Lukáš Kubiš here at the Tour of Flanders
Palais des Beaux Arts de Lille
Three wins at the Women’s Liège-Bastogne-Liège for Demi Vollering Here winning at theTour of Flanders Women
4th place at Paris-Roubaix Femmes and 4th place here at the Tour of Flanders Women for Lotte Kopecky
9th place for Mischa Bredewold and 11th place for Lieke Nooijen at the Tour of Flanders Women
Gouden Carolus Classic is a prestigious Belgian Strong Dark Ale brewed by Brouwerij Het Anker in Mechelen. (In moderation)
British champion Millie Couzens at the Tour of Flanders Women
13th place for Elisa Balsamo at the Tour of Flanders Women
Fans coming off the Oude Kwaremont
Ferrand-Prévot leading eventual winner Koch and 2nd place Vos on the Carrefour de L’Arbre
The biggest win of her career for German champion Franziska Koch at the Paris-Roubaix Femmes
Dressed up on the Carrefour de L’Arbre
Paris glam at Fashion Week
2023 winner and reigning Canadian Champion, Alison Jackson at the Paris-Roubaix Femmes
Morgan in Lille
Jan Ullrich Ultras on the Carrefour de L’Arbre
Soren Bruyère Joumard leading the Paris-Roubaix Juniors and about to collide with fan and camera
Makes contact with fan and camera
About to crash
Crashing
A bit more of a tumble. Gijs Winters (Netherlands) also crashed and is out of picture at left but managed to recover and finish in 5th place
More crashing
Dean Woolley from South Africa avoids the crash
Luckily the damage wasn’t too bad and Soren managed to finish the race in just under 6 minutes down from the winner Thijs Wiersma
Carrefour de L’Arbre barbecue
Pogi on the Oude Kwaremont had his epic win over Tom Pidcock at the 2026 Milan-San Remo
Pogi was provided some critical and tactical advice for Milan-San Remo by top descender and former pro and San Remo resident Niccolò Bonifazio, here at the 2017 Paris-Roubaix
Emile Daëms (1938 – 2024) was a top Belgian pro who won classics like Paris-Roubaix (1963), Giro di Lombardia (1960) and Milan-San Remo (1962)
The debut season at Team Cofidis for Hugo Page formerly of Intermarché-Wanty, here at the Tour of Flanders
Top pro Yves Lampaert at Paris-Roubaix. And our crash photographer at far right after learning a valuable lesson is shooting from a safer distance
A solo win at the 2026 GP de Denain and a nice 16th place for Alec Segaert at Paris-Roubaix on his new team. Now making his Giro d’Italia debut
If you drink a lot of beer it is convenient to have a large grassy field behind you
Suits and ties watching Paris-Roubaix in years past
Stella at Château de Vincennes on the outskirts of Paris
The highest-ever finish for an American woman at the Paris-Roubaix Femmes. Megan Jastrab here on the Carrefour de L’Arbre finished a fine 5th place in Roubaix
15th place for Julia Kopecky and 6th place for Lorena Wiebes at the Paris-Roubaix Femmes
Jeanne Korevaar at the Paris-Roubaix Femmes
Flying the Flemish Lion on the Carrefour de L’Arbre
Aussie Alastair MacKellar was the last official OTL finisher at Paris-Roubaix
Souvenir to take home from the Carrefour de L’Arbre
Matvei Boldyrev at the Paris-Roubaix Espoirs
Benjamin Thomas was the last official finisher within the time limit at Paris-Roubaix
Gare de Lille Flandres
Paris glam at Palais de Tokyo
New Zealander Ben Oliver at Paris-Roubaix
Davide Donati won the 2026 Paris-Roubaix Espoirs
Davide Donati looking good in the TT at the 2025 U23 European Championships
Star of Roman Polanski’s 1976 psychological horror film “The Tenant.” Isabelle Adjani at Dior at PFW in 2022
French cyclocross star Maurice Gandolfo (1935-2018) in classic black and white
Mathieu leading the chase with Bissegger on the Carrefour de L’Arbre
Tommeke still has the Paris-Roubaix record (with Roger) of four wins
Do not bet against MvdP getting a 4th Paris-Roubaix win
More Jackie Bisset in “Day for Night”(1973) in flight
Mark Twain said, “Travel is fatal to bigotry, prejudice and narrow-mindedness”
*** Where will John Thomson’s next trip take him? Stay PEZ to find out. ***
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