Belgian Greg van Avermaet won the Paris-Roubaix cycling classic, a 257-km ride from Compiegne on Sunday (April 9).

The 2016 individual road race Olympic champion sprinted to win on the last section of the race, a lap of the velodrome in Roubaix before an excited crowd.

Czech Zdenek Stybar was second, just failing to keep ahead of van Avermaet, and Dutchman Sebastian Langeveld finished third.

The race, one of a group of classic races known as "monuments", runs from Compiegne, north of Paris, to Roubaix on the Belgian border, with long sections on ancient cobbled roads used for agricultural transport.

In cold and wet weather the race is known as the "Hell of the North". The fine sunny conditions still served up dust, crashes, punctures and unrelenting vibration from the cobblestones for the riders on Sunday.

The win was van Avermaet's first monument win after years of trying.

Attempting to win the race for the fifth time was Tom Boonen, the Belgian racer ended his racing career with an attempt at a fairy tale ending. It was not to be, with Boonen classified 13th at the finish. During the 16 years of his career, the Belgian's accomplishments include four times winner of the Paris-Roubaix, six times Tour de France stage winner, the Tour green jersey and many one-day classic race wins.

Results from Paris - Roubaix (Compiegne - Roubaix, 257 km) on Sunday

1. Greg Van Avermaet (Belgium / BMC Racing) 5:41:07"

2. Zdenek Stybar (Czech Republic / Quick-Step) ST

3. Sebastian Langeveld (Netherlands / Cannondale)

4. Jasper Stuyven (Belgium / Trek)

5. Gianni Moscon (Italy / Team Sky)

6. Arnaud Demare (France / FDJ) +12"

7. Andre Greipel (Germany / Lotto)

8. Edward Theuns (Belgium / Trek)

9. Adrien Petit (France / Direct Energie)

10. John Degenkolb (Germany / Trek)

11. Mathew Hayman (Australia / Orica)

12. Florian Senechal (France / Cofidis)

13. Tom Boonen (Belgium / Quick-Step)

14. Yoann Offredo (France / Wanty)

15. Laurens De Vreese (Belgium / Astana)

16. Marcus Burghardt (Germany / BORA)

17. Piet Allegaert (Belgium / Sport Vlaanderen)

18. Nikolas Maes (Belgium / Lotto)

19. Sylvain Chavanel (France / Direct Energie)

20. Dylan van Baarle (Netherlands / Cannondale)

21. Daniel Oss (Italy / BMC Racing)

22. Juergen Roelandts (Belgium / Lotto) +20"

23. Jelle Wallays (Belgium / Lotto) +26"

24. Marcel Sieberg (Germany / Lotto) +36"

25. Ramon Sinkeldam (Netherlands / Sunweb) +2:24"

26. Marco Marcato (Italy / UAE Team Emirates)

27. Nils Politt (Germany / Katusha)

28. Jonas Van Genechten (Belgium / Cofidis)

29. Koen de Kort (Netherlands / Trek)

30. Bert Van Lerberghe (Belgium / Sport Vlaanderen)