2018 Paris – Roubaix Preview

For the 116th edition of the French monument Paris-Roubaix, the riders will take on a 257km-long course peppered with 29 cobblestone sectors totaling 54.5 kilometers of pavé, including the iconic Haveluy, Trouée d’Arenberg, Sars-et-Rosières, Mons-en-Pévèle, Camphin-en-Pévèle and Carrefour de l’Arbre sectors.

Check back on this article as it will be updated as more team news comes in.

Dimension Data starts with motivated team

Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka will start on Sunday with a motivated team, ready for the epic battle ahead of them. Edvald Boasson Hagen, who placed 5th at the 2016 Paris-Roubaix, will be their favored rider on the day. Despite a shoulder injury, Julien Vermote will also line up for a day in hell alongside our South African’s, Ryan Gibbons, Nic Dougall, Jaco Venter, Jay Thomson and Johann van Zyl.

Rolf Aldag – Sport Director: “I’m not a weather man so I can’t predict what it will be like on race day but as far as our recon was concerned on Thursday, I’ve never seen conditions like that before. We can only hope for nice fast conditions on race day but we will deal with whatever is presented to us. Hell of the North is always a battle no matter what and it will be a big fight. History can be made at Roubaix, at Lombardy or Liege-Bastogne-Liege you are not going to win if you are not the strongest but here, out of different tactical scenarios, good luck or even bad luck to others, you always have a fair chance and I think that motivates guys to come back year after year to give Roubaix a shot. We are little in that situation, the underdogs on Sunday.”

Dimension Data Roster: Edvald Boasson Hagen, Julien Vermote, Ryan Gibbons, Nic Dougall, Jaco Venter, Jay Thomson, Johann van Zyl

Lotto Soudal line-up looks ahead to Paris-Roubaix

The Lotto Soudal line-up for Paris-Roubaix did a recon yesterday and saw that the cobbles were very muddy. Lotto Soudal goes to the hell without a specific leader, but with a team of motivated riders who all have a free role.

Lars Bak: “I really want to be in the break, that’s the best way for me to avoid crashing and to survive the selections. I think Jens Debusschere and Marcel Sieberg are the two men in our team with the best chances of surviving. I might be able to support them if I get in the break. Once you are part of the break, you need to hope for a good day and no bad luck. Then you see how long you can survive.”

Jens Debusschere: “Paris-Roubaix is my favourite race. Both as a junior and as a U23 rider I got second. As a pro I finished ninth in 2015. Last year I had three punctures. I must be able to ride the finale this year as the condition is good. I definitely have the same shape as in 2015, maybe even better. I feel fresher anyway. I’m not focussing on names or parts on the course, but I am watching my roomie Marcel Sieberg. He is the master of positioning. When you follow him, you can most of the times turn up the cobbles in the best position.”

Frederik Frison: “This is my second participation, after my début in 2016. I had a good feeling on the cobbles that day, but I got behind because of a crash and I could never return to the front. My perfect scenario is that I am part of a large breakaway. The race is less explosive than the ones over the Flemish hills. Everyone who has done the recon knows that de sectors of Haveluy and Arenberg will be crucial. Those two sectors are in a really bad state. It will come down to surviving that battle first.”

Jens Keukeleire: “It will be a special race. I have been ill and I am not yet in the shape I had before my illness. If I would have been at my best, that still wasn’t a guarantee to be riding the finale. On Sunday I will be supporting my teammates who feel best and I will try to follow as long as possible. I can play a role in different ways: by closing a gap or by taking someone to the front. If it would rain more the next days, I expect splits already early on in the race. The more selections you survive, the better the result can be.”

Nikolas Maes: “I kept calm during the recon after an intense Scheldeprijs on Wednesday. A recon is mainly necessary to test the material and that was all fine. By riding the Scheldeprijs I know have faith that after my illness – which kept me out of Bruges – De Panne and the Ronde – I can play a role for the team on Sunday. In 2017 I was part of the group of André Greipel, who sprinted to the seventh place. It’s nice to be racing in a team with so many riders who have a free role.”

Marcel Sieberg: “This will be my twelfth Paris-Roubaix, so this race doesn’t have any secrets to me anymore. It’s a special race. You can have the best legs of the season, but not be playing a role. Bad luck is an important factor. We knew there was a lot of mud, but some sectors were really bad during the recon. I was seventh in 2016 after a crash had caused the peloton to split. That proves that positioning at the front is so crucial. Hopefully as a team we still have many riders in the first part after the Forest of Arenberg, then we can see what’s possible for us.”

Jelle Wallays: “My love for Paris-Roubaix dates back to my first participation in the U23 edition. I immediately finished fourth without any specific preparation. I have always loved to race Paris-Roubaix because it’s such an open race. Unfortunately bad luck is also part of it. Two years ago I was riding in the group of Mathew Hayman who won in the end. But a puncture just before the Forest of Arenberg, crushed my ambitions. I deliberately didn’t ride the Scheldeprijs. I hope to get in a large breakaway to survive the first selection and to be able to play a role in the finale.”

Van Avermaet Sets His Sights on Paris-Roubaix Defense

Greg Van Avermaet will return to the start line of Paris-Roubaix as the defending champion after claiming the first Monument win of his career and in BMC Racing Team’s history in 2017.

Sports Director Fabio Baldato said the team takes confidence out of their performance at the Tour of Flanders.

“It is a good feeling to be lining up at Paris-Roubaix with the defending champion in our team. We have seen that Greg Van Avermaet is strong in the classics this year and although we haven’t managed to get a win, we are confident ahead of Paris-Roubaix. At the Tour of Flanders, we saw the best performance from a team perspective and all of our riders are motivated to help Greg as much as possible on Sunday. The team remains largely unchanged with the exception of Nathan Van Hooydonck, who is coming back from illness and will replace Alberto Bettiol,” Baldato explained.

“Paris-Roubaix is the most unpredictable race of the classics and as we have seen in previous years, anything can happen at any moment of the race. We need to be attentive and intelligent in the way we race and by doing this, I am confident that we can produce a good result with Greg as our leader.”

Van Avermaet is relishing the opportunity to race with number one on his back.

“It is a really special feeling to be lining up as the defending champion at Paris-Roubaix. I’ve felt good and confident in my shape the whole classics season but things haven’t fallen into place yet. Paris-Roubaix is completely different to the Belgian classics. As much as you need the legs, you need some luck, to stay safe and avoid punctures. Last year I had some bad luck but I managed to completely change my situation,” Van Avermaet said.

“I was really happy with the team at the Tour of Flanders and we will give it everything we have on Sunday to defend my title. It was amazing last year because I wasn’t expecting to win but I did it. I’m capable of winning again so we will see how far I come.”

BMC Racing Team Roster: Jempy Drucker (LUX), Stefan Küng (SUI), Jürgen Roelandts (BEL), Michael Schär (SUI), Greg Van Avermaet (BEL), Nathan Van Hooydonck (BEL), Francisco Ventoso (ESP).  Sports Directors: Fabio Baldato (ITA), Klaas Lodewyck (BEL)

Bagondas hoping to end classics on good note

“I have raced all the cobbled classics in Flanders on the UCI WorldTour calendar this year,” said AG2r – La Mondiale’s Gediminas Bagondas. “For me, this is a very important part of the racing season.  I really like this type of race, this atmosphere. There is a real passion for cycling here. Oliver Naesen has shown that he could compete with the best, but unfortunately luck has not been on his side. His most recent crash at the Tour of Flanders just reiterated that. But before starting a new chapter of the season, we are very motivated to finish this period of classics strongly.

If ill fate would just leave us alone, we can achieve some great things. I have already participated at Paris-Roubaix five times, but it is important to remember each cobbled section well. At this race, even more than any place else, your position in the pack is paramount. I cannot wait to experience the atmosphere of Roubaix. And it starts with two days of reconnoitering.”

Dillier replaces Barbier

Following a crash at the Tour of Flanders, Rudy Barbier required five stitches in his right knee. Unfortunately for Barbier, he has not sufficiently recovered to participate at Paris-Roubaix and will be replaced by Silvan Dillier. The Swiss champion broke his finger at Strade Bianche on March 3rd, but he made a successful comeback on March 30th by winning the Route Adelie.

Heinrich Haussler to Lead Bahrain Merida

“The monumental “cobblestone classic” and the well-known Paris-Roubaix is the new challenge for the very motivated riders of BAHRAIN MERIDA Team.  We have a very strong and motivated Heinrich Hausseler that will be our leader,” said sports director Tristan Hoffman. “Our riders will have a role for helping and protecting Heino, but we also wish to have one of our riders at the early morning break and to be there for 93 km for the entrance to the cobblestone sections and to fight to the Arenberg (162 km).

“Most of our riders already had an joint experience at last years’ Paris – Roubaix what is definitely a good base for us as a team. Borut Božič, Kristijan Koren, Luka Pibernik can really work hard, David Per and Meiyin Wang are our young strong helpers and Ivan Cortina had shown last weekend at Flanders how strong and motivated he is. Paris-Roubaix is his favorite race, so let us all believe that TBM can do a good result at the upcoming Paris-Roubaix. A top 10 result on such unique and hard race would be the first team goal,” Hoffman concluded.

Team Bahrain Merida Roster: Borut Božić, Luka Pibernik, Ivan Cortina, Heinrich Haussler, David Per, Meiyin Wang, Kristijan Koren

Quick Step Floors ready for Paris-Roubaix challenge

Quick-Step Floors will go into Paris-Roubaix brimming with confidence after having won nine one-day races with six different riders in the past five weeks: Le Samyn, Dwars door West-Vlaanderen, Nokere Koerse, Handzame Classic, E3 Harelbeke, Driedaagse Brugge – De Panne, Dwars door Vlaanderen, Ronde van Vlaanderen and Scheldeprijs.

Tim Declercq, Philippe Gilbert, Iljo Keisse, Yves Lampaert, Florian Sénéchal, Zdenek Stybar and Niki Terpstra – the same team that last week took on the Ronde van Vlaanderen, bringing home the 16th Monument victory in the history of Quick-Step Floors – will be in Compiègne Sunday morning for the “Hell of the North”.

“Roubaix is an elimination race. The first important part is the first 100 kilometers. In the beginning of the race it will be important to control the breakaways or be in one, because in a race like Roubaix a group containing the right riders can go really long, even all the way to the line. Also, the weather could play a big role; it’s still not clear if it will rain or we’ll have a dry edition. If it’s wet, then you get a completely difference race, much harder and with more scenarios”, said Tom Steels, a podium finisher as a rider back in 1999.

Quick-Step Floors’ sports director continued: “It is neither easy to control or book a ticket for the breakaway, but we count again on our own strength and are prepared to do our own race, improvising as things unfold according to what happens, as we always do. We start with confidence in all the riders; they showed a good form so far this spring, and if one of them will find himself in a good position to take the win, we’ll do everything to support him.”

Quick Step Floors roster: Tim Declercq, Philippe Gilbert, Iljo Keisse, Yves Lampaert, Florian Sénéchal, Zdenek Stybar and Niki Terpstra

Trek-Segafredo Press Conference Highlights:

Three former winners of Paris-Roubaix looked back at the Tour of Flanders and talked about their goals and ambitions for the upcoming Paris-Roubaix: John Degenkolb (2015), Mads Pedersen (2013, U19), 2nd in the Tour of Flanders last week and Jasper Stuyven (2010, U19), 4th in last year’s edition of Paris-Roubaix.

Jasper Stuyven: “The recon today was good. There was a lot of headwind, so you never feel really fast on the cobbles and on top of that, the course was also very muddy. So, now everybody will start talking again about how the cobbles will be on Sunday. In the last couple of years, we always had quite muddy conditions for the recon but in the race itself it was never that bad in the end. I think most likely not every section will be completely dry, but I am not really worried that on Sunday the situation will be as bad as it was today.”

John Degenkolb: “Haha, that would be interesting indeed.”

Jasper Stuyven: “In my opinion, last Sunday, in the Tour of Flanders, we were there as a team on all the important points. We played it perfectly, we were there in the final, as one of the teams with the most riders in the front. I am convinced that we have a really strong team. We demonstrated that last Sunday and we can do that again in Paris-Roubaix.”

John Degenkolb: “I didn’t come out of the Ronde van Vlaanderen with a perfect feeling, but then again, it was one of the hardest editions we did in the past few years. Even today, I still felt really tired from the race, because it was maybe one of the hardest races I have ever done. We raced from the gun to the finish and there was not one time during the race were the break was gone and the peloton went easy. Maybe the only time it felt easy during the race, was at the Kanarieberg where we were in front of the peloton. (laughs) Otherwise, after a couple of kilometers today, I felt better and better and that was good to see, that the feeling on the cobbles was good and I am now looking forward to Sunday.”

Mads Pedersen: “At the start in Paris-Roubaix, I will feel exactly the same way as last Sunday at the start. We are still here with two leaders, John and Jasper, and my role will be exactly the same as it was in the Tour of Flanders. For sure, my 2nd place last week gives me some more confidence for Paris-Roubaix, but in the end the feeling will be the same. I know we have a super strong team at the start and now, I know that I can be in the final in the longer races as well, so I am really sure I will be there in the final to help the guys.”

“I am still young, I still have something to learn and we have two big guys here that will be 100% sure the leaders just like they were in the last races as well.”

“Of course, after the Ronde, it will be more difficult to race in the way I did last Sunday, but like I said before, I am still here in another role. I am there to help our leaders.”

Jasper Stuyven: “Since Milano-Sanremo, I have finished in the top 10 of every race, between spot 5 and 10. I keep the same confidence for Sunday that I built up from the start of the Classics. We raced as a team in a perfect way last Sunday and we will do so again this Sunday. Having this as a little extra and knowing that Roubaix suits me even better, will be what it takes to make it to the top 5 instead of finishing between spot 5 and 10.”

“Last week we also had the goal to race as a team and go for the victory. We will do the same this weekend and for sure it would be nice to see my consistency throughout all the Classics rewarded with a nice cherry on the cake.”

“We said last week that John (Degenkolb) would aim for Roubaix, that’s a race that fits him well and that he has won already, so it would not be fair to change that strategy now.”

John Degenkolb: “I don’t feel extra pressure for Paris-Roubaix, it doesn’t feel as a ‘do or die’ to me, because we will keep racing after Roubaix. I will be at the start of the Amstel Gold Race and also in Frankfurt, and I will take a good break after that. That’s when we will evaluate the whole Classics campaign.”