The cobbled classics reach their peak this weekend with the 2019 edition of Paris-Roubaix taking place this weekend. The race will dish out 54.5 kilometers of cobbles and weather conditions are expected to be cold and rainy, making for a potentially epic race.
All of the rosters are already included below. We’re adding updates from the teams as we receive them.
Ag2r-La Mondiale:
“We are coming to Paris-Roubaix with big ambitions, says Ag2R-La Mondiale team manager Vincent Lavenu. “Whether in Milan San Remo or Gent Wevelgem, Oliver Naesen has consistently proved that he is one of the best racers at the classics.
“At the Tour of Flanders, his big goal, he took 7th place in spite of the fact he was suffering bronchial issues. That bodes well for this coming weekend. Our hope is to reach the podium, and even a victory.
“We are looking for the big exploit. Since early March and the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, the guys have raced together, they know each other well, and everyone, from the staff to the racers, are all very motivated.
“At the Tour of Flanders, we also saw how strong of a lieutenant Stijn Vandebergh can be. He was pushing at the front in the last hour of race. Of course, by mentioning Paris-Roubaix, I do not forget Silvan Dillier.”
Roster: Nico Denz (Ger), Silvan Dillier (Swi), Julien Duval (Fra), Dorian Godon (Fra), Alexis Gougeard (Fra), Oliver Naesen (Bel), Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel).
Astana:
Roster: Davide Ballerini (Ita), Zhandos Bizhigitov (Kaz), Magnus Cort (Den), Laurens De Vreese (Bel), Jonas Gregaard (Den), Dmitriy Gruzdev (Kaz), Hugo Houle (Can).
Bahrain-Merida:
Roster: Phil Bauhaus (Ger), Sonny Colbrelli (Ita), Iván García (Spa), Heinrich Haussler (Aus), Kristijan Koren (Slo), Matej Mohoric (Slo), Marcel Sieberg (Ger).
Bora-Hansgrohe:
Roster: Maciej Bodnar (Pol), Marcus Burghardt (Ger), Daniel Oss (Ita), Juraj Sagan (Svk), Peter Sagan (Svk), Andreas Schillinger (Ger).
CCC Team:
Roster: Pawel Bernas (Pol), Michael Schär (Swi), Greg Van Avermaet (Bel), Gijs Van Hoecke (Bel), Nathan Van Hooydonck (Bel), Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel), Lukasz Wisniowski (Pol).
Deceuninck-Quick Step:
Deceuninck – Quick-Step – who have triumphed at the “Queen of the Classics” five times (2005, 2008, 2009, 2012 and 2014) – will once again have a wide array of options for Sunday’s appointment, when they will field Kasper Asgreen, Tim Declercq, Philippe Gilbert, Iljo Keisse, Yves Lampaert, Florian Sénéchal and Zdenek Stybar at the start in Compiègne.
For Gilbert, it will be his 51st presence in a Monument, but just his third at Paris-Roubaix, a race to which he returned last year after more than a decade away. The experienced Belgian is ready to shrug off the disappointment of having to stop Ronde van Vlaanderen, his first abandon at a Monument in seven years, and have a dig at what many people consider to be the toughest one-day race on the calendar.
“I was really unlucky to be sick last week, first before Dwars door Vlaanderen, and then again in the night leading to Flanders. It was a pity to stop the race, as I never like to abandon an event, but I was empty and I just couldn’t carry on”, Philippe said to the journalists gathered at the Quick-Step Headquarters for the team’s press conference. “Now that I got some rest, recovered and trained several times this week, I go with a different morale to the start. Of course, I really don’t know how I’ll feel in Roubaix, but what I do know is that we have a strong team for this race and that makes us confident.”
Runner-up at Ronde van Vlaanderen, after a phenomenal ride for which he got a lot of praise from his teammates, Kasper Asgreen will now make his debut in Paris-Roubaix, where the 24-year-old Dane is ready to put himself again in the service of the Wolfpack. “Nothing has changed after De Ronde. I have the same role within the team and that’s normal, because we go to Roubaix with a couple of strong leaders, who boast an impressive palmares and for whom I am ready to work. Getting second in Flanders was really great and I’m glad for the opportunity I got, but now I’m ready to help my teammates again.”
Since turning pro, Zdenek Stybar has ridden Paris-Roubaix on six occasions, and except for 2016 when illness prevented him from being in the mix, the Czech has always been one of the main protagonists, finishing in the top 10 five times, including twice in second place, each time being beaten only in the sprint on the legendary Roubaix velodrome.
Victorious this season in two prestigious cobbled Classics – Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and E3 Harelbeke – the 33-year-old Czech hopes that his luck will change on Sunday, after a bout of illness spelled the end of his ambitions at Ronde van Vlaanderen.
“We did a good race in Flanders and at the end of the day taking second with Kasper was a nice result. Unfortunately, I couldn’t feature in the final due to my illness, which began troubling me since Thursday, but I hope things will be completely different on Sunday. It’s a pity I had this setback, because I worked hard to be in shape for these races and I was confident I could win De Ronde. It wasn’t the case, but maybe, and hopefully, things will be different in Paris-Roubaix, a race that suits our team and where we have an impressive record”, said Zdenek ahead of his 19th Monument start.
Roster: Kasper Asgreen (Den), Tim Declercq (Bel), Philippe Gilbert (Bel), Iljo Keisse (Bel), Yves Lampaert (Bel), Florian Sénéchal (Fra), Zdenek Stybar (Cze).
Dimension Data:
Team Dimension Data’s roster includes Bernhard Eisel who tackles the 257km race for a 16th time, having completed all 15 prior occasions that he’s started and finishing in the top-10 twice. Alongside the Austrian will be Lars Bak who takes on the ‘Hell of the North’ for a 13th time, having finished 5th in 2011.
Edvald Boasson Hagen, who looked to hold out for a win at Scheldeprijs earlier in the week after launching a solo attack in the final 15km, hopes to capitalise on the experience that’s seen him been in contention in the final stages of the Monument on a number of previous occasions. He was 5th in 2016 and will start for an 8th time this Sunday.
Completing our lineup is the experienced trio of Reinardt Janse van Rensburg, Julien Vermote and Jay Thomson; while neo-pro Rasmus Tiller has recovered from a nasty crash at Schldeprijs and is set to make his Paris-Roubaix debut. The 22-year-old previously competed in the junior version of the race in 2014.
“My form is certainly getting better, I’m not where I was hoping to be this Spring, playing catch-up since getting sick but my plan earlier in the week was to try and attack at Schelderprijs and see how far I could get,” said Edvald Boasson Hagen. I didn’t get to the finish line, well I got there eventually, but not first, and I was happy to get through without any issues. So that’s good and I’m now looking forward to Sunday.
“After the recon today I can confirm that the cobbles are still bumpy, they haven’t changed much. But it’s always good to test equipment, see how the sections are and if there’s anything new. The ride itself was still a bit hard after yesterday’s exertions but it was good.”
“In terms of Sunday’s race, luck does play quite a big factor: you need to have plenty of form, you need to have a lot of luck but you need to try and stay in front and out of trouble, then it’s a good chance to have a good day,” Boasson Hagen concluded.
Roster: Lars Bak (Den), Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor), Bernhard Eisel (Aut), Reinardt Janse van Rensburg (SA), Jay Thomson (SA), Rasmus Tiller (Nor), Julien Vermote (Bel).
EF Education First:
Roster: Matti Breschel (Den), Mitchell Docker (Aus), Moreno Hofland (Hol), Sebastian Langeveld (Hol), Taylor Phinney (US), Tom Scully (NZ), Sep Vanmarcke (Bel).
Groupama-FDJ:
Roster: Arnaud Démare (Fra), Antione Duchesne (Can), Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita), Ignatas Konovalovas (Ltu), Olivier Le Gac (Fra), Marc Sarreau (Fra), Ramon Sinkeldam (Hol).
Jumbo-Visma:
Roster: Pascal Eenkhoorn (Hol), Amund Grondahl Jansen (Nor), Mike Teunissen (Hol), Wout Van Aert (Bel), Taco van der Hoorn (Hol), Danny van Poppel (Hol), Maarten Wynants (Bel).
Katusha-Alpecin:
Roster: Jenthe Biermans (Bel), Jens Debusschere (Bel), Marco Haller (Aut), Reto Hollenstein (Swi), Vyacheslav Kuznetsov (Rus), Nils Politt (Ger), Mads Wurtz Schmidt (Den).
Lotto-Soudal:
Lotto Soudal rider Jens Keukeleire will start his tenth Paris-Roubaix and wants to conclude a strong Classics season with a top result. Tiesj Benoot will be at the start of Paris-Roubaix for the third time in his career and hopes to animate the finale.
Jens Keukeleire: “I have never been in a better shape at the start of Paris-Roubaix. In 2015, I was already close the victory when I finished sixth. Back then, I became ill just before Paris-Nice and I only felt at my best again in Paris-Roubaix. Now, I’ve had a nice spring season, which brings some peace of mind. Of course, my performance in the past Tour of Flanders gives me confidence. I have been performing consistently the past spring Classics, but I still wait for that one peak result. In previous years, I missed that little percentage to stay with the best, but the past races have shown that I don’t need to fear other riders during a finale. Now, I am able to make the selection myself during key moments in the race. I feel that winning is a possibility on Sunday.”
“There is no race in which experience is more important than in Paris-Roubaix. It will be my tenth participation and I still learn every year. Contrary to the Tour of Flanders, the course of Paris-Roubaix – except for Tour stages – is only ridden once a year. The recon and the race itself are one of the few moments you are able to feel the cobbles. The more experienced you are, the more you can read how the race will unfold.”
“Because of the headwind that is being predicted, I expect the race to be closed a little longer than usual. But once racing kicks off, it is of course all hands on deck. On the tough sections like Bersée, Mons-en-Pévèle and Carrefour de l’Arbre, there will be a tailwind and that is exactly when differences can be made. It is one of the first years that I don’t need to attack from afar. Moreover, joining an early break is always a gamble, certainly because of the predicted headwind during the run-up to the cobbled sectors. That way, you can waste a lot of energy, which you’ll need during the finale.”
Tiesj Benoot: “I will start in the Hell of the North for the third time in my career. During my first participation in 2015, I punctured twice. The next year, I crashed hard during the Tour of Flanders, and in Paris-Roubaix, I had two flats on a very bad moment. That means that I have never been up there during the finale but I hope to do so this year. In the first place, I need to prove to myself that I can make it to the finale and if that succeeds, a nice result is possible. My shape certainly won’t be the problem, I still feel fresh. For me, only two chances remain during the spring Classics. If I can avoid bad luck and if everything falls into place, a podium spot will be amongst the possibilities. The Tour of Flanders maybe suits me – thanks to the many climbs – a little better, but Paris-Roubaix is of course less about explosive racing. A really hard race will certainly play to my advantage. I have to try to attack from a little further and hope for some hesitation behind or that some strong riders will join me.”
“It will be important to always stay at the front. Once we’ve ridden through the Forest of Arenberg, a new race begins, so to speak. The wind always plays an important role in Paris-Roubaix. During the recon, I noticed that on the sector prior to Mons-en-Pévèle and on the five-star section itself, the wind will be favourable to really start racing. We’ll have to deal with headwind during a lot of the cobbles, but not out there.”
“Many riders start Paris-Roubaix with the goal of setting an outstanding performance. During the past races, the pool of contenders was smaller, which makes it difficult to name some favourites for Sunday. Of course, I expect riders like Oliver Naesen and Wout Van Aert to be up there, but during an event like Paris-Roubaix, it is not a good idea to base your race on other riders.”
Roster: Tiesj Benoot (Bel), Stan Dewulf (Bel), Frederik Frison (Bel), Jens Keukeleire (Bel), Nikolas Maes (Bel), Lawrence Naesen (Bel), Brian van Goethem (Hol).
Mitchelton-Scott:
Roster: Edoardo Affini (Ita), Jack Bauer (NZ), Michael Hepburn (Aus), Luka Mezgec (Slo), Callum Scotson (Aus), Robert Stannard (Aus), Matteo Trentin (Ita).
Movistar:
Roster: Carlos Barbero (Spa), Daniele Bennati (Ita), Héctor Carretero (Spa), Imanol Erviti (Spa), Lluís Mas (Spa), Jürgen Roelandts (Bel), Jasha Sütterlin (Ger).
Team Sky:
Roster: Owain Doull (GB), Christian Knees (Ger), Chris Lawless (GB), Gianni Moscon (Ita), Luke Rowe (GB), Ian Stannard (GB), Dylan van Baarle (Hol).
Sunweb:
Roster: Asbjorn Kragh Andersen (Den), Nikias Arndt (Ger), Cees Bol (Hol), Roy Curvers (Hol), Lennard Kämna (Ger), Casper Pedersen (Den), Max Walscheid (Ger).
Trek-Segafredo:
Roster: Koen de Kort (Hol), John Degenkolb (Ger), Alex Kirsch (Lux), Ryan Mullen (Irl), Mads Pedersen (Den), Jasper Stuyven (Bel), Edward Theuns (Bel).
UAE Team Emirates:
UAE Team Emirates General Manager Joxean Matxin said, “Considering the good run of form and performances our cyclists have, we can look towards Paris-Roubaix with optimism. Our wish is to close the northern classics campaign with a significant result. Our goal is clear, a victory in the Hell of the North and just the desire to do well.
“Alexander Kristoff will captain our team. He has been very effective so far and wants to set the record straight in Paris-Roubaix after a fall last year prevented him from being a sure protagonist.
“We will have riders at his side to offer a great contribution and a Fernando Gaviria who, despite debuting in the race, has the necessary talent for to go strongly“.
Roster: Sven Erik Bystrom (Nor), Fernando Gaviria (Col), Alexander Kristoff (Nor), Vegard Stake Laengen (Nor), Marco Marcato (Ita), Jasper Philipsen (Bel), Oliviero Troia (Ita).
Wildcard entries:
Arkéa-Samsic:
Roster: Maxime Daniel (Fra), Brice Feillu (Fra), André Greipel (Ger), Benoît Jarrier (Fra), Clément Russo (Fra), Robert Wagner (Ger), Bram Welten (Hol).
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits:
Roster: Dimitri Claeys (Bel), Hugo Hofstetter (Fra), Christophe Laporte (Fra), Damien Touzé (Fra), Bert Van Lerberghe (Bel), Kenneth Vanbilsen (Bel), Zico Waeytens (Bel).
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