Alpecin-Deceuninck have dominated the earlier two editions of Paris-Roubaix, having locked out the highest two positions on the rostrum on the Vélodrome André-Pétrieux.
On each events, Mathieu van der Poel secured the win with a long-range solo transfer whereas teammate Jasper Philipsen sprinted house to take second place. This time round, the pair head into the race nursing sickness and harm, although each riders mentioned on Friday that they hope to be at full health for Sunday’s race.
Van der Poel has been preventing again from a chilly he caught after Milan-San Remo, which lingered by way of the Tour of Flanders, whereas Philipsen hasn’t been at full power since a late crash at Nokere Koerse.
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“Racing E3 Harelbeke made issues worse,” Van der Poel mentioned of his sickness. “By Monday, I felt actually beneath the climate. I ended up on antibiotics, and through Flanders, I nonetheless wasn’t at 100%, although I used to be in a position to defend myself pretty effectively. Ultimately, I nonetheless made the rostrum.
“After the Tour of Flanders, I had a little bit of a dip once more. That is most likely not shocking: it was a giant effort on Sunday, and I nonetheless wasn’t totally recovered. However now it is Friday, and I am feeling significantly better. I believe I am fairly OK to attempt to defend my title on Sunday.”
Philipsen, in the meantime, mentioned that he suffered from “minor whiplash, some muscle soreness, and occasional complications” in his crash. He is since raced at Milan-San Remo and 4 Belgian Classics, together with Scheldeprijs on Wednesday, the place he completed second to construct confidence forward of Roubaix.
“The crash remains to be lingering a bit,” he mentioned. “It is nothing unmanageable, and I am getting remedy, so it is no excuse. However I am not utterly snug but.
“In Gent-Wevelgem and Scheldeprijs, I used to be in a position to regain some confidence. In any case, I’ve labored laborious to be prepared. Hopefully, that effort will probably be rewarded on Sunday.”
Van der Poel has been within the wars himself, having been caught up in a crash on the Tour of Flanders final week earlier than battling on to complete second behind Tadej Pogačar.
He is since recovered from any stiffness ensuing from that fall and now heads again to Roubaix to go back-to-back-to-back, a feat not seen since Francesco Moser did the identical 45 years in the past.
“I begin each race to win, and this 12 months isn’t any completely different,” Van der Poel mentioned. “In fact, that is simpler mentioned than achieved, however that is the mindset I convey to the beginning.
“And if I am not at my very best, we’ll do the whole lot we will to maintain the victory inside the crew. Jasper Philipsen has proven over the previous two years that he is greater than able to successful this race, too.”
Philipsen, who beat Wout van Aert and Mads Pedersen within the sprints for second previously two years, mentioned that ending second behind his teammate for a 3rd time would “really feel like a victory”.
The Belgian, who received Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne earlier this spring, mentioned he enjoys the fashion of racing at Roubaix. He contrasted the flat cobbles with the brief, sharp hills of Flanders and mentioned Alpecin-Deceuninck “really feel at house” at Paris-Roubaix.
“It isn’t just like the Tour of Flanders, the place the hills preserve coming. It is extra about positioning and surviving the cobbles; that is the type of racing I like. I actually benefit from the rattle and rhythm of the pavé,” mentioned Philipsen.
“As a crew, we really feel at house within the Hell of the North. We’re lining up with a robust group: all guys who know their manner throughout the cobbles, with the expertise and toughness it takes. If we will keep away from dangerous luck and journey our race, there is no cause we will not goal for one more robust consequence.”
Van der Poel famous that the remainder of the crew – Silvan Dillier, Edward Planckaert, Jonas Rickaert, Oscar Riesebeek, and Gianni Vermeersch – all head into this 12 months’s race already boasting expertise of being a part of a successful crew at Roubaix.
The seven-man lineup has 26 begins amongst them, with 2018 runner-up Dillier probably the most skilled Roubaix racer with seven begins.
“We have got actually a robust lineup. 5 of the six teammates from Sunday had been additionally a part of our success final 12 months. The sixth, Jonas Rickaert, was a part of the squad in 2023. That shared expertise actually counts in a race like this,” Van der Poel mentioned earlier than happening to price his main opponents for achievement on Sunday.
“It is perhaps tougher to foretell than typical. Pogačar is all the time a serious contender. However in Flanders, we additionally noticed Wout van Aert, Mads Pedersen, and Jasper Stuyven acting at a really excessive degree. After which there’s Filippo Ganna. Paris-Roubaix would possibly simply be the right race for him.”
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