Does a true Paris-Roubaix specialist still exist? "Pogačar riding tomorrow with 35 mm tyres"

Sunday sees Paris-Roubaix on the programme, and for many cycling fans it's the best day of the year. Especially now, when so many different types of rider can compete for the win. Does being a true Paris-Roubaix specialist still exist? In de Leiderstrui put the question to experienced cobble hands Cees Bol, Mike Teunissen and Gianni Vermeersch, as well as debutant Tibor Del Grosso.

"For the first 95 per cent, you mainly need to be a good bike rider, and Pogačar obviously has a considerable head start there. All the other things — technique and a high absolute power output — will help you."

"But fundamentally, you need to be a good rider, especially with the equipment getting better and better. Paris-Roubaix will never become a race like all the others, but it is less and less of a specialism," said the big Dutchman.

"I can't disagree with Cees, because he was my teammate. (Laughs) He definitely has a point, especially with the latest developments in equipment. I can already see Pogačar riding tomorrow with 35 mm tyres. It's getting easier and easier, basically. Plus, the speeds keep going up."

"I still remember riding Roubaix in my first year as an U23, back then on a different bike. That was a completely different challenge to what it is now. It's not an easy race, but it is getting easier. They used to say: 'This is a race where you need a big backside.' Well, that's gradually becoming less true too."

Jan Bakelants explained to HLN about Pogačar's 35-millimetre tyres: "That way, the 'Hell' feels very manageable. You don't even really need to be good at riding cobbles any more. It rolls so perfectly. That's what I think tempts Pogačar to take part, too."

"You need a bit of cobble feel, I think. You can't be too tense or too rigid — you need to sit relaxed on the bike. Then you already have a better feel over the cobbles. Beyond that, it's about technique: you need to take the corners well and not lose too much speed there," said Vermeersch.

"The equipment has become more forgiving in recent years, and I think that even pure road riders who have never done cyclocross can nowadays ride perfectly well over cobbles," Del Grosso added.