Former winner sees Van der Poel as top favorite for Paris-Roubaix: 'That motivation also counts'

Sonny Colbrelli was the surprise winner of the Covid edition of Paris-Roubaix. A true legend of the Hell of the North. The Italian was forced to stop in 2022 due to a cardiac arrest, but still thoroughly enjoys racing, he tells La Gazzetta.

Due to a cardiac arrest, the 35-year-old Colbrelli had to say goodbye to the peloton in 2022, one year after his surprise Paris-Roubaix victory. Because of a defibrillator, the Italian — who at that time rode for Bahrain-Victorious — was not allowed to continue racing and had to suddenly end his career.

All while he was in the form of his life. In 2021 he won not only Paris-Roubaix but also the European Championships and the Benelux Tour. Out sprinting Mathieu van der Poel on the Roubaix velodrome confirms his form. The Dutchman has only failed to win Paris-Roubaix once more since then.

Despite the disappointment of the sudden end to his career, the Italian still watches the racing. 'I haven't missed a single kilometre of the Tour of Flanders,' he says. The former winner has no intention of doing so on Sunday either, in the race that gave his career extra colour.

'It will be just as exciting as always, if not even more so,' the former rider predicts. Despite Tadej Pogačar's dominance in the Tour of Flanders, Colbrelli still points to another top favourite. 'Mathieu van der Poel is the favourite, by a small margin.'

The 2021 winner thinks Pogačar can distinguish himself less on this course than in Flanders. 'He is a natural talent on the hills, but the Roubaix course is more suited to the Dutchman.' In addition, the Italian points to another factor that plays in to Van der Poel's favour. 'Nobody has ever won four times in a row, that motivation also counts.'

Behind those two, Colbrelli also tips his compatriot. 'After Van der Poel and Pogačar, I would put Filippo Ganna alongside Wout van Aert and Mads Pedersen. He has tailored his preparation well to this.' Yet the former pro would have made a different choice regarding the Tour of Flanders. 'I would have ridden it. They are not the same cobbles, but it can give confidence,' the Italian concludes.