Paris-Roubaix comments by the top favorites: a doubtful Van der Poel, a nervous Pogacar, a mysteriously smiling Van Aert and two big challengers

They’re not listed as top favorites for Paris-Roubaix for nothing, these are the men we’ll be watching closely on Sunday. One’s a debutant, another a two-time winner, all challenged by three riders desperate to win this monument they hold so dear. At the team presentation, each of them stepped into the spotlight: Mathieu van der Poel, Tadej Pogacar, Wout van Aert, Mads Pedersen, and Filippo Ganna.

Had he arrived at Roubaix without any setbacks, Van der Poel might well have been the sole top favorite. Now, there’s some uncertainty about how the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider will show up at the start. Van der Poel won Le Samyn, Milan–San Remo, and the E3 Saxo Classic earlier in the season, but fell ill and couldn’t quite reach his peak level in the Tour of Flanders, partly due to a crash. Has that changed after a week?

“This is one of those special races you train for all winter,” Van der Poel said cheerfully on Saturday. “We want to make it a success as a team again. In Roubaix, I always try to race on instinct. Especially in Roubaix, there are so many things that can happen on every cobble section, you have to try and be in the race up front and hopefully no punctures. Paris-Roubaix is a whole different race than the Tour of Flanders, it’ll be a good battle. It’s good for the race that Tadej is here, we know for sure he's going to try something.”

Speaking to Sporza, MVDP expressed hope that he would regain the legs he had before falling ill and taking a three-day course of antibiotics. “I definitely felt the effects of the effort in the Tour of Flanders. But I feel better now, although you always lose a few percent. Hopefully tomorrow I’ll have the legs I had before I got sick.” And to NOS, about Pogacar: “When he’s there, racing is both harder and easier. Harder to win, but you just have to be able to follow. Hopefully, I’ll have the legs to do that now.”

“A challenge I’m really looking forward to,” is how Pogacar described his first Paris-Roubaix. “We can talk about tactics or plans all day long, but anything can happen and you can have bad luck too. It’s hard to predict plans. You just can’t give up until the finish line. You don’t focus on just one rider here, it’s a different kind of race, where the legs will matter, with more guys who can win. It’s a really tough one.”

That crashes are more likely at Paris-Roubaix? Pogacar agrees right away, but, he adds, crashes can happen in any race. “We’ll see. We’re here to win, and we’ve brought a strong team. We’re going to give it everything, we’re super motivated.” Feeling a bit nervous? He admitted as much to NOS. “There are always nerves before a race, and this one is very important. We’re here now, and we’re going for it.”

Speaking to Sporza, Pogi even dared to talk about possibly winning all five Monuments. He has already won the Tour of Flanders, Liège–Bastogne–Liège, and the Tour of Lombardy multiple times, Roubaix would be a bonus. “I want to do this, and I’m allowed to dream about all five monuments, but whether it happens is something else. I can’t rush anything. It’s going to be a tough day, but I want to experience everything this sport has to offer. This is a great opportunity to see it from another angle.”

With most of the recent spotlight on Van der Poel and Pogacar, it’s worth remembering that Wout van Aert is also hoping to make his mark at Paris-Roubaix after a strong showing at the Tour of Flanders. “The recovery after Flanders was good. I’m looking forward to what’s coming. The beginning of the season was complicated for me, but since Dwars door Vlaanderen, I’ve felt like myself again. It was good for morale to be up in the final again with the best riders last week.”

“Mathieu and Tadej are a bit better than a few others, but that course was more hilly. They have that acceleration, so for me, they’re the main favorites,” said Van Aert, who still dreams of victory. “It's a dream for me to win this race, we’ll keep trying.” His earlier remarks about perhaps lacking a killer instinct compared to others were already being refuted on Saturday. “I haven’t read the paper, but trust me, there’s still a killer in me. I am who I am, and I’ve already won a lot.”

And then there’s the bike, Visma | Lease a Bike is using a tire pressure system from Gravaa, which could end up being a real game-changer. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot already showed its effectiveness on Saturday in the women’s race. “I’ve tested different setups and I have a clear idea of what I want to ride. What exactly? You’ll see tomorrow. There’s no doubt for me anymore, but we’ll keep it a mystery for you guys a little while longer,” he said with a smile.

Let’s not forget two more names, this spring, Mads Pedersen and Filippo Ganna have clearly proven they can compete with the very best. “I have no reason not to be happy. The classics have gone well so far, so we can start on Sunday with the belief that we can win. I’m in top form and have never been better in the spring. This race suits me the best,” said Pedersen.

Ganna echoed similar sentiments: “I think we’ve done everything right to be in top shape at the start line here. We’re going for it, and I think the team (INEOS Grenadiers) is ready for the fight. I don’t know what the strategy will be, we’ll have to decide that sector by sector. I’m starting with good morale and hope to be up there with the best fighting for the win.”