Adrie van der Poel on Mathieu's big rivals for Roubaix and key for racing the wet cobbles: "Keep your hands off your brakes, otherwise you will skid off"

It is the even of the men's Paris-Roubaix race, one that so far has been headlined by talks of a rather meaningless chicane at the entry of the Trouée d'Arenberg, but now more because of several wet sectors. Adrie van der Poel recalls how to race them, but also thinks of who will challenge Mathieu van der Poel's title defense.

There could be many more riders in the final here. Jasper Philipsen of course, Mads Pedersen, Jonathan Milan, John Degenkolb will, if all goes well, also compete for the win, Joshua Tarling, Laurence Pithie will also ride like him, I think Oliver Naesen will go very far," van der Poel said in an interview with Wielerflits. "In Flanders it is often riding and standing still (he refers to the steep climbs at low speeds, ed.), Roubaix is very specific. Quick-Step can also suddenly be there with Tim Merlier, Kasper Asgreen and Yves Lampaert. And someone like Edoardo Affini [of Team Visma | Lease a Bike] should really be able to do this. It's just pounding hard and he's a hell of a guy. I'd like to see that. But remember: this is not an easy race, is it.”

Roubaix is a race that in the past benefited the bold, often seeing members of the breakaway fight for victory as they avoid the regular mass crashes, splits and constant fights for positioning in the peloton. It's a race of endurance, luck and a lot of legs, but this year technique too as the riders will find a few sectors that will be humid and/or wet. This will make the sectors tougher, more technical and more dangerous - and hence, more important for the outcome of the race.

“In dry weather you can ride on the strips on one side of the road. But if they are wet, you have to ride on the back of the road – in the middle, that is," van der Poel senior explains. A lot of riders are likely to be doing that this Sunday, it will also be important to study the lines of the Paris-Roubaix Femmes riders. "You really have to keep constant pressure, you can't make any mistakes. Otherwise you will slide to the right or left and you have to keep your hands off your brakes, otherwise you will skid off on those cobblestones. Sunday will require a lot of concentration," he warns to the danger.