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"I don't think it is much safer" - Mathieu van der Poel on Paris-Roubaix's now famous Arenberg chicane
CyclingFriday, 05 April 2024 at 11:19
Paris-Roubaix organizers implemented a chicane to the entrance of the Trouée d'Arenberg sector and although he was not the most vocal, Mathieu van der Poel's "Is this a joke?" tweet certainly captured the attention of many and stirred the pot. The Dutchman does not believe the artificial corner creates more safety conditions for the riders, but is not totally against it.
“I think it will now be even more important to be up there at the front. It's not actually a chicane, but a 180-degree turn. If you come there with a full peloton, five or ten riders can take that bend. The rest are all on foot,” van der Poel told Wielerflits. “I don't think it is much safer, but it is good that they are thinking about a solution. It is one of the most dangerous points of the season, riding to the Forest. I expected a chicane that would increase the speed a little more and pull everything more smoothly than this solution.”
Ultimately, the change was made to prevent the riders from hitting the cobbles at very high speeds where in the past there have been catastrophic crashes. The town of Porte du Hainault where the sector starts also did not have safe alternatives - as Adam Hansen, head of the CPA, confirmed. The former rider was in charge of the request and the two alternatives were on roads that had plenty holes or was too narrow.
The request was made as most teams and riders in the field were in favour of a change. Van der Poel expands on his thoughts however: “I think we should try to create a situation like last year. Whether this is successful depends on many factors. In Roubaix you have to be spared from bad luck to get there. We kept looking at each other. Not many riders want to ride to the slopes with Jasper.”
He was also asked about a possible revalidation of the title, but the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider knows that it will not be an easy task."There were also many competitors last week, but there are slightly fewer points in Paris-Roubaix to make a difference," he admits, unlike the many steep climbs of Flanders. "And equipment failure also plays a slightly more important role than in the Tour.”
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