"I regret missing the podium" - Filippo Ganna rides spotless Paris-Roubaix but comes up short of goal

Filippo Ganna had high dreams into this spring. Putting his focus on the classics, he's performed quite strongly, but despite an impressive rider at Paris-Roubaix he was disappointed having missed the final podium.

"Even if we quickly lost two men, Luke Rowe and Joshua Tarling, the team made an excellent work. The guys kept me in an excellent position until Arenberg, and then it was the big fight," Ganna said in a post-race interview. The Italian had a dream of performing in Roubaix, with the goal of performing as did former time-trial specialist Fabian Cancellara. Physically Ganna has the attributes, and he's finally put them to use this Sunday.

Ganna was one of the few riders who escaped the peloton at the Trouée d'Arenberg in order to then bridge across to the leading group. He endured a tough race, staying on the bike and keeping a strong pace upon all attacks. However as Mathieu van der Poel attacked for the win, and then Wout van Aert attacked to make the selection for the podium, Ganna struggled: "I admit I started to suffer from the Carrefour de l'Arbre."

He stayed in one of the chasing groups, and crossed the line in sixth place together with Mads Pedersen and Stefan Küng. It is however a performance that gives him more hopes towards the future. "I regret missing the podium. Now it's time to recover, and we'll see you again on the Giro d'Italia," he concluded.