"I think he will win Paris-Roubaix" - Roger de Vlaeminck hints at Mathieu van der Poel success

Synonymous with Paris-Roubaix, Roger de Vlaeminck has a joint record of four race wins to his name and a grand total of nine podiums. If anyone knows the Hell of the North it is him and the Belgian predicts Mathieu van der Poel will be the one celebrating this year.

"In the Tour of Flanders, Van der Poel was first too far behind and he had bad luck later, but I think he will win Paris-Roubaix," de Vlaeminck confidently predicts before comparing the Dutchman's chances to his main rival, Wout van Aert. "Roubaix suits him better, because in the Ronde he always had a hard time on the Paterberg, but Van der Poel is more explosive."

As far as the other contenders go, van der Poel and van Aert are the only standouts according to de Vlaeminck, with the likes of INEOS Grenadiers Filippo Ganna not impressing 'Mr Paris-Roubaix'. "He's missing that experience that I think is still very important," he says of the Italian.

"I rode 300 kilometers on Wednesday before, another 180 behind the car the day after and after the Tour of Flanders I went back home by bike. At ease. That was better for the recovery than a massage," de Vlaeminck recalls of his own preparations for the race. "I trained 400 kilometers in one day, so that I was still fit after 200 kilometers towards Roubaix." This year however the Belgian will have a more relaxed view of Paris-Roubaix. "On television you see the most."