"I'm tired of finishing 2nd or 3rd" - Filippo Ganna looking to capitalise on strong form in 2025 with Paris-Roubaix glory

Filippo Ganna has shown some very strong legs in 2025 so far. As such, the Italian powerhouse is dreaming of a first-ever Monument win on the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix this weekend, improving on his 6th placed finish at 'The Hell of the North' in 2023.

Already this season, Ganna has come close to Monument glory, finishing runner-up at Milano-Sanremo in a thrilling three-up sprint alongside Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar. After another Top-10 at the Tour of Flanders since, now the focus of the Italian is firmly back on the French cobbles. "It was pretty tough, I soon remembered what the pave is like, Paris-Roubaix is like being in a washing machine," Ganna told L'Equipe. "My arms hurt the most due to the vibrations because it's a part of the body we don't use very much. Fortunately, my legs are good."

The sheer brutality of Paris-Roubaix and the toughness required to be successful there are no secret in cycling. Ganna though, admits he has a sort of sick fondness for the pain the race dishes out. "Paris-Roubaix is painful, but one of those pains that makes you want to come back every time to do better and better," he explained. "You never know how you come out of it. It's a beautiful race to watch but not to ride. You have to hurt yourself to say you like to race it. You do it because of the history and because it's beautiful to have it on your palmares."

And in his quest to add this iconic race to his palmares, Ganna is probably better placed than he has ever been. "I've never prepared for Roubaix as I have this year. It'd be great to repeat my under-23 win and take home the precious cobbled stone trophy," concludes the 28-year-old in his preview. "I'm tired of finishing second or third, I'd like to win sometime too."