"It seems that he is no longer used to racing in cold weather" - sports director justifies Dylan van Baarle's bad results at cobbled classics

Dylan van Baarle won Paris-Roubaix two years ago, but since then, things haven't been going well. Regardless, Visma | Lease a Bike is still counting on the Dutch champion next Sunday in the Hell of the North, sports director Arthur van Dongen tells WielerFlits.

Last Sunday, Van Baarle barely played a role at Tour of Flanders. "Dylan was really good," Van Dongen explains. "He also did well in the race, but suffered a puncture after the first time at Oude Kwaremont. When I was driving up to put a wheel on him, I also had a puncture with my car. He then grabbed a wheel from the side of the road on the Hotond."

Despite the poor results in recent weeks, Van Baarle is in good shape and extremely sharp, according to his sports director. "It simply seems that he is no longer used to racing in cold weather since he lives in Monaco. I am convinced that he will play a leading role within our team on Sunday, but also within the race. Even though things have gone wrong, we have every confidence in him."

"I'm also not worried about his form in terms of that illness last week. That was only one day," Van Dongen explains. "He was able to recover quickly and well, which indicates that his basis is very good. He just hasn't been able to show that yet due to circumstances. That is very unfortunate and sad, but it is a fact. The great thing about Paris-Roubaix is that men always emerge, either from the early breakaway, or guys who don't encounter much and have good legs."