Laurenz Rex remains modest about his Paris-Roubaix chances: "I notice they are starting to recognize me in the peloton"

Laurenz Rex is gradually building himself a reputation of a man who is home on the cobbled sectors. With a Le Samyn win in the bag and a streak of solid results in other races, combined with his strong perfromance from last year's edition, it's no wonder the 24-year-old Intermarché - Wanty rider can no longer be overlooked when listing the favourites for Paris-Roubaix.

"For now I have mixed feelings," says Rex in an interview with WielerFlits about his season so far. "Missing that top 5 is a real shame. We often race so strongly as a collective, but we miss someone who is about one to two percent better to place themselves in the top 5. Maybe we lack experience, because we are a very young team. But we deserve more, given the way we race."

Also his status seems to have changed at first glance. "That's not too bad," he laughs. "I am still that normal Laurenz Rex, a normal rider. I also notice that I ride around with more confidence, and that they are starting to know me. When I come forward in the peloton, they don't just push me away anymore. On the other hand, I also realize that many other guys are still better."

With 9th place from 2023, Rex could be therefore seen as a potential leader for the French Monument. "I am only now starting to show that I might one day become a leader. It's way too early to talk about that. I also like to race without stress and pressure. I get my chances and get a bit of a protective role. That's good enough for me. We shouldn't put an extra label on that."