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."

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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."

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