"Many teams will want to go on the attack" - Yves Lampaert predicts chaotic battle at Paris-Roubaix

Four times a top-ten finisher at Paris-Roubaix, Soudal - Quick-Step's Yves Lampaert has plenty of experience in the Hell of the North. Looking towards this weekend's edition, the Belgian is expecting a chaotic battle.

"It will be an open race, I think. Jumbo-Visma and Alpecin-Deceuninck will control the race and that can play to our advantage. Many teams will want to go on the attack," predicts the 31-year-old in conversation with reporters at a press conference. "The fact that it will be an open race only plays into our hands. We will certainly not have to wait until the last sector to drive off Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel."

Although van Aert and van der Poel will go into the race as the two outright favourites for the victory, Lampaert will be one of many dark horses that cannot be ruled out. "This race is of course special for everyone, it is a mythical race with all those cobbled roads between the fields. It's just one of the most beautiful races and also very unpredictable. It is not always the strongest that wins, some luck must be involved and the tactics must be right."

"That pressure is there, just like it has been in other years. As a professional athlete, it is normal to have to get results. Do I put pressure on myself? Yes always," he continues before defiantly backing himself when asked if he believes he could beat van Aert and van der Poel in the final. "I hope so, yes. Normally I should be able to do that on the flat."