Tomorrow, Mathieu van der Poel stands on the brink of
cycling history. The Alpecin-Deceuninck leader has the chance to become just
the third rider ever to win Paris-Roubaix three times in a row, a feat that
would cement his legend on the cobbles and place him alongside the race’s
all-time greats.
Speaking to Cycling Pro Net ahead of the 2025
edition, van der Poel appeared relaxed and focused, reflecting on his
preparation and what to expect on race day.
"Yeah I mean it's yeah one of those special races where
you work for a winter so I think we are ready with the team to try and make it
a success again."
When asked whether the team had a specific plan in mind, van
der Poel downplayed the idea of strict tactics, suggesting instinct would once
again guide his approach.
"No it's more instinct I think I always try to race on
instinct but especially in rub there are so many things that can happen um on
every cobble section so yeah you just have to uh try to be in the race and uh
yeah try to stay in front and hopefully no punctures."
Just a week after winning the Tour of Flanders, van der Poel
was also asked whether that performance lingers in his mind heading into
Roubaix.
"No for sure this is different I think yeah Roubaix is is
a whole different race and we have a lot of favourites who can who can win um
so yeah we will see it will be a good battle tomorrow."
The presence of other big names, likely including Pogacar,
Ganna, and Van Aert, adds further excitement to the race, and van der Poel
acknowledged how their participation raises the stakes.
"Yeah for sure I mean yeah it's good for the race that
he's here and yeah for sure we know he's going to try something and try to win
so um yeah it will be a hard race like like every year."
If van der Poel can navigate the chaos and cobbles once
more, a third straight victory in Roubaix would mark yet another milestone in
an already glittering career.
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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