“Of course I’m not” - Filippo Ganna rejects favourite status and pushes pressure away to Pogacar and van der Poel
Cycling
Filippo Ganna approaches Paris-Roubaix while sidestepping media pressure and rejecting the tag of outright favourite on the cobbles, despite showcasing formidable form in recent weeks of racing. His plan is clear as he looks to push the responsibility into Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel to attack and chase down moves.
On the eve of the third Monument, asked about his real chances of winning the Hell of the North, the powerhouse was blunt, preferring to keep a low profile given the race’s brutality and the depth of the peloton. “No, I’m not. Of course not. There are riders stronger than me”, he stated emphatically.
Even so, the Italian time trialist does not hide that his sensations are good heading into this monumental challenge, prioritizing the mental side to avoid being overwhelmed by external expectations. “Yes, of course I feel good. As I said, I want to come here without pressure, without anything. It’s a bike race”, said the Ineos rouleur, making clear his main goal is to focus on his own performance and shut out the noise.
Regarding tactics and the key moments, he stayed cautious, aware that the weather and tension of the opening cobbled sectors will shape the race long before the mythical Forest of Arenberg. “I don’t know. Of course the first sector could be one of the first key points. We’ll see if it’s dry or wet. There are still many doubts”, he reflected on the race’s total unpredictability.
“Of course it’s hard to predict. We’ll see tomorrow what can happen in the race”. Assessing the current dominators such as Mathieu van der Poel or Tadej Pogacar, he recognises the superiority they have shown recently, yet keeps intact the motivation to hold their wheel deep into the finale.
“Of course they’re strong guys. They raced very strongly in recent weeks. I try to do my best. If I can follow the pace, I’ll try to ride my race to reach the front of the race”, he concluded, fully focused on surviving the selection and making his presence felt on the iconic velodrome.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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Front24208-11-2026 - On a positive note, you maybe notice turning this topic into a discussion has the benefit of eliminating certain participants who do not see how they can turn it back to their sole interest ;-)Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
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