“Of course I’m not” - Filippo Ganna rejects favourite status and pushes pressure away to Pogacar and van der Poel

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.