"Our 'rivalry' is never as great as that between him and Wout Van Aert" - Mads Pedersen ready to take on Mathieu van der Poel again at Paris-Roubaix

Mads Pedersen has had a mixed Classics season so far this year. Victory at Gent Wevelgem was followed by a crash at Dwars door Vlaanderen which meant he was less than 100% for the Tour of Flanders. Now, a week on, can he challenge Mathieu van der Poel for Paris-Roubaix success?

Due to him feeling less than stellar at the Tour of Flanders, Pedersen attacked from distance in a most that was questioned by experts post-race. "It is what it is. I can't change that Tour anymore and only learn from my mistakes, that's what I did," the Dane assesses in conversation with Het Nieuwsblad, as he rules out a similar move this weekend. "That decision will be made during the race, but I don't plan to do that in Roubaix. It is a different course and it needs a different approach.”

One of the main talking points heading into the upcoming edition of Paris-Roubaix is the newly-added chicane in an attempt to boost the safety of riders. "It is what it is. They made the decisions by asking some riders and not everyone. Now that's the way it is and we have to live with it. You can't change it," Pedersen says of the controversial addition to the race. "Never before have we done something like that. It's an important run-up, but let's wait and see on Sunday, maybe I can give a better answer then. Of course I want to be one of the first to arrive at this bend, but I don't have to work on it endlessly. My goal is just to be in the front of the bunch."

"I would also like to remain neutral because a lot of this issue is way over my head," he continues. "We should not discuss this with the press, but with the organization and the riders themselves. I'm not going to throw around accusations here if I don't have a solution myself.”

One man who wasn't so diplomatic was van der Poel, the man Pedersen is likely to contend for victory against this weekend. The world champion responded to footage of the new chicane asking 'Is this a joke?" Nevertheless, the Dutchman will once again prove a formidable competitor for Pedersen.

“I am honoured that we have both come this far. Mathieu has a few more monuments than I have, but he is also a bigger rider than I am," Pedersen laughs. "I wouldn't even call it a rivalry. I try to beat him when necessary. Our 'rivalry' is never as great as that between him and Wout van Aert... The form is good, we have a strong team. The material is good, everything is good. So I definitely believe in it.”