Sep Vanmarcke is heading towards his 10th Paris-Roubaix. In his palmarès is a second place back in 2013 ten years ago, as well as three more fourth places following that. An experienced and pure classics rider he will like this terrain, and he dreams of a win which could come under the right circumstances.
"Yes, that's always possible. But then I will need a portion of luck and good legs. The race situation will also have to be good," Vanmarcke told Sporza in the eve of the climax of the cobbled classics. "I no longer belong to the absolute top riders but if I were to join an early breakaway, I fear that my fellow escapees will not fully cooperate with me."
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Vanmarcke has ridden to third at Gent-Wevelgem, proving he still has the legs and form to fight for wins in the big cobbled classics. He leads Israel - Premier Tech at the Hell of the North following a 24th place at the Tour of Flanders. The 34-year old is very aware that in Roubaix surprises are frequent and tactics matter a lot, instead of climbing power as was the case in the Flemish classics.
"Because it's mainly about wattages per kilo on the Flemish climbs. Those are gears that only the top riders have in their legs. In Paris-Roubaix it's a different kind of effort. Maybe they throw a gear on the cobblestones, so you just can't keep up. But 100 meters later you might be able to join again. It is a grueling race where riders like me come to the surface," he concluded.
Sep Vanmarcke: "The dream is to be on the podium again" Ten years ago, a young Sep went to head to head with Fabian Cancellara in a two-man sprint in the Roubaix velodrome. He settled for second place that day but he has never stopped trying to reach the podium's top step.…
