QUOTES | Philipsen, Merlier, Girmay, Küng, Ganna and more before the start of Paris-Roubaix

Paris-Roubaix is one of the single most important races of the season and at the start - or team presentation this past Saturday - there were plenty big voices sharing their thoughts ahead of the third monument of the season. Jasper Philipsen, Tim Merlier, Biniam Girmay, Stefan Küng, Filippo Ganna and many more have spoken out regaring the Hell of the North.

Jasper Philipsen (CyclingPro.net): “On the one hand, I felt in the classics that I had taken a step on the climbs. Unfortunately, it didn’t show in the results, which I had hoped for. After that fall in Nokere Koerse, I really had a bad period. There are days when things go well, but also bad days. I didn’t feel good in training last week either, and I also suffered from headaches. I fell quite hard on my face and that still reverberates. In the sense that I have a small whiplash around the neck muscles, which radiates to the head. Nothing insurmountable in itself, but also anything but comfortable.”

“I don’t know if I will be one hundred percent. It’s been three weeks already, but you certainly shouldn’t underestimate that. It has given me a kind of setback, but I still want to start as well as possible. With confidence too. It is a race that suits us as a team. I am looking forward to that. In principle, I will be in the running for the prizes again on Sunday.”

Biniam Girmay (Het Nieuwsblad): "I'm not nervous, I'm excited, because I love this race. I really wanted to ride this race, but so far it didn't work out with the planning. I'm happy that I can finally be there, because I've been looking forward to it for four, five years. There's no pressure, so I'm happy. I've been reconning the past two days and the cobblestones are different than in Flanders. Flatter, but they're in bad condition and the sections are longer."

Anthony Turgis (Cyclism'Actu): "We're coming here physically prepared. The rain has made an appearance, which means there are some wet spots, so there are more traps, unlike on completely dry cobblestones. The more I'm at the front, the better I ride. So from now on, I hope to be in front early enough to save energy for the end [...] It's definitely a very good race, but will it only be two of us in the final to fight for the victory (he refers to Pogacar and van der Poel, ed.)? Today, I don't think so. Paris-Roubaix is ​​a very special race; it takes a lot of strength, and from there, I think there will be a good ten of us competing for the victory today."

Filippo Ganna (CyclingPro.net): “This is my second goal of the season after Milan-San Remo. I am starting this race with good legs and form. We trained well in the run-up to this race. We will have to wait and see, but we are going to enjoy it and then we will see. There are no climbs on the menu today, but you have to make the same effort on the cobblestones. You have to put in a lot of power. There are many good riders in this race and there are strong teams at the start. You always have to have a bit of luck in Paris-Roubaix, but especially good legs.”

Tim Merlier (Wielerflits): “I see it more as a race where everything is allowed, but nothing is required. It is a difficult race. If it is full racing all day long, like in previous years, then you know that the big engines will in principle stand out. But in Paris-Roubaix it can also happen that you get back into the race due to a certain situation. I am going to the 'Helleklassieker' with a very good feeling, my spring has been successful. But I have never had a good result there. Then you go to such a race with less confidence than for example to Gent-Wevelgem, where I had the feeling “if all goes well, I can win here'. I have not had that in Paris-Roubaix yet. Then it is more difficult to go there and say ‘look guys, I am going to show it here too’. Be careful, I am going to try. Never say never, but I also have to respect logic.”

Lukas Kubis (CyclingPro.net): "It's perfect. We really appreciate the opportunity to be here. For me, as a small kid, I was watching almost all the editions on the television, and now I'm part of it, so it's amazing. For sure, it's a surprise for me because as a small kid, I was watching on the television and watching Peter [Sagan] was winning all these races".

Joshua Tarling (CyclingPro.net): “I feel pretty okay. I did get sick after Dwars door Vlaanderen. That’s why I didn’t ride the Tour of Flanders. So it’s still a bit of a guessing game about my level of fitness, but we’ll see what happens. The cobblestones in Roubaix suit me much better than the climbs in the Tour of Flanders. I’m really looking forward to it. The trick is to get out of the Trouée d'Arenberg with several riders. After that, interesting breakaway groups often form and we can join in.”

Stefan Küng (CyclingPro.net): "Paris-Roubaix is ​​always a nervous race. It's important to ride concentrated all day and stay out of the chaos. I think we have to anticipate, because it's difficult to follow the big guys at the moment. To stay out of the chaos and to encounter something less quickly. It will be a particularly fast edition of Paris-Roubaix”.