With Paris-Roubaix on the racing calendar this weekend, 2019 winner, Philippe Gilbert is clear in his opinion of who is the pre-race favourite... Mathieu van der Poel.
“Of course it’s van der Poel, and with the confidence he has, he’s going to be there,” Gilbert previews in conversation with Rob Hatch for the Eurosport Cycling/Grupetto Show. “For sure he’s having a big chance again next week. And the fact he’s already won Roubaix is going to help him for sure.”
Last year of course, van der Poel led home and Alpecin-Deceuninck one-two ahead of Jasper Philipsen in an incredibly impressive display and after his similarly dominant display last week at the Tour of Flanders, confidence is high for the world champion.
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“He really raced perfectly in my eyes, defensive in the first part when everyone was attacking – it was full attack from some of the favourites of the day. And he was controlling, and just saving energy and at one point he just decided to go," reflects Gilbert. “The average watts were quite high when they hit the climbs and then it never stops, the breakaway had maximum five minutes I think and it shows the intensity of the race. And we said already, a lot of attacks with 120km to go, very full one, maybe one of the hardest races ever.”
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