Tim Merlier ready for third crack at Paris-Roubaix success: "There must be a bit of luck and I hope to have that"

Tim Merlier will return to Paris-Roubaix for a third crack at achieving a famous win on the French cobbles. After finishing 48th and 40th the last two years, Merlier is confident of being more involved in the final this time around.

"It is a difficult race to predict. The form is good, but Paris-Roubaix remains Paris-Roubaix. There must be a bit of luck and I hope to have that this year," the Soudal - Quick-Step rider reveals in an interview with Sporza. "The tactical discussion has yet to come, but I suspect that I will be given a nice task again. In the Tour of Flanders I accomplished that task well."

Last year, luck was something Merlier was sadly lacking. Two punctures and a bad crash that him injure his elbow and be subsequently ruled out of the Giro d'Italia. "I prefer to ride the final. But if I can reach the final from the early break - which has happened many times in Roubaix - that would be great. It would be nice to see my good condition again."

"For me personally, my year is not bad. I won 5 races and I prove that I am a worthy champion," continues Merlier who achieved Soudal - Quick-Step's only spring Classics success at Nokere Koerse. "But with the team we miss those victories in the classics. It just has to go well and hopefully that will be the case on Sunday. I think we have the best chance on Sunday to win that classic with the team. When the race is successful on Sunday if I or someone from the team wins."