VIDEO | Kasper Asgreen: "I would love to be on the podium"

The pressure is on Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team today at Paris-Roubaix as the team hasn't been able to perform at their traditional level in this classics season. The Belgian team come with a lineup full of experience, however they very much rely on Kasper Asgreen to deliver the result for today.

"I hope so, it's a super nice race and it's a race that I would love to be on the podium," he told CyclingPro this morning. As to how he was feeling at the start: "Excited and focused."

"I think we have a great setup this year with the bikes, that's been the main focus on the recon, to get that all dialed in. The sectors didn't change that much from last year, so it's more about dialing in the bike," he pointed out.

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With a 50th and 68th spots to his palmarès in Roubaix, Asgreen doesn't come as the most experienced rider in the race, however he has proved to have the form and quality to take a big win here. He has taken special attention to the recon and yesterday's race which was won by Elisa Longo Borghini, in order to bring in as much benefit for his race.

"We saw yesterday in the women's race a lot of the time they're actually not riding on the cobbles, they're riding on the side. Obviously that wasn't possible last year, it's going to add an element to it: that you always have to be well positioned because there may only be one line," he said.

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"For sure I'm going to enjoy it, the classics are me favourite races and I enjoy every single one of them," he concluded. With a strong lineup and good form, the Dane will be hoping to take a strong win today but he will need his very best level and some luck.