“We now take a different position in the peloton” - Alpecin-Deceuninck manager Philip Roodhooft on the team’s new status after Monument victories

With victories at all three Monuments so far this season, Alpecin-Deceuninck are by far the team of the season at this point of the year. One of their strengths used to be the fact that many would seemingly underestimate them in the big races, but that is clearly no longer the case.

At Paris-Roubaix, it was evident that Alpecin-Deceuninck had assumed a new role within the peloton, as they took a 1-2 victory and controlled the race throughout the day, chasing down the breakaway with around 120km to go.

Speaking to WielerFlits after the race, team manager Philip Roodhooft acknowledged the team’s new status, as he said “we knew Mathieu was good and so did his teammates. From Jasper of course, but the awareness of the boys in support has changed. We now take a different position in the peloton”.

Mathieu van der Poel attacked during the race with around 60km to go. However, this apparently came as a surprise to the team, as Roodhooft went on to say “it may have been according to his plan, but with us it was not according to plan, but when it happened, you could almost think it was final”.

On the season so far and the races that are still to come, Roodhooft stated “the season started a little slower for us, but once we get started everyone is really good. On the other hand, we try to keep ourselves from falling into euphoria. There are still goals. Our season is already fantastic and better than ever, but that doesn't change the fact that we try to stay level-headed. And that doesn’t mean we don't enjoy it”.