"You also need that little luck factor with the equipment": Van der Poel ready for a brutal Paris-Roubaix battle against Pogacar

The tension is building as the cycling world turns its eyes to the rough and dusty roads of northern France. This Sunday marks the 123rd edition of the Paris-Roubaix, a race known for breaking bikes, bodies, and dreams. Riders have spent months preparing for the bone-rattling cobblestones, but no amount of physical training can guarantee a smooth ride to the legendary velodrome. As the biggest names in the sport finalize their plans, one man stands out as the ultimate target for the rest of the peloton, looking to add another historic trophy to his massive collection.

Mathieu van der Poel has won this race three years in a row, and he is on paper the absolute top favorite to win it again. The Dutch star confirmed in a pre-race interview that his body is feeling perfectly fine after a tough block of racing in the recent Flemish classics.

Even though he is the top favorite, Van der Poel refused to guess exactly how the race will play out. He knows that Paris-Roubaix is completely different from any other event on the cycling calendar. A flat tire, a broken wheel, or a crashed rider right in front of you can ruin your entire day in a matter of seconds.

"Roubaix is a race where it is very difficult to predict a scenario in advance," Van der Poel explained to the media in quotes collected by CyclismActu. "More than in any other event, you have to be able to adapt to every unforeseen situation because of the cobbles."

Because of this constant chaos, the Alpecin-Premier Tech leader plans to trust his instincts and his teammates rather than overthinking his tactical moves early in the day. "Tactically, I will probably ride my own race, like last year, because that is often the best strategy with the team," he continued. "I can't complain about my form, everything is going very well. But to win a race like this, you also need that little luck factor with the equipment."

If he manages to stay out of trouble and keep air in his tires, Van der Poel has the physical condition needed to fight for an amazing fourth victory at the Roubaix Velodrome. However, he is fully aware that his rivals, especially one man called Tadej Pogacar, are pushing their limits higher than ever before to try and stop him.

"The condition is there to try and get this fourth victory," the Dutchman noted. "My opponents have shown that they are very strong, especially on the cobbles. We have seen riders capable of crazy things."

To make things even more difficult this year, the race organizers have added new cobbled sections to the route before the riders even reach the famous Trouée d'Arenberg. This means the peloton will be much more tired before the most crucial part of the race begins. But Van der Poel is not afraid of the extra challenge; in fact, he welcomes it.

"With the team, we are ready for the battle and we can't wait to be there, especially with the new cobbled sectors that will make the race even harder before Arenberg," he concluded.