![]() ![]() His previous results in the race don’t make for great reading but at some point in his career the Dane will surely rescue that record. Pedersen is a class act all-round and his consistency across the board is a sight to behold, but there will be a tinge of regret and what-might-have-been if he fails to secure a podium in the final cobblestone race of the 2022 campaign. And despite a handful of top-10s, the former world champion hasn’t been on the top step of a major one-day podium since last year’s Kuurne victory. He looked impressive in Gent-Wevelgem but it was his teammate Jasper Stuyven who clipped off the front in the winning break. However, while the Dane has thrived in several races this year he hasn’t quite been his best in the long-form classics. Somewhat bizarrely, that’s his best result.Īt face value, Pedersen has enjoyed a successful season with four wins already and a tally that has already exceeded last year’s underwhelming campaign. Mads Pedersen (Photo: Photo by Luc Claessen/Getty Images) At 34, this is probably his final chance of being considered a contender but everything has to run smoothly on Sunday for the Norwegian to stand a chance. Some riders can excel in races like Flanders yet struggle in Paris-Roubaix, and vice versa, but there’s no doubt that Kristoff has the diesel-like engine for the cobbles of France. Pre-pandemic, he also had one edition in which he and his then team - UAE Team Emirates - made a terrible technical blunder with the rider suffering a catalog of punctures. It has never come together for the Norwegian in this race, with terrible luck and some positioning question marks often taking him out of the running before the race was truly decided. Paris-Roubaix pedigree: A shockingly bad record for a rider of his caliber with just two top-10s in 11 attempts. His form hasn’t netted the results it has deserved so far this spring. One could also conceivably imagine a rider such as Nathan Van Hooydonck skipping clear in the early break and outlasting a number of riders in order to secure a top 10 finish. No team will let the Belgian sneak away and that could be all that’s needed for a Christophe Laporte or a Mike Teunissen to exploit the situation. The return of van Aert doesn’t solve that problem but it does give their rivals something else to think about and consider when it comes to playing the numbers game. ![]() He might have a “free” role, and there’s every chance he doesn’t feature in the second half of the race due to a lack of racing - and more importantly his recent bout of COVID - but even a van Aert at 80 percent is a dangerous weapon.Īt the Tour of Flanders, the Jumbo-Visma team lacked a focal point, and they were often racing from behind as they attempted to contain their rivals. While this analysis is 1o riders to watch - not 10 riders who can win - make no mistake: van Aert isn’t going to be on the start line this Sunday to rack up training miles. Paris-Roubaix pedigree: Seventh last year is his best result to date. (Photo: LUC CLAESSEN/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images) Wout van Aert Wout van Aert missed a preview ride of the cobbles but will race Paris-Roubaix. The only question should be over which step he takes. If he remains upright if he doesn’t make any poor decisions, and luck is on his side then he makes the podium. Paris-Roubaix can often be less of a tactical battle and more of a slugfest when compared to the Tour of Flanders - although the early break can sometimes change that - and that should suit van der Poel in his current guise. Even Tom Boonen picked him as the favorite. It’s not so much that he’s always the strongest rider - in both Dwars door Vlaanderen and the Tour of Flanders he had to measure his efforts - but he’s riding at such a complete level that it’s hard to see anyone really shaking him off their wheel on Sunday. We can only speculate as to how the Tour of Flanders would have played out had Wout van Aert remained health, but the fact is that van der Poel has been at his imperious best this season, despite the fact that he’s only raced nine days. Paris-Roubaix pedigree: Finished third on his debut in 2021 VeloNews has picked out 10 of the must-watch riders for the event, from Tour of Flanders winner Mathieu van der Poel to American debutant Magnus Sheffield. #Primewire top gear season 10 fullThe defending champion Sonny Colbrelli is out due to health reasons, but there’s a stacked field full of former and potential winners. This Sunday sees the men’s peloton take on the final cobbled spring classic of the season with Paris-Roubaix. Don't miss a moment from Paris-Roubaix and Unbound Gravel, to the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France, Vuelta a España, and everything in between when you ![]()
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