After 903 days of waiting since the last edition back in April 2019, the peloton will finally renew with the cobblestones of Paris-Roubaix (1.WT, 3/10) this Sunday. Regularly invited to the “queen of classics” in the past, Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux will take part in the Hell of the North for the sixth time in its history. This 118th edition includes thirty cobbled sectors, spread over the 257.7 kilometer course leading straight towards the prestigious finish at the velodrome in Roubaix.
After the start from Compiègne, the riders must complete 96.3 kilometers before meeting the first cobbled section, namely Troisville (Inchy). As tradition goes, the sectors with maximum difficulty of the Trouée d’Arenberg (sector 19 with 95.3 km from the finish), Mons-en-Pévèle (sector 11 with 48.6 km from the finish) and the Carrefour de l’Arbre (sector 4 with 17.2 km from the finish) will be the main attractions of the fourth monument of the season. In total, the peloton will face 55 kilometers of cobbles, all in rainy weather conditions.
Among the riders who will represent Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux this Sunday, four benefitted from a rehearsal on the cobbles in the north of France during the Grand Prix de Denain two weeks earlier. Aimé De Gendt, Wesley Kreder, Baptiste Planckaert and Taco van der Hoorn also carried out this Thursday the recon of the cobbled sectors listed between Capelle and the Carrefour de l’Arbre, alongside Tom Devriendt, Kévin Van Melsen and Pieter Vanspeybrouck, who complete the selection led by Hilaire Van der Schueren and Steven De Neef.
“Out of the most important classics, Paris-Roubaix is without doubt the one which suits me best. In my two previous participations, I haven't had the opportunity to prove it and I hope that the third time will be the right one. I was unlucky during my debut in 2017, having a flat tire and then forced to change bikes. Two years ago, I had to control the breakaways early in the race for the leader Wout Van Aert. From those experiences, I learned that it takes not only strength, but also luck, even if you want to make it into the early break. My good feeling in Denain reinforced my conviction that I can play a role in the final of this demanding classic. This Thursday I polished my preparation with a six hour training on the cobbles and I feel ready. I will give my absolute best, hoping that luck is by my side."
Line up:
Aimé De Gendt
Tom Devriendt
Wesley Kreder
Baptiste Planckaert
Taco van der Hoorn
Kévin Van Melsen
Pieter Vanspeybrouck
Sports Direction:
Hilaire Van der Schueren
Steven De Neef
Photo: Francis Gravel
