A week following a second place in the Tour of Flanders and in the absence of Tadej Pogacar, Mathieu Van der Poel estimate that neither lui nor Wout van Aert are the big favorites:
“It is clear that van Aert is not the absolute favourite. Summer will be very good, Pedersen Also, If, Asgreen a Lampart also. In Roubaix, 10 to 20 runners can win, depending on the circumstances. You also need a little luck. I am of course among the favorites but it is difficult to designate only one“.
Asked regarding his feelings following a long reconnaissance of the course, Van der Poel feels in good shape as he approaches the 3rd Monument of the season: “The legs are fine. We took a day off yesterday and did a long reconnaissance today. I recovered quite well from the Tour of Flanders and at the Grand Prix de l’Escaut, I already felt good. I’m on the right track to be as good in Roubaix as I was in the Ronde, even if the Tour of Flanders suits me a little better.“
Sunday, the weather should be dry in the North of France. “The race will take place in different circumstances than today, where it was very wet and muddy. However, it’s not a bad idea to reconnoiter the course because you only come here once a year and it’s hard to know all the cobbled sections by heart.“
On Pogacar’s absence, van der Poel believes that “Tadej already proved in the Tour de France last year that he can ride the cobbles just as well, but there will be enough big riders on Sunday.“