Alexander Kristoff’s track record at Paris-Roubaix is not one that would put him among the favourites on Sunday but the Katusha rider’s recent run of form has placed him overwhelmingly as one of the riders to watch. Since his Tour of Flanders victory, the media attention for Kristoff has visibly spiked, and he was pulled from pillar to post during the Paris-Roubaix team presentation in Compiegne on Saturday afternoon.
However the Norwegian is taking it all in his stride and says that the favourite tag has not put any additional pressure on his shoulders.
“I’m one of the big favourites but there are many others also. I don’t have more pressure than normal. I’m normally the captain of Katusha and that’s my pressure and any more than that it is not,” he said moments before being introduced to the crowd.
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When asked if he was worried that his rivals would be watching his every move, he said that it would play into his hands rather than work against him. “If everybody follows me then I will be happy because then I will be in the front group. I’m more scared that someone will attack away from me than follow me,” said Kristoff.
The most successful rider of the spring
Kristoff is far and away the most successful rider this season with 11 victories in 30 days of racing, compared to the seven that second placed rider Richie Porte (Team Sky) has notched up. To put that number into perspective, Kristoff won a total of 14 races in the whole of last year. More than half of those victories have come in the last two weeks, a run that has people wondering if he can add his name to those who have obtained the illustrious Flanders-Roubaix double. However, with ninth his best performance two years ago, Kristoff reiterated his stance that his recent success is no indication that he’ll be standing on the top step of the podium this Sunday.
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