It’s not all about Tom Boonen (Quick-Step Floors) and Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe). The retiring Belgian and the world champion have dominated the prognostics ahead of Paris-Roubaix, but the Queen of the Classics throws up surprises like few other races. Just ask last year’s winner Mat Hayman. But who are the outsiders who might upset Quick-Step, Sagan and Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) et al on Sunday?
Stijn Vandenbergh (AG2R La Mondiale)
Vandenbergh often rode Paris-Roubaix in support of his leaders in the Quick-Step team. In 2013, he came very close on a top result but crashed out of the lead group on the Carrefour de l’Arbre. For 2017, the 32-year-old Belgian is in a new situation as leader of AG2R. After receiving a big knock on his head in a crash at E3 Harelbeke the giant Belgian rider had a minor concussion and whiplash. Unsurprisingly, his results haven’t been splendid so far. Co-team-leader Oliver Naesen impressed on Flemish roads, where he was able to keep up with Van Avermaet and Sagan. Naesen himself pointed to Vandenbergh though for Paris-Roubaix. “Stijn dropped everybody on the cobbles during our team recon. He dreams of entering the velodrome with Boonen,” Naesen said. Nevertheless, Naesen rates himself a level above his teammate when naming favourites on Sporza.
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Boom is usually a force to be reckoned with in Paris-Roubaix. The 31-year-old Dutchman has a cyclo-cross background and all the physical characteristics to ride fast on the cobbles. A fourth and sixth place are his best results in Roubaix, and he also won the Tour de France stage at the Arenberg Forest in 2014. He had high ambitions for the 2017 season, switching back from the Astana team after a two-year stint where he felt a lack of support. Boom is the clear team leader for the classics and has stated he finally wanted to win a classic. His results in the northern classics have been far below par so far. On Wednesday, Boom indicated to Cyclingnews that his build-up to the season had been troublesome, though he was improving – but running out of time to be on top form for Paris-Roubaix.
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data)
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