Dylan van Baarle produced an impressive ride to finish fourth at last Sunday's Tour of Flanders and in the absence of Sep Vanmarcke and Taylor Phinney – who both crashed hard in the Flemish race – the 24-year-old Dutchman will lead the Cannondale-Drapac team at Paris-Roubaix.
Vanmarcke was ruled out due to a fractured finger and multiple cases of road rash, while Phinney was diagnosed with a concussion. In their absence, Van Baarle will have race number 31, with support from Pat Bevin, Will Clarke, Sebastian Langeveld, Ryan Mullen, Thomas Scully, Tom Van Asbroeck and Wouter Wippert.
The US-registered argyle team has won just one race so far this season but Van Baarle's result took the pressure of the Cobbled Classics squad and raised hopes of a repeat performance on the French pave. Van Baarle was just behind Peter Sagan's group when he crashed on the Oude Kwaremont and then teamed up with Greg van Avermaet (BMC) and Nikki Terpstra (Quick-Step Floors) to chase after Philippe Gilbert. They failed to catch the Belgian national champion, finishing 29 seconds back, but Van Baarle rode his heart out for a chance of victory rather than sitting on to conserve energy for a better placing.
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Van Baarle is hoping for a similar performance on Sunday as he rides Paris-Roubaix for a fourth time.
"I feel good and I've gained some confidence after last week at the Tour of Flanders. I think the form is still there so let's see what the race brings," he said after getting a cheer of respect at the official team presentation on Saturday afternoon.
"I feel really sorry for Sep after his crash. I'd prepared to have him here but with Sebastian Langeveld, we still have a strong couple."
Deciding on the stones
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