Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) will arrive at the start of the 2019 Paris-Roubaix in Compiègne, France, without the same air of 'unbeatability' that surrounded him 12 months ago, and likely to face credible challenges for the 'Hell of the North' crown from the likes of 2017 winner Greg Van Avermaet (CCC Team), 2015 champion John Degenkolb (Trek-Segafredo), twice runner-up Zdenek Stybar (Deceuninck-QuickStep) and the healthy-again Oliver Naesen (AG2R La Mondiale).
Although form shown at the Tour of Flanders counts for a lot – and we've included five of the same riders from our 'riders to watch' at Flanders last week in the following list – Roubaix is an entirely different kettle of fish, with precious few hills and cobblestones that are considerably more severe than those found in Flanders.
If Flanders is for the hard men, Roubaix is for the hard men with luck on their side. Crashes and mechanicals are par for the course. As unexpected 2016 winner Mat Hayman wrote in his retirement letter, "Always keep riding," as the bad luck that befalls you along the way is just as likely to happen to your rivals. You just have to keep battling on towards the famous velodrome in Roubaix, where a lap-and-a-half of the smooth surface of the banked track will decide the winner after more than 250 kilometres of rough northern French roads, with over 50 kilometres of those on cobbles.
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Here, then, are our riders to watch at Paris-Roubaix on Sunday. Will a winner come from among them, or will a lesser-known rider spring a surprise in Roubaix, à la Alberto Bettiol at Flanders last weekend?
Zdenek Stybar (Deceuninck-QuickStep)
We're not ones to blow our own trumpet too often, but our decision not to include Zdenek Stybar in our '10 riders to watch' for Flanders was vindicated with Stybar's well-off-the-pace 36th place at a race where his best-ever finish has only been eighth, in 2016.
Saying that, our pick to lead Deceuninck-QuickStep home – Philippe Gilbert – didn't fare much better; in fact, the 2017 winner didn't even finish the race, having been sick in the last couple of days before the race.
Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe)
Greg Van Avermaet (CCC Team)
John Degenkolb (Trek-Segafredo)
Sep Vanmarcke (EF Education First)
Taylor Phinney (EF Education First)
Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates)
Oliver Naesen (AG2R La Mondiale)
Heinrich Haussler (Bahrain-Merida)
Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma)
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/10-riders-to-watch-at-the-2019-paris-roubaix
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