Paris-Roubaix 2019: Philippe Gilbert wins a fourth different monument for Deceuninck-Quick Step in gold



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A a bit like the Tour of Flanders last week, today seems like a very open race. Throughout the classics of spring, no runner has gone beyond the others. Admittedly, Deceuninck-Quick Step have been the The team of the year so far, but some of their riders have recently suffered from illness. We will have to wait to see how that affects their hopes today. That being said, here is a brief overview of some of the riders I am waiting for today. . .

Peter Sagan

Team: Bora Hansgrohe
Nationality: Slovakia
Age: 29
Best result: Winner (2018)

Although he failed to get on the podium in a one-day race this season, the defending champion is now among the favorites. Following an illness, the triple world champion has retreated a little, but seems a little behind his best. That said, he finished alongside many favorites before the race in Flanders after outsider Alberto Bettiol snuck to victory. Sagan was unable to find cooperation in the pursuit, although he clearly felt that he had legs to crack her. After his huge turn on the front the previous week in Ghent-Wevelgem, it might be time to show why, despite all the obvious signs, he remains the favorite of bookmakers.

John Degenkolb

Team: Trek-Segafredo
Nationality: Germany
Age: 30
Best result: Winner (2015)

"To get another win in Roubaix is, for me, the dream," said the winner of 2015 Telegraph Sport the end of last year. A year ago, the idea of ​​the victory of the popular German to another title of Paris-Roubaix might seem fanciful, but recent performances suggest that the 30-year-old is approaching the form which he enjoyed four years ago.

Greg Van Avermaet

Team: CCC
Nationality: Belgium
Age: 33
Best result: Winner (2017)

Although they have not won a classic pavement since 2017, the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and E3 podiums, as well as among the top 10 in the Tour of Flanders, suggest a great victory for the Belgian veteran. He will have to keep his cool and roll a little smarter than at Omloop if he wants to win his victory here again in 2017.

Zdenek Stybar

Team: Deceuninck-Quick Step
Nationality: Czech republic
Age: 33
Best result: Finalist (2015, 2017)

Alongside teammates Kasper Asgreen, Philippe Gilbert and Yves Lampaert, Florian Sénéchal, the former cyclo-cross world champion, is one of the many Deceuninck-Quick Step under-pressure cards. After winning Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and E3 comes in great shape, will Lady Luck smile to her when it matters the most?

Alexander Kristoff

Team: United Arab Emirates
Nationality: Norway
Age: 31 Best result: Ninth (2013)

It may seem odd to discover that Kristoff is not yet on the podium of Paris-Roubaix, but after going back years in the classics of spring, the great Norwegian was invited this week by Johan Museeuw to lift his first pavement mounted on a base. Has shown an excellent form with a win in Ghent-Wevelgem and a third place on the Tour of Flanders.

Wout Van Aert

Team: Jumbo Visma
Nationality: Belgium
Age: 24
Best result: 13th (2018)

With Mathieu van der Poel, the former cyclo-cross world champion was an absolute revelation in his first season with a WorldTour team. Proven on all terrains and all distances with two podiums – Strade Bianche and E3 – this season and finished in the main group of the Tour of Flanders.

Oliver Naesen

Team: Ag2r-La Mondiale
Nationality: Belgium
Age:28
Best result: 12th (2018)

Whether it's attacking the pavement, passing over the Poggio or sitting on the wheels of the biggest sprinters, Naesen was present or nearly at the end of the procedure throughout the classics of the spring. Teammate Silvan Dillier finished second last year, which may well be a map that Ag2r-La Mondiale's directors will be able to play on the road.

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