Cafe Roubaix

Gianni Savio: “Pellizotti can finish in the top 10 at the Giro”

Each year, the Giro is Androni Giocattoli’s most important race of the season, a race in which the team managed by Gianni Savio hopes to get at least one stage win. In 2014, the Italian squad wants more than just a stage and for this is putting all of its hopes in Franco Pellizotti, the former national champion. A couple of days ago, Gianni Savio talked for Cafe Roubaix about this, but also about the first months of the season for his team.

– Mister Savio, are you satisfied with the results of your riders so far?

Some of the riders had good results, for example, Kenny van Hummel, who won two races and was on the podium on three continents. Also Manuel Belletti was a protagonist in a couple of races. The best rider of the team was our leader, Franco Pellizotti, who was in the top 10 at the Settimana Internazionale di Coppi e Bartali and at the Giro del Trentino, and I’m really happy for him. On the other hand, I was waiting for more from Johnny Hoogerland. Until now, he didn’t get good results, but I still trust him and I’m waiting for him to shine in the Giro d’Italia.

– How about your two talented neo-pro Italians, Gianfranco Zilioli and Andrea Zordan?

Both Zilioli and Zordan are very young and in their first year as pro riders, and they must adapt to the rhythm of the races. In the amateur ranks, they weren’t used to such a strong pace and action packed races. They need time to form their physique, so that they can be ready for the hard races. This is why the first year as a professional is important, but also difficult. I want more from them next year, when they will be ready to race the Giro.

– What do you think of the Giro course?

It’s a very good race, as was the case in the last years, always interesting and exciting. The rider who will win has to be a complete rider, intelligent, and with a very strong team. Now, on what concerns the stages, everybody’s talking about the Monte Zoncolan, a climb known in Italy as “Il Mostro”, but to win the Giro will not be enough to win there. Joaquim Rodriguez, Nairo Quintana, and Cadel Evans are the main favourites, but this doesn’t mean we can’t have an outsider who can surprise the favourites, like Ryder Hesjedal did two years ago. I think that Domenico Pozzovivo and Michele Scarponi can finish on the podium.

– And with what expectations did Androni start the race?

In this race we have only one leader, Franco Pellizotti, because he was our strongest rider this season, as I said earlier. He can finish in the top 10. Johnny Hoogerland will have all the freedom he wants to get in a breakaway and I hope to see him doing that, just like he did in the last seasons. As for Diego Rosa, is possible for him to do a good GC, but I think it will be better for him to try and win a stage. We also must be realistic: we have good riders, but not as good as the big teams, who have a budget bigger than ours. We can’t think at the maglia rosa, but we have the possibility to win a stage, so this is why I told my riders to keep attacking. One of the cyclists who will attack is Yonder Godoy. I want to see him in a big race, because he doesn’t have any experience, so this is why he’s part of this team. His main role is to go in the breakaways.

Fabio Duarte: “I want to do a good GC in the Giro”

Under 23 World Champion back in 2008, Fabio Duarte came to Belfast prepared for his third Giro start. Team Colombia’s leader for the three-week race, Duarte hopes to capitalize on his Giro del Trentino form and be one of the protagonists in the tough mountains of the Corsa Rosa. One of the most talented climbers out there, the 27-year-old rider made some time before the Giro for the following interview, for which I also must thank David Evangelista, Team Colombia’s press officer.

– Fabio, how are you feeling ahead of this Giro?

I am feeling pretty well. I have been waiting for this race to come from the day we got the invitation, so I am raring to go.

– Are you satisfied with your form and preparation?

Yes. Since November, I have started working with focus and determination for this Giro, making some focused work, physical strengthening, and I believe everything to be pretty much set ahead of the biggest fixture of our season.

– How important was the Giro del Trentino and the result you got there?

It was very important. I came to the Giro del Trentino (Ed. – Duarte finished 4^th there) not just as a preparation race, but to give my best and pursue a big result. That’s because Trentino is a very demanding race, that I like a lot, but also because it was key for me to see where I stood in comparison with some of the big Giro rivals. I took quite a good final result, but above all it gave me confidence that I am where I wanted to be at this point in time. Afterwards, I made some more focused training on mountains and on the TT bike, because I felt that I needed a little more of both.

– With what goals do you start the Giro?

I will not deny that I would like to make a good GC, but my first goal will be taking the stage win that proved elusive in my other participations. I will need to stay focused and give my best every day: through that, GC results would come as a consequence.

– Is there any extra pressure on you, being the leader of the team?

You feel the responsibility, of course, but I would not say pressure. I have the utter confidence that I did everything to plan to get here in the best condition. When you know you did your part at your best, that gives you tranquility.

– What do you think of the course? Which do you think there will be the main difficulties?

The Giro is a very hard race from the beginning to the end, but everybody knows the sting is in the tail, as all the biggest and decisive stage will come in the final week. And the Zoncolan finish will probably be the toughest most decisive of them all.

– Which stage would you like to win?

I would pick two: the finish in Montecampione, because it’s the “home” stage for both myself (Ed. – he now lives with his family in the Bergamo area) and the Team, and the one to the Zoncolan – as that would mean that I am fighting for good positions in the GC. It will be a matter among overall contenders that day, and I would be very happy to be in that number.

Julian Arredondo: “I’d like to win the Montecassino stage”

One of the most spectacular climbers of the pro peloton comes from Colombia and is prepared to put his mark on the big races and show to everyone that Trek Factory Racing didn’t made a mistake when offered a contract. His name – Julian Arredondo – a former winner of the Tour de Langkawi, who had an excellent start to the season in 2014, scoring two wins in the Tour de San Luis and a top 5 in Tirreno-Adriatico.

Now, Arredondo is going to race the Giro, where he’ll make his debut in a Grand Tour, and even tough he’s not going to be the leader of the team, is prepared to light some fireworks on the steep climbs. With the help of Tim Vanderjeugd, Trek’s press officer, I got to talk to Julian before the start of the Giro and find out what are his thoughts.

– Julian, how was the transition from a Continental to a World Tour team?

It was an easy transition, I adapted as I hoped and I have already demonstrated that I belong with the best riders. The two stage wins in the Tour de San Luis meant a lot, brought me more peace and confidence, and now I’m sure many important things will follow.

– I know that at one point you said you want to improve your time trial. You’ve trained for it this season or did you focus on your climbing?

I’m sure I will improve my time trial through hard work, but now I’m focused on winning stages in the Giro. I’ve trained well in the last months and we’ll see what happens.

– How was the Ardennes experience?

I managed to finish 11th in Flèche Wallonne, although I traveled the day before the start. It remains the race of my dreams. Liège–Bastogne–Liège is another important Classic, with a beautiful parcours and many people on the side of the road. Both Flèche Wallonne and Liège–Bastogne–Liège fit me perfectly, so in the future I will be back to fight for victory in these two Classics.

– You’ll race the Giro now. How are you feeling before the start?

Giro d’Italia will be my debut in a three-week race and I must say I feel very good physically, despite the visa problems. I will give everything and I’m confident the results will come.

– What do you think of the route?

It’s a pretty hard Tour of Italy, I looked over the course and there are plenty of stages that caught my attention, especially the one in Montecassino, which has an eight kilometer-long climb at the finish. Anyway, I’m relaxed and prepared to take things easy, day by day.

– Did you talk to the team about your role?

My role is to help Trek, to look for opportunities of winning a stage and to help Robert Kiserlovski, our team leader. I don’t know if I’ll go for the climbers jersey, but I do know that my personal goal is to win a stage.

Marco Pastonesi: “Quintana is the big favourite for the Giro”

This is the Giro week and that means you will find here an analysis of the favourites, all the details of the parcours, but also many interviews. The first one is with Gazzetta dello Sport’s Marco Pastonesi, a journalist who needs no further presentation. Last week-end, he was kind enough to make some time for the following interview, not only on the Giro, but also on the main Italian riders and the problems cycling encounters in his country for some time now.

– Mister Pastonesi, what do you think of the results Italian riders had this season?

The results weren’t so good. The Italian cycling is always in trouble, we are looking for some good riders for the Classics, and in the meantime we aren’t at the top. We are still waiting for good news. There are some fine riders, but they aren’t champions.

– What are the causes of this problems?

The level of the other countries is much higher than before. In Italy, because of the crisis, there are less riders than in the past, less sponsorships, less teams, less room on the tv and newspapers, and this is why the world of cycling is suffering.

– One rider expected to be at the top is Moreno Moser, but he was disappointing this year so far.

We’re waiting for him, but it’s not easy, because his rivals are very tough. We don’t know what’s going on with Moser, he too doesn’t know. He feels well, but in races he can’t manage to stay with the main group. Let’s see him in the Giro d’Italia, maybe something will change.

– Are you satisfied with Vincenzo Nibali’s results this year?

Vincenzo Nibali is doing well, he didn’t win a race so far, but a victory is close. His main goal of the season is the Tour de France and I hope he’ll be ready by then, but even tough he is very strong, I don’t think he’ll be at the same level with Chris Froome and Alberto Contador. He will attack, as it’s in his nature, and this is why we love him, because he does it also when it’s not possible.

– What are your expectations for the Giro?

Contador and Froome will not be in the race, but the level is very good. There will be Nairo Quintana, who I think is the big favourite, Joaquim Rodriguez, who’s very loved here in Italy, Fabio Aru, who we hope to become more consistent in the next years. Michele Scarponi is very competitive, but not Ivan Basso, whose career I think is over. Let’s not forget Cadel Evans, practically he is Italian, we consider him Italian and love him very much, because he’s an example for everybody. It will be very exciting to have Evans among the favourites. Another tough challenger will be Rigoberto Uran, who made quite an impression last year. Daniel Martin proved to be a very good rider not only for the Classics, but also for the Grand Tours, and he’ll have a chance to show his real level. I fear that his team mate, Ryder Hesjedal, will not be at his best, I think he’s going down. We will have an exciting battle on the mountains, especially in the last week. Anyway, all of these riders should know that the Giro is more tough and has more surprises than the Tour de France. Something can happen everywhere.

– Who could be the surprise of this Giro?

My pick is Fabio Aru, but not for the first places. He still isn’t ready for three weeks, but I hope he can win a stage and get used with such a race. Is important for him not to feel the pressure. I like also Diego Rosa, because he’s always on the attack, but he still has to develop. I also think Domenico Pozzovivo can be the highest placed Italian rider. He is a pocket climber, but very powerful, and now is in the best years of his career

– What do you think the podium of the Giro will be?

Nairo Quintana, Joaquim Rodriguez, and Michele Scarponi, but I have to tell you that I was never good at making a prediction. I’m always wrong.

Carlos Barbero: “My dream is Milan-Sanremo”

Four years ago, he made himself noticed for the first time in the U23 ranks, winning a stage in the Three Days of Alava. Since then, Carlos Barbero continued to impress and develop into a strong sprinter, whose dream is to win Milan-Sanremo, as his idol, Mario Cipollini, did back in 2002. Riding for the Continental team Euskadi, the 23-years-old Spanish cyclist had a great start to the season, winning the Volta ao Alentejo and finishing third in the Vuelta a la Rioja.

More than sure, these results will bring him in the spotlight and catch the attention of World Tour teams, but Carlos Barbero doesn’t think of this, the only thing on his mind being to continue his strong series of results. More on this and his future goals, in the following interview.

– Carlos, are you satisfied with your season so far?

My goal was to improve my results in each race I rode in the previous season. In the Volta ao Alentejo, the stages suited me with those punchy climbs and steep gradients, and thanks to the bonifications I managed to take the GC win. It was a very tense race, since it was decided for only a few seconds.

– How important was that win?

This victory was an enormous satisfaction and means a lot to me because a few months before the race, in the winter, it looked like I don’t have a future in cycling anymore, due to the financial problems encountered by the Euskadi team and the fact I didn’t get any offers from other teams.

– After Alentejo, you raced Vuelta a la Rioja and the Tour du Loir-et-Cher.

Yes, and in both races I finished on the podium. We all like to win, but ultimately, top three placings are also important.

– You’re impressive in the sprints and on the short climbs, but are there any other skills you’d like to develop?

I want to improve these two qualities, after all, you have to put in value the skills you have and try to be the best. As sprints and short climbs suit me, I want to be good when it comes to these, especially as my dream is to win Milan-Sanremo.

– What’s your programme for the rest of the season?

What I know for sure is that I will race the Vuelta a Castilla y Leon, the National Championships, Tour of Qinghai Lake, Klasika de Ordizia, Circuito de Getxo, and the Vuelta a Burgos.

– Are you thinking of signing with a Pro Continental or World Tour team for next year?

I have no plan for next season, I just take things day by day and hope that in the end I will be able to sign with a team of a higher category. This is my goal.

Danny van Poppel: “I’d like to do the Vuelta”

One of the best riders in the Junior and U23 ranks a couple of years ago, Danny van Poppel is now in his second season as a pro. After the demise of Vacansoleil, he and his older brother, Boy, signed with Trek Factory Racing, a team where he gets to play a leading role in many important races. This was the case in March, when he won a stage in the Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen, after an excellent sprint.

Just 20-years-old, Danny van Poppel dreams of winning the World Championships and Milan-Sanremo, cycling’s longest Classic. Until then, he continues to improve and build a nice palmares. This week, with the help of Ard Bierens, Trek Factory Racing’s press officer, I got to talk to the young Dutch rider before he started his second World Tour stage race of the season, the Tour de Romandie.

– Danny, are you satisfied with the way things went in the first months of the season?

I’m very happy, I got that victory in Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen and two other podiums, in another stage there and in Scheldeprijs. It was important for me to get a win so early, because I’m in a new team and I need to prove what I’m capable of. If last year I worked for others, now others work for me and I have to get results.

– You’ve also raced some Classics. How was that experience?

It was very nice. I raced for the first time Gent-Wevelgem and Brabantse Pijl and I liked it. Actually, I think in the future I can take part in these races with the goal of getting some nice results.

– In terms of progress, what do you feel you’ve improved in the first months with Trek Factory Racing?

My training was excellent so far, and this helped me be more relaxed in the races. Also, I’m more focused during the races. This wasn’t the case last season, when I had a very busy schedule. The team is doing a great job taking care of you and I must say it’s all much better than in my first year as a pro.

– After a late call, you’ll ride the Tour de Romandie this week.

Yes, but I don’t have any specific goals. I want to prepare here for the Tour of California, that’s an important goal for me and the team. I would like to take a stage win there, but it will be very difficult, with Mark Cavendish and Peter Sagan in the race.

– Do you know your schedule for the second half of the season?

Not really. What I know is that I will do the Tour of Luxembourg, in June. I hope to do the Vuelta, but the team would like me to stay away from the Grand Tours this season. We will talk about it after the Tour of California and we’ll see what my programme will be.

Nicolai Brøchner: “The Tour of California is my first goal of the season”

No Danish rider ever won Paris-Roubaix so far, in more than a century since the inception of the race, and Nicolai Brøchner dreams to be the first cyclist from this country to get the prestigious cobbled stone shaped trophy. Just 20-years-old and one of the most promising young riders out there, Brøchner spent his first years as a rider in his home country, and in 2013 moved to the US, where he rode for Bissell Pro Cycling and got some top 10s in the Tour of Alberta.

For this year, Nico Brøchner signed with Bissell Development (formerly known as Bontrager), the team managed by Axel Merckx, and he is very motivated to prove himself in races like the Tour of California or the Tour of Denmark, against World Tour riders. If he reaches his goals throught 2014, then it’s very possible to find him in the roster of a World Tour team at the start of next season.

– Nico, how did you start cycling?

I started racing when I was 11 years old. I played soccer when I was a kid, but was looking for something a little more physical demanding and individual, so after watching the Tour de France one summer I started racing around the neighborhood with my brother and friends and soon thereafter joined the local cycling club and got my first racing license. 

– Did you have an idol or a rider you really appreciated?

I have always enjoyed watching the sprints because of the action and unpredictability. Sprinting is also where my own strengths lie so naturally I’ve always looked up to the fast guys of the peloton. At the time I first started, the big names were Robbie McEwen and Tom Boonen, so these were some of the riders that I looked up to in particular. 

– How were the first years in Denmark?

I have many great memories from my early years of racing in Denmark and thinking back on why I started racing often helps me stay motivated now. I remember racing when it was just for fun and going on training rides with my friends in the summer and how much I enjoyed that time. 

– What made you come to the US?

I decided to come to the US and race to try something new. I had been racing for eight years in Europe and thought that getting out on my own and trying new races against new riders would help me improve in new ways, and I really think it has. My first year, last year, had a lot of ups and downs, but it all ended really well at the Tour of Alberta, where I was mixing it up in the end of some of the stages with some of the best sprinters in the world. That also helped me gain a lot of experience and confidence that I can use this year in all of the big races that I will do with the Bissell Development Team. 

– This year, you already got a very good result, the points jersey in the Redlands Classic. I presume this was a huge morale boost.

Indeed it was. Especially because it was a green jersey and I’m really proud of the way I won it. I went in a long break on two occasions and won all the sprint points that I was going for. The fact that I was feeling good in the race and proved to others that I was able to get a good result was a huge boost to my moral and is good for my motivation in the training. 

– Do you know your schedule for the next months?

Right now I’m training in Colorado to get used to the altitude and train on some longer climbs before Tour of the Gila. After Gila I will go to California to prepare for the Tour of California where I’m hoping to prove myself in some of the sprint finishes and help my teammates on the stages where they have a better shot at a good result than me. After California I’ll go back to Europe for the nationals before I will take a short break from racing to get in some recovery. 

– And what goals do you have for 2014?

I really want to do well in every race that I do this year but I realize that I have to prove myself on a few specific occasions if I want to move on to a bigger team next year. The Tour of California is my biggest focus in the spring and then the Tour of Denmark and Tour of Alberta in the fall. 

– I know you love the Classics. Why is that?

I love the Classics because of their unpredictable character. A lot of different scenarios can occur and a lot of different riders can win them. At the same time, they are always the hardest races and especially the Classics in northern Europe are usually influenced by difficult weather which only makes them even more difficult. 

– What is your big dream, which Classic would you like to win?

My favorite Classic is the Paris-Roubaix and of course I dream of one day being able to do really well in that race. More realistically though I think I will do better in races that are a little more sprinter friendly, like Gent-Wevelgem or Paris-Tours. 

– Is there a chance you’ll go pro in 2015? Or you haven’t thought about it yet?

There’s no doubt that I want nothing more than to turn pro as soon as possible if I prove myself worthy. I have thought a lot about what teams will be good for me but at this point it is still too soon to tell if I’ll be able to turn professional next year.

George Hincapie talks about the Spring Classics

Alexander Kristoff, Fabian Cancellara, and Niki Terpstra were the riders who shared the spoils in the first three Monuments of the season: Milan-Sanremo, Tour of Flanders, and Paris-Roubaix. In the last weeks, we’ve had some great racing, entertainment, drama, and memorable moments, that make this Spring campaign one of the best in recent years. A former rider with top 10 placings in all these races, George Hincapie agreed to share his opinions on what happened so far in the Classics.

– Mister Hincapie, let’s start with the first big Monument of the season, Milan-Sanremo. What do you think of it?

As always, Milan-Sanremo was a very tough race and the weather played an important part also this year. I was glad for Alexander Kristoff, we were teammates at BMC for two seasons, he is a great guy and deserved to win. For some years now, Kristoff is developing and he’s turning into one of the best Classics riders out there. He’s a complete rider, capable of fighting for the win not only in Sanremo, but also in Flanders and Roubaix.

– Many are saying that the Tour of Flanders was the best one-day race of the year so far. How did you enjoy it?

It was a really exciting race. Fabian Cancellara was good as always, he did a great effort to catch Greg Van Avermaet without help from Sep Vanmarcke, who was also riding very well. At the end, Cancellara even fooled me when I was watching at TV. When he had a gel with six kilometers to go, I thought he wasn’t feeling great, and he also had some trouble closing the gap when the Stijn Vanderbegh attacked. He fooled me, I didn’t think he could be so great in the sprint, but he was. He played some excellent poker.

– Many have criticized Omega Pharma-Quick Steps’ tactics for the Tour of Flanders. Where do you stand?

Tactics is one thing, but real time racing is another. When Van Avermaet attacked, Vanderbergh was on his wheel, and in a moment like that you have to go. You don’t know if the breakaway will stay away, but you have to go. In the pack there were four Omega guys and their job was to send someone in the attack. It wasn’t good for Van Avermaet that Vandenbergh didn’t pull, but there isn’t much he could have done. It’s true that Omega wanted Tom Boonen to win, and you can’t count him out, even if he had all these problems, because he is a three-time winner, but I don’t think it was all or nothing for Boonen, it didn’t seem that way, as Niki Terpstra and Zdenek Stybar were also in that group. And on the Oude Kwaremont, where everybody knew that Cancellara will attack, we could see it wasn’t Boonen’s day.

– One week later, Omega Pharma-Quick Step did a very good team work and landed the win in Paris-Roubaix.

Indeed, they did a great team race, Boonen played a really good team card and went out early, while Niki Terpstra took advantage of this work and also of the other riders hesitation. It’s true that before Terpstra came to the front group, we had Cancellara, Degenkolb, Vanmarcke, and Sagan there, but those four guys, even if they wanted to stay away, they all knew that they have the same chances in a sprint. On paper, Degenkolb was the fastest, but things change after 260 kilometres. They were tired, not so comfortable with each other and the Omega guys were there. When you are so close, only ten seconds behind, you know you still have a chance, mentally it’s easier to come back.

– One of the riders who were in contention at Roubaix, Peter Sagan, was a hot favourite to win a Monument at the start of the season, but he didn’t do it and even failed to finish in the top three. What didn’t work?

It seemed to me that he just raced a lot, he did all the races in the Spring. He raced since January, races in February, in March he again did it, raced all the races before Milan-Sanremo, afterwards he did the first cobbled Classics, then he went in De Panne, and won a stage there. In my opinion, you need every bit of energy possible, and I feel he could have skipped De Panne. Most of the favourites weren’t in that race, there was no reason to ride it. Sagan was in a great form at the start of the season, but he was very tired when it came to the important races. There’s also a mistake of the management, they know he’s a young rider and he’ll do what they tell him, but if they really want to win all the big races, they should do things more wisely, save him a bit for the Monuments, where you need every bit of energy, especially as he doesn’t have a strong team. Sagan is an incredible rider, a very good bike-handler, who can win the Tour of Flanders, Liège–Bastogne–Liège, and even Paris-Roubaix. I don’t see him capable of mixing the cobbles with the Ardennes in a season, so he should focus for now on Flanders.

– Next season, Fabian Cancellara and Tom Boonen will be 34-years old, among the veterans of the peloton. Can they still win a Monument, with all those young guns around them?

I think so. Cancellara can still blow everybody apart on the Oude Kwaremont, only one rider could stay with him this year. He is still incredible strong. Cancellara and Boonen don’t seem to be slowing down yet. And the experience they have in the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix is very important, as the legs.

Johan Museeuw: “There are many favourites for the Tour of Flanders”

One of the biggest races in the world, born more than one century ago, the Tour of Flanders is on Sunday and everyone expects a great fight between Fabian Cancellara, the 2013 winner, his arch-rival Tom Boonen, Peter Sagan, and Sep Vanmarcke. The course is different than last year, with the Koppenberg now being closer to the finish and only two laps over the Oude Kwaremont – Paterberg circuit, but this doesn’t mean it will be easier.

What is the likely scenario of the race? What are the strong points of the favourites? Can there be a surprise winner? Johan Museeuw – the “Lion of Flanders” and a rider who left his mark on the history of the race in the ‘90s – was kind enough to make some time this week to answer all these questions for Cafe Roubaix.

– Mister Museeuw, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix are coming and people are rating Tom Boonen and Fabian Cancellara as the main contenders. Do you agree?

I agree, they are the only riders who can win both the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, but let’s not forget that Boonen had some problems and his chances depend on how he will recover this week. Cancellara was great on Friday in E3 Harelbeke and has a small advantage over Boonen, but I expect to see them both in great shape on Sunday.

– What are the strong points of Cancellara and Boonen when it comes to their teams?

The strongest point of Trek Factory Racing is Stijn Devolder, who gave a real demonstration last week-end. He is the main key of Cancellara’s win, but he can also win this years’ Flanders considering his condition. I don’t know if he will go for the win or if he will work for Cancellara, but he’s in great shape. As for his other teammates, I don’t know if they’re strong enough to help him in the final. Boonen has an important advantage when it comes to this, because Omega Pharma-Quick Step is much stronger. They have Zdenek Stybar, Niki Terpstra, and Stijn Vanderbergh, who are capable of winning. I think Stybar can do something and be the surprise of the Tour of Flanders, and even more in Paris-Roubaix. Still, even if they can dominate the races with the whole team, Omega Pharma-Quick Step can’t take nothing for sure, because you can have bad luck, crashes, or punctures; it all depends on how the race is going.

– How do you think the final will be?

I expect to see a small group, with Cancellara, Sagan, Boonen, Vanmarcke, Chavanel, and other big riders. Boonen and Sagan can wait for the sprint, but Cancellara has to do something on the Oude Kwaremont or on the Paterberg. I’m sure he will attack there.

– You’ve mentioned Sagan and Vanmarcke, can they be genuine contenders for Flanders?

Yes, I truly believe this. Vanmarcke is in very good condition, he had a great sprint in Gent-Wevelgem and has strong legs. Sagan won E3 and is ready to win for the first time the Tour of Flanders. I also wouldn’t count out Devolder, considering his form.

– Can John Degenkolb and Alexander Kristoff be among the protagonists?

They have a chance to show that they are not only sprinters. Both come from the new generation of sprinters, but they are very strong as well in the one-day races. I expect to see Degenkolb more in Paris-Roubaix than in Flanders, but he’s a strong rider and can win in the future Flanders and Roubaix. Degenkolb is much more a sprinter than Kristoff is, who has a good sprint when the race is very difficult. This is the difference between the two of them, so I think Kristoff has a better chance of being in the final of the Tour of Flanders.

– Is there room for a surprise in this years’ Flanders?

I don’t think so. The circuit is very hard, Koppenberg comes with only 45 kilometres before the finish and after it there are other difficult hills. I don’t think there can be a surprise. Maybe a rider we don’t expect, like Luca Paolini, can win the race, but that wouldn’t be a surprise, as he had good results in the past.

– Speaking of the new Flanders parcours, should we expect a more open race then in the previous two years?

We changed a little bit the parcours, especially by putting Koppenberg closer to the finish and having just two times the circuit over Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg, which was three times in 2012 and 2013. For me, this is similar to the old races, like in my generation, and by this I mean there will be a much difficult race.

Louis Verhelst, a Belgian who dreams of winning Paris-Roubaix

Dwars door Vlaanderen, E3 Harelbeke, and Gent-Wevelgem were a preview to the cobbled Monuments and one of the riders who competed in the Belgian races was Louis Verhelst, the young cyclist of Cofidis. After a spell with Etixx-Ihned, the feeder team of Omega Pharma-Quick Step, Verhelst choose to start his professional career in France, and even if the beginning was not very good, due to an injury, the future promises to be very nice, because the 23-year old Belgian is built for the cobbles and can be a contender for Paris-Roubaix in a couple of seasons.

With less than two weeks before his first start in the “Hell of the North”, I talked to Louis Verhelst, to find out what he thinks of his start to the season, what is his goal for Paris-Roubaix and what other races will he do this year.

– Louis, last year you were the rider of Etixx-Ihned, but didn’t sign with Omega Pharma-Quick Step. Why was that?

During the first part of the season it looked like I was going to Omega Pharma-Quick Step, but they didn’t really need a rider with my qualities, because they already have about 15 riders for the Classics. In the end, they signed Julian Alaphilippe and Petr Vakoč who were stronger than me on the hills and also had better results later in the season.

– So you ended up with Cofidis. What made you go there?

It’s a good team for any young rider. I can ride the Classics and I will have a free role in several races.

– How were the first months as a pro?

Unfortunately, I had a bad knee injury which held me off the bike for five weeks. So the only race I did was the Tour of Gabon and I really liked it, I had the feeling it was the perfect preparation for the first races in Europe.

– You also got to taste the cobbled classics.

I love these races, and doing them has only increased this feeling. It’s amazing to see so many people at the start and on the side of the road during the races! Unfortunately, like I said, I had a knee injury so I started these races with only two weeks of training in the legs. Every time after 130-140 kilometres, when the speed started going up, I just couldn’t keep up with the guys. After all, following the circumstances, I got as far as I could have in each race.

– I know that you’re going to take a break now and prepare for Scheldeprijs and Paris-Roubaix. Did you study the route of Roubaix?

I’m not really taking a break, I’m just doing some endurance and power training to get back in shape. I didn’t study the route of Roubaix. We are doing the route with the team and also I already did this race five times in the Junior and U23 ranks, so I already know the final of this race really well.

– With what thoughts will you ride Paris-Roubaix?

I don’t know. It’s not fun to do a really big and important race without condition or ambition. I’ll see what happens and try to help the team and gain some experience for the next years.

– Long-term, which race do you dream of winning: Tour of Flanders or Paris-Roubaix?

Paris-Roubaix, because it’s a unique race compared to Flanders, where there are several similar races.

– What is your calendar for the rest of the season?

After Paris-Roubaix I will do Grand Prix de Denain and Tro Bro Léon. After that I’ll race the Tour of Turkey. I would like to be in top shape for the Tour of Belgium and the National Championship. In the end, I hope to finish the season with at least one victory.