If there’s one man who knows what Pogacar is capable of on the cobbles, it’s Stuyven: “I wasn’t surprised back then either”

Jasper Stuyven is gearing up for his tenth appearance in Paris–Roubaix as a pro. The Belgian rider from Lidl–Trek already won the race as a junior, but has yet to reach the podium in the elite ranks. Maybe 2025 will finally be the year, especially after his strong ride at the Tour of Flanders. “Paris–Roubaix is one of those races I could ride with my eyes closed.”

Speaking to the race organization, Stuyven looked ahead to Sunday’s event. “Even though I know the race well, it’s always good to recon the course. Sometimes you have different tires or wheels, so of course you want to gain confidence in the setup choices you’re making. There’s a lot of focus on equipment and a lot of time and effort goes into fine-tuning everything.”

“This classics campaign, we’ve had the option of riding with a single chainring. I didn’t use it in the Flemish races, but I will for Paris–Roubaix,” Stuyven explained. “There’s never really a moment when you need the small ring in Roubaix. You just need the big ring, and that makes shifting more reliable. For my type of rider, that setup suits Roubaix better than Flanders.”

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Stuyven on Pogacar: "He can handle anything"

The Belgian emphasizes that strong legs are key on the cobbles. “The better you feel, the easier it is to get across the sectors. It’s important not to lose momentum. If you lose your rhythm, it can get really tough. I try to anticipate the stones or potholes in the road,” said Stuyven. “The sectors aren’t fun to ride during a recon, especially with a headwind. And even in the race, it’s a mental battle—but that’s true for every classic. You have to be fully focused from the very start.”

Stuyven has ridden Paris–Roubaix nine times and has finished every edition. “I still remember my first time—I just wanted to make it to the finish, and that already brought a lot of satisfaction. And even now, I keep pushing as long as I can. If you’re sick, that’s different, but otherwise I always try to finish.”

During the cobbled stage of the 2022 Tour de France, Stuyven got a firsthand look at Pogacar’s talent on the pavé, as the Slovenian was the only rider who could follow him toward Wallers-Arenberg. “Even then, I wasn’t surprised that he could follow me. He can handle anything, and I see him as a major contender this weekend,” said the Lidl–Trek rider, who will be backed by a strong team including Mads Pedersen and Jonathan Milan.

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