Lidl-Trek counters van der Poel and Pogacar with three leaders: "It would be crazy to rely on just one"

Last Sunday, Lidl-Trek was perhaps the strongest team in the race. The result of the Tour of Flanders was second place for Mads Pedersen and fifth place for Jasper Stuyven. But for Paris-Roubaix, only one place counts: the top spot on the podium. Since last season, Pedersen has had this edition of the Hell of the North highlighted in red.

Pedersen is very clear about his ambitions for next Sunday. "Paris-Roubaix is the classic I most want to win," he tells Sporza. "Why? I just loved that race and always performed very well there. In 2023, the strong Dane finished fourth, just behind Jasper Philipsen and Wout van Aert. A year later, the only winner, Van der Poel, and his teammate Philipsen were stronger."

He hopes for more this year, but a new contender has joined the competition. Rainbow jersey wearer Tadej Pogacar is at the start. But the 2019 world champion is not afraid. Normally, the Slovenian will have to arrive solo at the velodrome, but can he drop Pedersen on the cobblestones? "If I believe that, I'd better stay at home. So I have to answer 'no' to that question. But with Pogacar, you never know. He is such a strong rider and can ride extremely fast."

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Pedersen finished second in the Tour of Flanders, behind Tadej Pogacar.

"It would be crazy to rely on just one leader"

"But I think I'm good enough to follow him," he emphasizes again." In the Tour, Pogacar had a slight advantage on the climbs because we were a bit heavier. That will be gone on Sunday." It is also the first time the all-rounder from UAE Team Emirates - XRG will participate. For 29-year-old Pedersen, it will be his eighth time on the cobblestones of northern France: he has not missed a single edition since 2017. He was only absent in 2020, but the coronavirus canceled the race.

Against top riders like Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel, the Danish classics specialist will have to rely on the strength of his team, which is already running at full speed this spring. "With Jasper Stuyven and Jonathan Milan, we still have options. That way, we can put some pressure on the other teams." Will Pedersen start as a solid leader? "So much can happen in Paris-Roubaix. It would be crazy only to designate one rider as the leader," is his answer.

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Last year Pedersen was beaten by Mathieu van der Poel in Paris-Roubaix.

Stuyven (in top form) also thinks he can follow Pogacar

A somewhat freer role awaits Stuyven. The experienced Belgian is in top form, evidenced by his fifth place on the Tour of Flanders last week. "And statistically speaking, Paris-Roubaix suits me even better than the Tour," he says. "But that doesn't automatically mean I'll get a better result there." This will be the 32-year-old Fleming's tenth participation in the Hell of the North. He has already finished in the top ten three times, with his fourth place in 2017 being his best performance. He fell short of victory that day, which went to Greg Van Avermaet.

Stuyven is, of course, also keeping an eye on the extreme competition. He realizes that his team is in a powerful position. "But if you don't have a Pogacar or van der Poel in your team, you must try to be as strongly represented as possible in the final." The winner of Milan-Sanremo in 2021 also thinks that Pogacar will not be as good as he was in Flanders. The Belgian says he can follow him on the flat cobblestones. "But maybe on Sunday evening, I will realize I was wrong," he laughs.

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Stuyven finished fifth in the Tour of Flanders.

Milan third possible leader, but also wildcard: "Have never made it to the finish there"

Jonathan Milan is the third hope Lidl-Trek can keep alive for the final. However, the Italian is a bit of a wildcard, so he starts without real expectations. "I love this race, but I've never made it to the finish there (in three attempts). I need to gain the necessary experience in Paris-Roubaix. I aim to be in the right place at the key moments and help the leaders."

Those leaders are Pedersen and Stuyven. Two men with the necessary experience in Paris-Roubaix and two in great shape. Lidl-Trek is full of courage. Milan hopes to be able to keep up for as long as possible, but what exactly are his hopes for Sunday's race? "That we'll be at the front with as many teammates as possible and get a good result."

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