"I think and hope that it will be a different story in Roubaix."

Good morning,

These are today's quotes and interviews worth your time.

Stood out to me today: "Yesterday I was faster from the finish to the bus to go to the toilet than I was in the stage itself."

¡Vamos!

🎤 INTERESTING INTERVIEWS

"I think and hope that it will be a different story in Roubaix."

Mathieu van der Poel on Paris-Roubaix, Tadej Pogačar, and why he has no regrets about Flanders

In a press conference ahead of Sunday's Paris-Roubaix, as covered by In De Leiderstrui, Mathieu van der Poel addressed a wide range of topics — from his cobbled classics training routines and recent wattage discussions to thoughts on rival Tadej Pogačar.

On his chances going in: "The last few years it was pretty clear that Tadej Pogačar was stronger than the rest. But I think and hope that it will be a different story in Roubaix." Asked whether he has any idea what to expect from him: "Not really. He is very good on the cobbles, but we already knew that from a Tour de France stage a few years ago. He's just a rider who can do everything."

On the 460-watt average he posted after E3: "It was analyzed and it really was correct, otherwise I would not have shared it. It was to show how hard it was, because some so-called experts had opinions about it. For me it was mainly great to see that I'm still getting better at this age. But when you're racing against Pogačar, possibly the greatest rider ever, I have to do what I can and try to be in the best possible shape. And even that was not enough."

On the Flanders criticism that he should not have ridden with Pogačar: "I did what I had to do and I was in a position where I could win. I don't think the outcome would have been any different if I had not cooperated. There's a difference between pulling on the front and taking your turns. It was clear that Pogačar was the one who didn't want Remco Evenepoel to come back. I was just riding in the wheel, doing my thing. If I had stopped riding, that would also have been a bit anti-racing."

He closes with the big-picture reality: "I'm realistic enough to know that this streak is not going to last forever. I'll try to win with the team, but there will be a year when we don't manage it."

"Paris-Roubaix is the classic where Evenepoel has the most advantage over Pogačar."

Jan Bakelants on why Evenepoel missed his moment

Former pro and analyst Jan Bakelants made his case on the Wielerclub Wattage podcast: Paris-Roubaix was the one classic where Remco Evenepoel could have had a structural edge.

"I think Paris-Roubaix is the classic where Evenepoel has the most advantage over Pogačar." His reasoning: "Roubaix is really a wind race. You're always riding right on the edge. And who rides better in the wind than Remco?" Flanders gave Evenepoel a data point too. "In Flanders, Remco felt that he can also ride well on the cobbles. That's why he didn't immediately say he wouldn't ride Roubaix."

Bakelants sees this as the right moment to have tried. "If you can hang 40 kilometers behind such a strong duo at 20 seconds, that shows you're in very good shape." He has sympathy for the decision not to start, but his argument is that the opportunity was now, not later. On when Evenepoel might actually race Paris-Roubaix: "I don't think that will be next year. He might first add Milano-Sanremo as an extra classic."

"They took it more seriously than I had expected."

Tim Merlier on his last-minute entry to Paris-Roubaix

Tim Merlier explained his surprise entry to Paris-Roubaix to HLN. He put his hand up before his Scheldeprijs win, not because of it.

"I had completed a six-hour training ride and had a good feeling from it. I sent a message to sports director Iljo Keisse and my coach Frederik Broché to put my name forward for Paris-Roubaix. And apparently, they took it more seriously than I had expected. They agreed pretty quickly." The Scheldeprijs result gave him a cleaner runway, but the decision was already made. "If I hadn't won, the chance was still there, but there would have been a bit more deliberation."

He is clear-eyed about where his form is. "It will certainly not be with my best condition, but it hurts too much to watch from the couch. It's a race that's close to my heart, even though I haven't had much luck there." His sprint numbers have shifted in a direction he recognizes. "A few weeks ago my sprint values were really good, but I know that when they're too good, I'm not at my best conditionally. The last two weeks the numbers were lower, but I could feel that my endurance during longer training sessions had improved."

His stated goal: be the ideal teammate. "All is possible, nothing is required. I'll certainly do what is asked of me in the tactical briefing. I take pride in that."

"We will challenge this decision later."

Mathieu Heijboer on the UCI's last-minute ban of Visma | Lease a Bike's tire pressure system

Two weeks before Paris-Roubaix, Team Visma | Lease a Bike received a letter from the UCI banning a tire pressure adjustment system the team had used and refined for two seasons. Mathieu Heijboer, the team's Head of Performance, spoke about it on the In De Waaier podcast.

The system, developed by Dutch company Gravaa, lets riders lower tire pressure on cobbled sectors and raise it again on asphalt. The UCI's stated reason for banning it is that Gravaa went bankrupt and the commercial availability of the product is in doubt. Heijboer was direct about his disagreement: "You can order one if you want. There is no rule that says a product has to be available two weeks or two months beforehand. The moment of use is the race, and if it is commercially available then, you meet the rules."

The timing raised immediate questions inside the team. The system was used without issue at the GP Denain, the biggest cobbled race before Paris-Roubaix. "We received no announcement that this was coming, there was just that letter. After Denain, there was no problem. Now there is. That is no coincidence." The team considered an appeal but dropped it given the time constraints. Asked directly whether the ban affects their race chances, Heijboer's answer was one word: "Yes."

He closed with a clear message: "We've chosen not to use it. But we will challenge this decision later."

"Winning a lot, and in beautiful races, remains our absolute priority."

Jurgen Foré on Soudal Quick-Step's transition and what comes next

Jurgen Foré, CEO of Soudal Quick-Step, gave WielerFlits an honest state-of-the-team assessment ahead of Paris-Roubaix.

The spring has not gone as planned. "Paul Magnier got sick after his first race. Jasper Stuyven had the same after his altitude camp. Tim Merlier was out for a long time with a persistent knee injury. Paul also had mechanical bad luck three times at bad moments. These puzzle pieces didn't quite fit together." On results overall: "We were expecting more overall. I want to be honest about that."

He is direct about what the team can and cannot do in the transfer market. With roughly four roster spots open and the UCI limit at 30, choices will be tight. "It's harder to make those choices when you only have four spots free." On the type of rider he is after: "Riders who win races, above all. I'd rather take on those battles against absolute superstars with two or three strong pieces."

On life after Remco Evenepoel: "It was an honor to work with Remco, he brought our team beautiful victories and we're grateful for that. It's now up to us to pursue other goals." He is also candid that the timing was not ideal. "In normal circumstances, Remco would have ridden here another year. We're now in a situation where things only became clear in August 2025, and the team had to make a strategic shift. It's logical that there's still some work to make the puzzle fit."

The promise he is making to sponsors: "With four stage wins in the Tour and 54 victories in total, we proved last year that with this team and with the budgets we have, we can win many interesting and beautiful races. Winning a lot, and in beautiful races, remains our absolute priority."

🏆 THE SERGE BAGUET AWARD

Not awarded today

Wonder what The Serge Baguet Award is all about? Check it out here.

💬 QUICK QUOTES

"I cramped on the Paterberg. So that was already sign number one. But then I came back before the Koppenberg. Lost again on the Koppenberg. Came back on the Mariaborrestraat. Lost on the Taaienberg. Came back one more time before the Oude Kruisberg and after the Oude Kruisberg it was over. My legs just stopped turning over. And I was caught by a group, dropped, caught by a group, dropped." — Rick Pluimers, Live Slow Ride Fast, recounting his slow collapse in the final 50 kilometers of the Ronde van Vlaanderen.

"My favorite cobbled sector? The last one, because then you know it's over." — Mathieu van der Poel, HLN, on Paris-Roubaix.

"It's still there. But I'm taking the right medication. Hopefully it'll be better by Sunday and I'll be at 100 percent." — Jasper Philipsen, Sporza, on his cold at Alpecin-Premier Tech's pre-Paris-Roubaix press day.

"As I was in a lot of pain, I was admitted to the hospital last Monday. They can't find the source of the infection and, as the antibiotics are not having much effect, they will likely have to operate on me again next Monday. That's enough of this nonsense, I'm fed up with it!" — Eddy Merckx, HLN, after being hospitalized for around a week with a persistent hip infection.

"I knew the descent and I figured I could take a shot on the way down, knowing that not all of them are great descenders. I managed to open a gap. But honestly, I didn't care about the win today. I just wanted to take some time back, put a little dent in their morale if I could, and make them understand it wasn't going to be as easy as they thought." — Paul Seixas, Cycling Pro Net, after Stage 4 of the Itzulia Basque Country, where he used his descending skills to claw back time in the overall classification.

"Yesterday I was faster from the finish to the bus to go to the toilet than I was in the stage itself." — Juan Ayuso, Cycling Pro Net, speaking ahead of Stage 4 of the Itzulia Basque Country, referring to stomach issues. He abandoned during that stage.

"It was Skjelmose who got on the radio today to tell him not to push his body and to think about the Ardennes." — Julien Bernard, Marca, on Instagram defending Juan Ayuso after having to abandon in the 4th stage of the Itzulia Basque Country

"I can't wait to return… I will try to come back very soon and very strong." — Isaac del Toro, Instagram, after withdrawing from the Itzulia Basque Country on Stage 3 with a thigh muscle tear.

That's it for today. See you tomorrow 👋

Jay