Polit: After my first Roubaix, I had problems one and a half weeks
On Sunday (10.30 am / Eurosport), the most spectacular of all classics returns to the ancestral spring date after three years. In 2021 the race pandemie was postponed to October, 2020 failed. In 2019, Nils Polit had discovered his love of cobblestone torture at an almost perfect April-Sunday when he was undergoing Belgium's ex-world champion Philippe Gilbert in an epic duel in the famous Velodrom of Roubaix. In 2015 John Degenkolb triumphed the second German at Paris-Roubaix.
Since then, the duo has a preference for the slabs over a total of 30 cobblestone passages - the so-called paves. The multi-cited "hell of the north" has its name from these sections, which extend to 55 kilometers long. Because the narrow cobblestone paths are partly centuries old, between the stone boulders bums occasionally large gaps.
The calm before the onslaught. imago images
"Many are not fun to drive over the pavement. It's your own challenge with yourself," says Polit. "After my first Roubaix, I had problems with his hands one and a half weeks. But sometime you get used to it. Then it's a lot easier." Degenkolb told a few years ago that he could not even open a bottle for several days.
About the paves you have to "drive like a motorcycle," says Polit: "And I can just drive high, constant values." His sporting director Thorsten Schmidt holds Polit for "how made for Paris-Roubaix", but: "It's really a wondered bag. Everything has to be right."
Degenkolb: "It's definitely my favorite race"
Of course, that also knows Degenkolb, for which the race is the annual highlight. "It's definitely my favorite race to whom I have a very special bond," he said about the "Queen of the Classics". Two Germans are so far in the winner list of the monument: At the premiere in 1896, the Bayer Josef Fischer, 2015 triumphed in the time-honored Velodrom in Roubaix the native Thuringian Degenkolb. Three years later, the DSM professional, then in the jersey of Trek-Segafredo's jersey, won the 9th stage of the Tour de France right in front of the wheel stadium. After that it became calmer around Degenkolb.
Since the beginning of the season, the family father is again at the Dutch DSM Equipe under contract, for which he won in 2015 under the name Giant-Alpecin just before Roubaix still won the Italian one-day race Milan-Sanremo. Propers of this caliber Degenkolb is a piece away seven years later. Sanremo he missed this year because of a cold. At the 257.2 kilometer long ride by the north-franzen coal region, he wants to be at least at the beginning.
Van der Poel is the big favorite
Looking for the right setup: Mathieu van der Poel (center) and Co. test in Roubaix. Imago / panoramic international
"I count on the drivers that can drive in the top 10. If more is possible, the megage megage. But I'm also realistic enough and knows that the front is really hard," Stressed Degenkolb. Anyway, his new team believes in the strength of the Routinian. "He comes from the Flemish classics and is in really good shape. We can expect a super-motivated John if we go to the start on Sunday," said DSM coach Phil West.
The "Absolute Topfavorit" on the victory is for Degenkolb, however, the Dutch Mathieu van der Poel. "We do not need to discuss it about it," he said, but said, "It's not a race like any other and you should not be surprised if someone is at the end of the front, which has not shown anything in front. That was often in the last years. "
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