Riders, mechanics, support staff… They tell the story of ‘their’ Paris–Roubaix

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It’s a race like no other, a legend, one of the biggest events of the season. I always loved watching Paris–Roubaix on TV when I was young. When I turned professional, I told myself that I could take part in it too. I look forward to it all year round, hoping to achieve a good result. In 2023, I finished in one of the leading groups (28th) and that remains a highlight. What makes this race so special is that you have to overcome so many challenges to have a chance of performing well. This year, we have a competitive team and I know we can hope to achieve a good result and get one of our riders into the top 10.”

"When I was a kid, it was a race we never missed on the telly. It’s a special race, the Hell of the North, the only Monument held in France. One of the stories that really stuck with me is that of the Australian Matthew Heymans, who won at the age of 37 (in 2016). It really shows that in this race, you must never give up, always fight, always believe. The first time I took part (in 2024, finishing 34th), I managed to stay with the leading group for a long time… Paris-Roubaix is so tough that it’s important to have plenty of determination and motivation before setting off. We’re lucky to have a very ambitious team. If we can hang on and anticipate the moves well, I know we can achieve a very good result.”

“Paris-Roubaix is the only race where you finish with your arms hurting more than your legs! Physically, it’s incredibly tough. To achieve a good result, you need to get everything just right: being in peak physical condition, having a bit of luck, not getting a puncture or crashing... It’s a race where those who manage to get a head start, those who anticipate as much as possible, are often rewarded.  This year, we can aim for a ‘top 10’ finish. We have a balanced team and several options with Alexis Renard, Hugo Page and Jenthe Biermans. »

“It’s a race that’s always wide open, full of surprises. Perhaps there have been fewer surprises in recent years when it comes to the overall win, but that’s certainly not the case when it comes to making the top 10. That’s why Paris–Roubaix is such a special race: it’s made for warriors, for fighters, for riders who never give up. There’s also pressure from the crowds: it’s a bit like Alpe d’Huez in the Tour de France – it’s a day you simply can’t afford to miss! To succeed, you need to have complete confidence in your kit, but also be surrounded by top-level people in the support staff, among the mechanics, the assistants… We have high hopes with the Cofidis team this year, and we’re right to have them!”  

“It’s not called the Hell of the North for nothing! The 30 kilometres of cobblestones change everything: what’s essential is to constantly be able to cope with the unexpected. To hold out, you have to race like warriors. Those who’ve chosen to take part know that nothing is ever easy here, that it’s brutal, sometimes unpredictable.  I remember the first women’s edition in 2021 very well; I watched it on television. Lots of riders slipped in the mud, including the winner, Lizzie Deignan. When you’re in the race, even in the DS car, you have to be extremely focused and alert; everything happens very quickly. On Sunday, with the team, we’ll do everything we can to put in a great performance and aim for a podium finish with Victoire Berteau.” 

“It’s not for nothing that it’s known as the queen of the classics! It’s a race with a rich and unique history that resonates far beyond cycling enthusiasts. There’s something inexplicable about the appeal this race holds for the general public. When you’re a rider, it’s both a pleasure and a lot of suffering. It’s painful; you give it your all, but once you reach the velodrome, the feeling is just incredible. In fact, you go through the whole range of emotions! The race is so unpredictable that anything is possible: it’s perhaps the most accessible Monument on the calendar. And we’ve got a team that’s built to go all out for it!” 

“It’s not called the Hell of the North for nothing! The 30 kilometres of cobblestones change everything: what’s essential is to constantly be able to cope with the unexpected. To hold out, you have to race like warriors. Those who’ve chosen to take part know that nothing is ever easy here, that it’s brutal, sometimes unpredictable.  I remember the first women’s edition in 2021 very well; I watched it on television. Lots of riders slipped in the mud, including the winner, Lizzie Deignan. When you’re in the race, even in the DS car, you have to be extremely focused and alert; everything happens very quickly. On Sunday, with the team, we’ll do everything we can to put in a great performance and aim for a podium finish with Victoire Berteau.” 

“The week of Paris–Roubaix is really different from what we’re used to during the rest of the year. We arrive in Valenciennes on Wednesday evening after the GP de l’Escaut, ahead of Thursday’s reconnaissance. Then we head to Compiègne, where the riders can relax and get into their own heads before the race. You can feel the pressure gradually building. Once the race starts, you never know what might happen. For all of us – assistants and mechanics – it’s a race within a race. We station someone at every exit from the cobbled sections with water bottles and spare wheels. With spectators lining the entire route, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to cut through and access the course. That’s where experience and knowledge of the roads are particularly valuable. We know the riders need our constant commitment to keep going!”