Paris Roubaix Juniors 2018 Preview - Under 19 Zone

Saturday 7 April 2018

Paris Roubaix Juniors 2018 Preview

The hardest one day race of the season for juniors has finally arrived. Just a few hours before we are going to watch a battle between Quick Step and the rest, young riders will tackle the same cobbled sectors in their own battle for glory.

History

Paris Roubaix Juniors has a pretty short history with first edition dating back in 2003 but it's a big event with impressive list of past winners (just to name a few: Geraint Thomas, Guillame van Keirsbulck, Jasper Stuyven or Florian Senechal, Mads Pedersen with Sagan, Debusschere and Demare all finishing second in different editions). Since 2008 junior version of cobbled classic is a part of UCI Nations Cup meaning we will have national teams instead of club teams at the start in Saint Amand les Eaux. Last year, we have witnessed impressive ride by Tom Pidcock who has attacked from the peloton, joined the strong break and then attacked once again to arrive solo in Roubaix. Daan Hoole and Mathias Larsen completed the podium.

History: Mads Pedersen winning Roubaix in 2013 ahead of Nathan Van Hooydocnk and Tao Geoghegan Hart

Route

The route is pretty much the same as last year. Juniors will cover 111 kilometres from Saint Amand les Eaux to Roubaix facing sixteen cobbled sectors. Mostly the same ones as last sixteen in elite race. So actually the only difference between elite and junior race is the distance as the crucial cobbled sections are pretty much the same. The juniors will tackle total of 28,9km of cobbles. The main difference between elite racing and juniors is that we can expect attacks and strong pace on every single cobbled sector for two reasons last least. One is to tire legs of other teams and second to stay in front and control the race instead of  risking a crash in the middle of group. Strongest teams will be at the front for all cobbled sectors while the crucial moves should happen in the most difficult sectors like Mons-En-Pévèle and obviously Carrefour de l’Arbre.

I have asked Jim Brown, one of the GB team leaders, to share his thoughts about the route:

We did a recon the day after racing Gent-Wevelgem a couple of weeks back, that alongside riding and racing it last year means that I’ve ridden the route 3 times in total so I’d say I have a decent experience for this race, I really like the course and the atmosphere was great last year too. I would say that the Carrefour de l’Arbre is going to be the main place where race winning moves will be made, however most of the junior races I have done this year have been won from much further out from the finish than that so I would say it’s difficult to pinpoint one specific sector.

Remco Evenepoel, Kuurne Brussel Kuurne winner, also shared his thoughts:

Roubaix can't be an easy race. Every cobbled sectors like a climb, full gas. I guess it will be great experiance but also a little bit dangerous. I guess the strongest riders will be on the top of the ranking. I hope to get a top 10 or even more! I guess Mons-En-Pévèle will be very important! I can’t wait for this weekend’s Paris-Roubaix!
Winner of Ronde Van Vlaanderen, Daniel Arnes is ready for a battle:

I think it will be important to be in the first part of the peloton before and during the first pavé sectors. It will be a fight for positions and many nervous riders. So the first part will be important if you want the opportunity to be in the front group the rest of the race. I think the Carrefour de l’Arbre will be one of the most decisive parts in the race. A hard section not so far from the finish line. So it is possible for somebody to ride away there. I like the course. You need to be 100% concentrated for the whole race. And the atmosphere around the race is amazing. There were many fans already on Thursday during the recon ride. So it will be an experience of a lifetime. Roubaix is a war and you never know who is coming out on the winning side. But the strongest nations like France, Italy, Denmark and Belgium are always be represented in the end. But I think we have a strong team and we Vikings are always ready to go to a war.


Favorites 

Remco Evenepoel is still the main favourite for tomorrow. Belgian rider has recently raced Ster Van Zuid Limburg where he won the queen stage in a style, solo and over a minute gap on the elite group of race favorites. His GC chances were lost a day before when he crashed hard and lost nine minutes. In Gent Wevelgem he was one of the strongest riders but unexpected early attack from some of his main opponents for Roubaix finished his dreams of winning. As always, he will be supported by a strong team including Vito Braet who is having a very good classic period including tenth in Kuurne, fifth place in Guido Reyboruck Classic and recent fourth in Ronde and can fight for a win as well.

In last two years Norway had a strong team but they have lacked a bit to fight for a win. This year they have two strong cards to play and should be the main rivals for Belgium and Denmark. Soren Waerenskjold who was already eleventh in Roubaix last year, was part of a crucial breakaway in Gent Wevelgem where he finished second beaten in a sprint by Samuele Manfredi. Last weekend he has raced two smaller races in Belgium and won both of them. Actually, Norway totally dominated those races having seven riders in top10 in both Nieuwkerken on Saturday and Dilsen on Sunday! At the same time Daniel Arnes was busy winning Ronde. He attacked and managed to get away solo finishing with 43 seconds over Adne Koster. Both Norwegian team leaders are capable of winning tomorrow and the whole team looks very strong now and should be able to control the bunch on cobbles together with Denmark and Belgium.

Denmark is a nation who always perform well in Paris Roubaix. Since 2012 they had a rider in top10 every year and of course they have managed to win three editions in a row with Wurtz Schmidt, Pedersen and Bak Klaris. Like always, they have several strong riders but the leader should be Mathias Skjelmose. He won a stage and GC in Ster Van Zuid Limburg where he faced some of the favorites for Sunday. Apart from Skjelmose, Denmark brings last year Gent Wevelgem winner, Ludvig Wacker and first year junior who has recently finished fifth in Ronde Van Vlaanderen, William Blume Levy. All three riders should be here in the finale and can fight for a win if they join the right move.

If we look at recent editions, Netherlands where definitely the strongest nation. In 2015 and 2016 they have finished first and second while last year Daan Hoole was second just behind phenomenon Tom Pidcock. Do they have a rider able to finish on podium ? I think it will be a bit harder this year but Bas Van Belle, third in Nokere Koerse and tenth in Gent Wevelgem should be one of the favorites. Last weekend he has raced against Evenepoel, Skjelmose and Simmons in Limburg and he was always there with the best finishing sixth overall. Axel van der Tuuk was second in Guido Reybrouck classic and did well in STer as well. He has finished right behind Skjelmsoe on second stage but slipped a little in GC as he has missed the move on queen stage. In the end he was tenth in GC as first year junior. He may surprise many on Sunday.

After two decent but not spectacular years USA brings a possible winner again. Quinn Simmons who has spent his youth years riding mostly in MTB showed great potential by winning two stages and GC in Valley of the Sun Stage Race. His first race in Europe was Gent Wevelgem and he has finished third. Last week, he has added third place overall in Ster Van Zuid Limburg just behind Skjelmsoe and Casper Van Uden. He should be a mian threat for Belgium, Denmark and Norway tomorrow.

Other names to watch: Jim Brown, Samuele Manfredi, Donovan Grondin, Marius Meyrhofer, Loris Roullier, David Sikora, Aliaz Ormel.

Who are the main favourites according to Jim Brown ?

I would say that my main rivals are going to be Skjelmorse Jensen and Evenepoel after having raced them at Ster van Limberg. Warenskjold, Manfredi and Simmons were all strong at Gent-Wevelgem too. However I think that we have got a very well rounded squad and that it could very well be any of us 6 that is first across the line on Sunday.

 I have asked Daniel Arnes to name one rider who impressed him the most:

It has to be Quinn Simmons. Impressive result in Gent Wevelgem, especially as he is a first year junior and it was his first Nations Cup race.

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