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MV(D)P?
Mathieu van der Poel enters the 260-kilometre race as the firm favourite in the men’s peloton, a position only aided by the absence of the injured Wout van Aert.
Van Aert’s unfortunate crash at Dwars door Vlaanderen has made van der Poel’s task all the more achievable as a result, with the Alpecin-Deceuninck star targeting a second successive Monument after winning the Tour of Flanders last weekend.
Victory for the 29-year-old would also end a run of 12 different winners dating back to 2011, the Dutchman having won the 2023 edition 46 seconds ahead van Aert and teammate Jasper Philipsen.
Much was said of van der Poel’s preparation of cyclocross and one-day races heading into the season, but it seems to have been the perfect tonic for a campaign that also includes victory in the E3 Saxo Classics and second place at Gent-Wevelgem.
Cobbles and more cobbles
They don’t call Paris-Roubaix the ‘Hell of the North’ for nothing, and in 2024, the course only gets harder.
With 17 sectors of pavé scattered throughout an extended route that now covers 148.5 kilometres, the fourth edition of the women’s race will undoubtedly be its toughest yet.
Meanwhile, the men’s iteration has also undergone some changes – its 55.7 kilometres worth of pavé making it the most cobbled race in the last 30 years.
The 29 cobbled sectors are also featured on an extended course, some 3.3 kilometres longer than last year’s race.
Back on Lidl-Trek?
This weekend will be the fourth edition of the women’s Paris-Roubaix, and Lidl-Trek will be lining up for their third victory.
Solo wins from Lizzie Deignan and Elisa Longo Borghini set the tone for Lidl-Trek’s early dominance, and while Alison Jackson (EF Education-Cannondale) ended that streak last year, the form of Elisa Balsamo could see the cobbled crown return to its initial holders.
The American team will also have Ellen van Dijk in their ranks, but they’ll need to monitor the movements of SD Worx-Protime if victory is to be secured.
World champion Lotte Kopecky has been selected to lead the Dutch team and will be joined by Lorena Wiebes and Femke Markus among others.
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Cycling: Paris-Roubaix Mens Race 2023
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Cycling: Paris-Roubaix Womens Race 2023
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How about this weather?
In no other race is there as much attention paid to the weather forecast as there is in the lead-up to Paris-Roubaix. All eyes are once again on the clouds forming ahead of the 2024 edition.
Wet cobbles make things slippery, contributing to crashes and a greater emphasis on technique when navigating the pavé, but rain in the lead-up actually helps out the riders, as it damps down the dust between the cobbles.
Without a bit of rain to damp things down, the bikes and support vehicles throw up clouds of choking dust that form a thin layer on the cobbles, creating its own treacherously slippery surface. There has been rain over the cobbles in the lead-up and there are scattered showers in the days ahead so it isn't going to be a dust bowl, and if the rainfall is in excess of what is predicted, a wet and muddy Roubaix could be on the cards.
As it stands, the women’s race is predicted to take place in partly sunny conditions in northern France, with the men tackling cooler conditions the following day.
Contenders to remember
Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) is the only rival to defeat van der Poel this season after claiming victory in Gent-Wevelgem, but he won’t be the only rider out for podium honours.
With van Aert out of contention, Matteo Jorgenson will be Visma-Lease a Bike’s main hope alongside Dylan van Baarle and Christophe Laporte, with Nils Politt and Tim Wellens on hand for UAE Team Emirates.
As for the women’s race, Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike) is likely to challenge the likes of Kopecky and Balsamo, as is Pfeiffer Georgi (DSM-Firmenich PostNL), Chiara Consonni (UAE Team ADQ), and Grace Brown (FDJ-Suez).
And of course, we cannot rule out Jackson, the defending champion and first Canadian to win the Monument, who harbours hopes of becoming the first woman to win two editions of the cobbled classic.
