Paris Roubaix 2019 Preview

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Season highlight for junior racing. The most important one day race held on the same day as "big" Paris Roubaix. The same sectors, just a shorter distance. It's the big one.

History

17th edition was in danger as organizers were lucking funds. Luckily, 2015 Paris Roubaix winner, John Degenkolb raised a crowdfunding which helped to gather the missing money. Thank you, John! 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 a sprint battle between three riders. Lewis Askey managed to beat Samuele Manfredi on the line while Mathias Skjelmose finished third just few seconds behind.

Lewis Askey beats Samuele Manfredi. @directvelo

Route

The route is pretty much the same as last year. Juniors will cover 111 kilometers from Saint Amand les Eaux to Roubaix facing seventeen cobbled sectors. There is a small addition of 200m od cobbles but apart from that, juniors will cover the same sectors as last year. 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 29,2km 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 at least. One is to tire the 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.

source: www.equipe-cycliste-velo-club-roubaix.com 

Favorites

We are in the middle of classics campaign but the list of favorites didn't change that much since Gent Wevelgem. The strongest team is still Great Britain. They arrive with several options once again but obviously the key man is last year's winner, Lewis Askey. If the race turns into a battle between the strongest riders, Lewis will be up there with the best. He was one of the strongest riders on Kemmelberg and managed to ride away in final kilometers with his main opponent, Quinn Simmons. We can expect the same scenario tomorrow. The other possibility for GB is to us the strength in numbers. Having guys like Ben Tulett and Sam Watson who was already top10 last year gives a chance for different tactics. We can either see them in front reducing the bunch or attacking early and forcing other teams to work. Let's not forget that they have managed to finish second, third and fourth in Wevelgem.

Lewis shared his thoughts before the race:

Any sector can blow the race apart if I’m honest. They are all very hard. It only takes one problem near the front to completely split a bunch. It’s down to the riders to decide what happens or when it blow up. Yes, Roubaix is of course the biggest one day race. It has too much history and prestige to not be the biggest. The junior race been on the same days as the pros makes for a surreal feeling racing with huge crowds so all the juniors want to perform well here. With that said though; there is still a long season ahead! Yes I know my favorite part of the season is coming to an end :(

I have asked Lewis who does he think may be his main opponents for tomorrow:

Quinn Simmons is clearly very strong this year, Casper Van Uden has strong legs however hasn’t had a result since KBK & Sam Watson has been really strong and had consistent results.

Do you think other teams may try an early attack considering how strong GB team is ?

I think people will try but I think it’s going to be too hard and fast for that to be an option. It’s a race to the first sector and then the first few sectors are so close that you would have to be going so hard to get away.

Quinn Simmons leads strong as always US team. Simmons rode just one race in Europe and he won it. He was the strongest rider in Gent Wevelgem and he managed to beat Paris Roubaix winner on te line. I don't think we need a better recommendation for a race favorite. If nothing bad happens, Simmons in the man to beat and I would expect other teams to try avoid bringing him to velodrome in Roubaix with their leaders. The problem is that he has a very strong team behind him which will be fully committed to help him for a win. Both Garrison and Lamperti are capable of fighting for a win as well. The only team comparable with GB at the start.

I have asked Quinn how does he remember last year and what does he think and he race and being the favorite:

Everyone was very strong at Gent and many other guys have won big races this year so it’s hard to say. For sure, I could to be the marked man but I think Roubaix is hard enough that it will sort it’s self out and the strongest riders will be there at the end. 

Last year I had an early crash then a flat so spent much of the day chasing. If I can have a mechanical free race things have already improved. 

Roubaix for sure is big but for juniors it’s still very hard to be on top form because of our limited race schedule this early in the year. Maybe look to the World Championship to be bigger but Roubaix is definitely top 3 the most important races of the season.

Netherlands brings their best team as well with several cards to play. Casper Van Uden was unlucky in Wevelgem two weeks ago but he is still the same guy who won Kuurne and without bad luck he should be competitive for the win. Bodi del Grosso is the most consistent rider on cobbles this year as he was up there with the best in almost every race he entered: third in Kuurne, fifth in Nokere Koerse, fifteenth in Bernaudeau Junior and recently twelve in Ronde. Axel van der Tuuk still has no luck this year so far but I'm more then sure it's just a matter of time when he gets a result.

Belgium brings a solid team with several riders who may surprise us tomorrow. In Gent Wevelgem surprisingly their best rider was Nicolas Marthe who finished seventh but this time I would expect other riders to shine. On paper, Alex Vandenbulcke should be their leader. He was recently fourth in Ronde and also fourth in Nokere Koerse. If race came down to any kind of sprint, Alex should be one of the favorites. Milan Fretin was nineth here last year and managed to finish third in Nokere Koerse. I haven't lost my faith in Arnaud De Lie. So far, his results are not even close to what we have witnessed in u17 category which is not surprising but I stil believe De Lie fits perfectly for this kind of races and it's only a matter of time when we see a big result from him.

France starts their home race with a clear leader and one of the biggest favorites, Antonin Corvaisier. Winner of Trophée Louison Bobet, second in Kuurne, third in Ronde, seventh in Bernaudeau. Fast on the line and strong on cobbles. If he wants to win he has to make sure he arrives with Askey or Simmons together on velodrome in Roubaix. If he does that, everything can happen. Big favorite for tomorrow.

I have asked Antonin to share his thoughts as well:

Roubaix is obviously a hard race with a lot of difficulties. I hope finish in top ten of course but I also hope that a French rider wins tomorrow. I think Mons-en Pevele and Carrefour de l’Arbre are the most difficult sectors in the race. Yes, Paris Roubaix is the biggest race of the year, all riders have prepared for this race. All the team is prepares to win this race !

One team brings much stronger group then in Gent Wevelgem. It's Denmark with addition of two Team NPV - Carl Ras Roskilde Junior riders, William Blume Levy and Fredrik Wandahl. Blume Levy is Ronde Van Vlaanderen winner who started his season riding for smaller races and finishing high every time he entered. In the very first uci race, he rode away with his team mate and won Ronde. He fits perfectly for this kind of races and he may be the guy who will follow the big moves in the final. Or he may do the big move by himself. Wandahl might be a little bit too light for cobbles but he is one of those riders who are just too good to scratch him from the list of favorites.

I have asked William about last year race and his hopes for tomorrow:

Last year I had a lot of bad luck with crashes and stomach cramps that made it impossible to be in the final of the race. I have high hopes for the race, I think we have a strong team with different options, and for sure we are aiming for the win. The hardest and most crucial sectors are Mons-en-Pevele and Carrefour de l’Abre

Other notable starters: Michel Hessmann, Marco Brenner, Maurice Ballerstedt, Hugo Page, Carlos Rodriguez, Juan Ayuso, Axel Huens and Hugo Toumire.

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