In l'Equipe, absent four-times winner Tom Boonen cited his favourites for today's race: Alexander Kristoff, Geraint Thomas, John Degenkolb, Tijs Benoot, Greg Van Avermaet, Sep Vanmarcke, Stijn Devolder and of course his Etixx team-mates Niki Terpstra and Zdenek Stybar.

“(Kristoff) is full of confidence, everything works out for him. He is in an euphoric period and I can't see why he couldn't add Paris-Roubaix to his record. His team ride 100 pc behind him and he is the man to beat. I can see Katusha control as long as possible with the help of Team Sky, who should play the same part as in Flanders to place Bradley Wiggins in the front early on.”

The Belgian said he believed more in Thomas than in Wiggins: “Geraint Thomas can take advantage of the situation because everybody will be watching Wiggins.”

While he believes Degenkolb had more of an outside chance because “nobody will take the risk of taking him to the velodrome”, Boonen was impressed by his young compatriot Tiesj Benoot, fifth in the Tour of Flanders a week ago: “What he did in Flanders was incredible. He's intelligent and could make a surprise”.

Boonen played down the chances of Greg Van Avermaet “a great rider who needs to go a step up in finales” but is optimistic for team-mates Terpstra, the title-holder, and Stybar: “Their relationship is very good. They both know what they have to do. Niki's only chance is to finish on his own”, he said, adding that Stijn Vandenvergh was not be ruled out either.