The 113th edition of Paris-Roubaix was a very successful one for BORA – ARGON 18. After he was part of the group of the day in last week’s Tour of Flanders already, Ralf Matzka jumped into the lead group of another monument today. The 25-years old classics specialist set the deciding attack together with eight other riders after 34 kilometers and that was the group the field allowed to go finally. The lead riders tackled the first cobble stone sectors with a gap of more than eight minutes. It took 170 more kilometers till Matzka had to let go his fellow attackers who were reeled in by the chasers a couple of kilometers later. The second part of the BORA – ARGON 18 race tactics planned to be a factor in the finale. And it was Andreas Schillinger who put that plan into action. The 31-years old experienced rider rode courageously and he could establish himself in a selective chasing group. Schillinger used the chance to sprint to 16th place in the Roubaix velodrome.

“That was a very successful highlight of our classics season. We can be very satisfied with this Roubaix edition. Firstly, Ralf managed again to be part of the leading group. It was way tougher than last week to make the cut as so many teams fought for it. That’s what made it even more important to accomplish that goal. And the way Ralf rode in frond showed another improvement compared to Flanders. Simply a top job!”, comments Sport Director Enrico Poitschke on the team’s performance at the third monument of the season.

“Andreas had the task not to attack in the early phase of the race to save energy for the finale. He proved his great form in the last weeks and we knew that this race suits him. The guys supported Andreas very well and always helped him to enter the cobbled sectors in a good position. At the end he simply fought and his great performance resulted in a top ranking. The entire team showed an outstanding race today and the guys proved how much we’ve developed as a team”, Poitschke concludes.