This Sunday is the third “monument” of the season, Paris-Roubaix, also known as the “Hell of the North.”
 

Team Giant-Alpecin will line up for the race with a strong team boasting a wealth of classics experience, including John Degenkolb (GER), the winner of the first monument of the season, Milan-San Remo and seventh in last week's Ronde van Vlaanderen. 

Degenkolb will be joined by: Nikias Arndt (GER), Roy Curvers (NED), Bert De Backer (BEL), Koen de Kort (NED), Ramon Sinkeldam (NED), Tom Stamsnijder (NED), and Albert Timmer (NED).

“I am really looking forward to this Sunday, and we will try to put in another great performance. I am not feeling a lot of pressure because we already have a victory," Degenkolb said.

“We worked hard to prepare for this classics period, which ends after Sunday’s Paris-Roubaix. It is special for me to see how much effort and sacrifice the team puts into these races, and that motivates me to get even more out of myself.  

“I am happy that this period is almost over, as it has been very challenging for me, both mentally and physically. At this moment, my form is still very good, as I have recovered very well from Flanders.”

“I am very excited for Sunday, as I’ve never been in such good shape as I am now," de Kort said.

“I expect an open race, since it isn’t very clear who is the top favorite. Maybe it will be the same scenario as last week’s at Flanders, where the first serious attack in the finale was the winning move. But it may also be a sprint with a small group. In either case, John [Degenkolb] has a chance to win.

“I hope to be there until deep into the finale. Hopefully the team will be able to avoid crashes and other problems. We have excellent equipment, and the classics bikes are very comfortable as well. We have nothing to complain about.”

“Paris-Roubaix is a special race for me, and I am in very good shape at the moment. When we did the recon and I hit the first cobbles, I could imagine myself riding over them during the race," De Backer said.

“I expect to perform on the same level as last year, and hopefully better. In this race you need a bit of luck too, but luck isn’t something that can be forced. 

“I will be satisfied if I can show that last year’s performance was no coincidence.”

“The team is in very good shape. I think we have grown in this classics period, as the confidence level is rising. In Milan-San Remo we showed what the team is capable of," coach Marc Reef said.

“This year we decided to do less racing to focus more on training and specific race preparation.

“This week we had a very good recon with beautiful weather conditions. For Sunday’s race, John [Degenkolb] will be our man for the finale. Not surprisingly, I expect the Arenberg Forest to be a crucial section of the race.”