Two-time Paris-Roubaix podium finisher Thor Hushovd headlines the BMC Racing Team's strong roster for the 111th edition of the cobblestone classic.

Hushovd, second in 2010 and third in 2009, will make his 10th start in Sunday's 254 km race. Also in the BMC Racing Team's line-up is Taylor Phinney, a two-time winner of Under 23 Paris-Roubaix (in 2009 and 2010), who finished 15th in his first appearance last year. Should Phinney be triumphant in Sunday’s race, he will be the youngest ever winner of Paris-Roubaix beating Eddy Merckx’ 1968 record by 10 days. The young American missed last Sunday’s Ronde van Vlaanderen due to a knee concern, deciding to play things safe rather than risking his participation in the Hell of the North. He said today that he was glad that he made that choice, and that he feels fully ready for Sunday’s battle.

“The knee is good, very good actually,” the BMC Racing Team rider told Gazzetta dello Sport. “We made a calculation before Flanders and I figured that I could race, but that I might do more damage to myself and put Paris-Roubaix in jeopardy. So I decided to go 100 per cent all in for Paris-Roubaix and skip Flanders.”

BMC Racing Team Paris-Roubaix roster:
Marcus Burghardt (GER), Thor Hushovd (NOR), Daniel Oss (ITA), Taylor Phinney (USA), Manuel Quinziato (ITA), Michael Schär (SUI), Greg Van Avermaet (BEL), Danilo Wyss (SUI).