According to Gent-Wevelgem winner Luca Paolini (Katusha), Bradley Wiggins will win Paris-Roubaix this season.

“Wiggins will win Paris-Roubaix this year,” Ghent-Wevelgem winner Luca Paolini told Cycling Weekly.

“He has class. When he puts a goal in his head, it’s almost impossible that he makes an error on his way to it. He has Olympic gold medals, the Tour de France… Now he wants the Roubaix cobble trophy.”

38-year-old Paolini is a good judge of a rider, with plenty of experience and lots of hours in the saddle throughout his career, captaining Italy at Worlds Road Races or helping himself or Alexander Kristoff in the Classics.

“Maybe last year it was a surprise for many, and maybe for Wiggins, too. He saw that day that he could return to win it.”

“It’s been months that he’s been working for this, working on equipment with Pinarello in December. His physical condition is perfect, he’s ready to win Roubaix,” Paolini said.

Not all agree with Paolini, but he says Wiggins’ class and pedigree can see him through the race and guide him to victory. Paolini himself wishes he had the track background that Wiggins has, believing that it has been key to the 34 year old Brit’s success.

“There are few like Wiggins in cycling who can go from the track, the Tour and go on to do this. Maybe there are more of them now due to a strong track school, especially in Great Britain. Those riders understand how to study and to read their numbers. It shows that the track should be given more attention, something which my generation didn’t do.”