Intermarché-Wanty is getting ready to compete in its third monument of the season with Paris-Roubaix on Sunday 7th of April, one week after a particularly demanding edition of the Tour of Flanders.
Over the past week, the selection directed by Aike Visbeek, Steven De Neef and Bart Wellens carried out several recons of all cobble sections of the Hell of the North and equipment tests.
From Compiègne to the velodrome in Roubaix, the riders will have to cover 260 kilometers, including 57.5 kilometers of cobblestones spread over twenty-nine sectors. Following slight changes to the route, this edition contains the most kilometers of cobblestones in the last 30 years.
In 2022, the Walloon World Team achieved memorable collective success in the Hell of the North by finishing with six riders among the first twenty-three, including two in the top 10. Last year, Laurenz Rex took ninth place in the fastest edition in history.
The Walloon cobble specialist and winner of Le Samyn will lead the selection this Sunday and can rely on the Northern Frenchman Adrien Petit, three times in the top 10 in his favourite race, and Mike Teunissen, who is a former winner of Paris-Roubaix U23, in addition to his seventh place in 2019.
With Baptiste Planckaert and Gijs Van Hoecke, Intermarché-Wanty has two other experienced elements. The young Madis Mihkels, recently ninth on the Scheldeprijs, and Hugo Page, fifth on the cobbles of Denain, complete the selection.
“After my ninth place last year, I return this Sunday with the desire to do just as well. We did the recons with ideal pressure in our Continental tires, so we had the right feeling on the cobble sections, without taking any risks because they were wet, slippery and muddy in some places. We also discovered the chicane which was added last minute to the route. The entry into the Trouée d'Arenberg is always dangerous, this change does not change the situation for us, it is a place that we will have to manage with caution. On Sunday we can rely on Adrien Petit and his great experience. I have an excellent relationship with Adrien since I joined the team, we train together regularly. He brought me a lot in the classics, Paris-Roubaix is his race and his knowledge will be valuable to us. »
Paris-Roubaix:
Madis Mihkels
Hugo Page
Adrien Petit
Baptiste Planckaert
Laurenz Rex
Mike Teunissen
Sports Directors:
Aike Visbeek
Steven De Neef
Bart Wellens
Frame
: CUBE Litening Aero C68:X®
Handlebars
: CUBE Integrated ICR Cockpit System
Handlebar
tape : Prologo Onetouch 3D
Bike
computer : Bryton S800
Groupset :
Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 R9270
Crankset :
Shimano Dura-Ace FC-9200-P Powermeter
Pedals :
Look Kéo Blade Carbon Ceramic Ti
Wheels :
NEWMEN Advanced SL R.42
Tires :
Continental GP5000 AS 32mm
Tubeless
system : Effetto Mariposa Caffélatex rim strips, valves, sealant
Saddle : Prologo
Bottle cages: Elite Vico Carbon
CUBE Litening C:68X set up
The entire selection will race Paris-Roubaix on their CUBE Litening C:68X Aero model with NEWMEN Advanced SL R42 wheels. Just like in the GP de Denain, the robust wheels will be equipped with larger 32mm Continental GP5000 AS tires for better comfort on the cobbles. The tubeless system from Effetto Mariposa and tire pressure in function of the individual characteristics of the riders were tested one last time during the two training sessions on the parcours of the Monument in the days before the race.
The bike set ups also differ in terms of gearings and handlebar tape. Prologo introduced the first 3D handlebar tape on the market, designed to ensure maximum control of the bike and to face all the most challenging terrains with confidence and comfort. The innovation introduced by Prologo in saddles and gloves, with the patented CPC technology to increase grip and vibration absorption, is also used on handlebar tapes thanks to a new three-dimensional technology that distinguishes the latest Onetouch 3D model.
