26 years that France has been waiting for a home winner on the Hell of the North.
Twenty-six years after Frédéric Guesdon’s victory in 1997, France is still waiting for his successor on the Paris-Roubaix list. If they are not among the favourites, several riders can dream of creating a surprise this year.
In the logical absence of climbers like David Gaudu, Thibaut Pinot or Romain Bardet, ill-suited to the cobblestones, as well as Julian Alaphilippe and Valentin Madouas, already turned towards the Ardennes, the eyes will be fixed first on Christophe Laporte, irresistible since the beginning of spring. Groupama-FDJ sprinter Arnaud Démare also withdrew on Friday because he felt he was physically impaired.
Christophe Laporte, the fit man
At 30, the Var from Jumbo-Visma is in the shape of his life. Winner of his first two classics at the end of March in Ghent-Wevelgem and Across Flanders, he remains in 14th place in the Tour of Flanders. And he is comfortable on the cobbles, as proven by his sixth place in 2021 in the colors of Cofidis, despite a broken rear brake, which forced him to brake the wheel with his … sole. However, he will first serve his leader Wout Van Aert in a team that also has the outgoing winner, Dylan van Baarle, in its ranks. But Paris-Roubaix is the most unpredictable race of the year where anything can happen permanently (fall, puncture, breakage of equipment,…) and Laporte could take advantage of the circumstances to come and plant his flag.
Florian Sénéchal, the regional stage
When Paris-Roubaix approaches, the senses of the Northerner awaken. Born in Cambrai, the Soudal-Quick Step runner knows the roads of the Hell of the North by heart. Winning here, twelve years after his victory in juniors, is the dream of his life. And he has the build, with a physique cut out for the cobblestone classics, and the experience. At 29, this will already be his 9th participation for four Top 20, including a sixth place in 2019. But he will have to rev up compared to a disappointing start to the season. Forced to abandon the Tour of Flanders because of intestinal pain last Sunday, like Laporte he will have a leader to protect in the person of Dane Kasper Asgreen.
Anthony Turgis, the Monument Hunter
The 28-year-old from Ile-de-France will compete in his fourth Paris-Roubaix where he finished 13th in 2021 and 18th in 2019. Two fine places of honor, but the TotalEnergies rider has so far mainly distinguished himself on the first two Monuments of the year, Milan-Sanremo (2nd in 2022) and the Tour of Flanders, from which he again took a fine 17th place on Sunday despite a succession of problems (fall, exploded tire, etc.). If he manages to escape the glitches, he will have a shot to play within a workforce of which he will be the trump card.