The Classics

['Dale]

Sunday's race was different to last year and was harder on the body. Mentally I'm fresh and so well see what happens."

"Everyone is different and I've always chosen to do this race. Tomorrow we'll study the cobbles of Northern France and hold a press conference. Sunday will come fast."

 

Spartacus

['Dale]

"I hope we can make it. It's a nice goal but we don't want to put ourselves under pressure. We're here for the win and we want to win but we'll have to see how it works out. It's us against the rest and I hope it works out,"

 

Kittel

['Dale]

The 200km route for the race includes a 152km loop of northern Flanders, before three laps of a 16.4km finishing circuit. The finish line is in Schoten.

['Dale]

Marcel Kittel (Giant-Shimano) wears number one after winning in 2012 and 2013. He's keen to complete a hat-trick today. He tweeted this morning:

"Scheldeprijs today! I'm excited and looking forward to it. Looks like a nice day in the sun. See you at the start!"

['Dale]

Before the start of the race, the 1947 winner Rene Mertens was remembered with a minutes silence after recently passing away.

[tombeej]

Taylor Phinney on Paris Roubaix:

 

“It’s always been about Roubaix, largely because I just feel like it’s the most dramatic one of all. It’s the one race I can watch from 150km to go and be standing in front of the TV the whole time.

 

“Roubaix is all about power, and being able to recover from big efforts. It’s about being a hard-man….”

 

“... No guy that has won Roubaix or even come close to winning Roubaix is a wimp.”

 

From the March 27 issue of Cycling Weekly magazine (UK).

['Dale]

The break has lost close to two minutes but there's a logical explanation: They were stopped at a level crossing. The peloton will also be stopped and so the break will regain its four-minute lead.

['Dale]

During the delay, the peloton was held back just before the level crossing.

['Dale]

All the riders are back up to speed and the break of six riders is working smoothly together.

['Dale]

The peloton is rolling along at a steady pace, with many of the big names enjoying a chat in the warm, dry conditions.

['Dale]

85 kms to go!

['Dale]

FDJ.fr is also doing its share of the work on the front of the peloton. The boys is blue are protecting Arnaud Demare's interests. He is a real contender for the sprint finish.

['Dale]

Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky) is riding today but he dismissed reports in Gazzetta dello Sport that he might ride the Giro d'Italia.

 

['Dale]

Belkin and Giant-Shimano is also helping the chase at the head of the peloton. There is little chance for the breakaway today.

['Dale]

Both Theo Bos (Belkin) and Marcel Kittel (Giant-Shimano) are at the back of the peloton after dropping back to their team cars.

['Dale]

Jurgen Roelandts isn't riding Scheldeprijs. The Lotto Belisol rider crashed out of Flanders at the weekend