Ride London winner Adam Blythe part of the Orica GreenEdge team for Paris-Roubaix this Weekend
![]() |
Adam Blythe for Paris-Roubiax
Matthew Hayman to lead ORICA-GreenEDGE in his 14th Paris-Roubaix
“It’s like trying to do a maximum effort whilst someone is standing there shaking your bike as hard as they possibly can.â€
The famous Paris-Roubaix, or ‘Hell of the North’ as it is so rightly nicknamed, will fulfill the dreams of some and shatter those of others this Sunday, courtesy of the 27 cobbled or ‘pavé’ sectors sport director Matt Wilson tries to find the words to describe.
The third of five monuments, also known as the Queen of the Classics, is as unique as a bike race gets with 52.7km of cobblestones before those who make it through complete the 253.3km course on the famous velodrome of Roubaix.
For road captain Matthew Hayman, it’s as good as it gets on the bike. The 36-year-old, who has twice finished in the top ten (2011 & 2012), will lead ORICA-GreenEDGE in his 14th attempt this weekend, a role hard-earned by so many crucial support responsibilities throughout each season.
“Mat Hayman will be our outright leader on Sunday,†Wilson said. “He is feeling very good this year, it’s one of the better years he has had form wise which is great as he comes into his last couple of opportunities to do this race.â€
“Paris-Roubaix is a race that always throws up some surprises. Every few years you get a surprise winner or podium up there. “It’s one of those years and Mat Hayman is one of those guys that could find himself on the podium.â€
In support, Hayman has a mix of experience and youth that will prove critical to his day. Mitch Docker, Jens Keukeleire and Jens Mouris will each ride their sixth edition of the race, whilst Australian Luke Durbridge (3rd), New Zealand’s Sam Bewley (2nd) and British rider Adam Blythe (2nd) will also benefit from previous rides.
“We have guys who have roles early in the race, through the middle of the race and towards the end of the race,†Wilson explains. “The guys that will help towards the end will be semi-protected in the early stages to make sure they come onto the final sectors in good enough shape to be able to help him.â€
“A big part of Paris-Roubaix is just being there when they do have inevitable punctures or problems, to help them back on or to give them a wheel. It is quite a simple role sometimes and if they miss the split it can also be quite a hard and demanding role. “We have a good team for that. They showed at Flanders they are all going well and riding well together as a team so hopefully we will have a good day.â€
Completing the team, Danish neo-pro Magnus Cort will make his Paris-Roubaix debut in his first year riding for the Australian outfit. “The sectors and the carnage that occurs when you hit them is the biggest eye-opener for a debutant,†Wilson said. “You just don’t expect it.â€Â “If you have done the Tour of Flanders and racing in Belgium you know the sectors are hard but they are a different thing in Paris-Roubaix.
“They are in much worse condition and the relentlessness of the next sector to come is always there.â€
But for all the stress and carnage of the journey, Paris-Roubaix is one race where just crossing the finish line can be a fairytale. “It’s just such an epic race,†Wilson said. “You are going to have punctures, you are going to have crashes and you are going to have problems.
“You spend a lot of time in your own little world and then you come up to this mythical track at the end of the race that everyone dreams of riding into at one stage or another.â€
ORICA-GreenEDGE at the Paris-Roubaix (12 April):
Sam Bewley
Adam Blythe
Magnus Cort
Mitch Docker
Luke Durbridge
Mathew Hayman
Jens Keukeleire
Jens Mouris
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- Result: Beverley Town Centre Races
- Hill Climb Championships: Change of Course
- Crit Result: Portsmouth Evening Circuits 11
- Crit Result: RCR FatCreations Goodwood Summer Special
- UK Armed Forces Inter-services Road Race
- Report: TLI Cycling ‘Belgium Training Series
- BMCR RESULT: The Ron Day MK Bowl Circuit races (July 23rd)
- RR Result: Bath RC Junior National Series Road Race
- Crit Result: West Thames League 15
- Crit Result: SACA Salt Ayre Tuesday Series 15
- Crit Result: Bath CC Mid Summer Series 2
- Crit Result: Full Gas Summer Circuit Series #17
- TT Result: Ross-On-Wye & Dist CC 25m TT
- TT Result: Ross-On-Wye & Dist CC 10m TT
- TT Result: Kernow Racing Team 10m TT
- News: Men’s Tour of Britain Route (Stage 1 & 2)
- Youth Result: RL360 Isle of Man Youth League 14
- TT Result: Verulam Cycling Club 25m TT
- TT Result: Manchester & District Ladies CA 25m TT
- TT Result: Ferryhill Wheelers CC 25m TT
- Crit Result: Banbury Star Crit Series #2
- RR Result: Lakes Road Club Summer Road Race
- National Circuit Series: Colne
- TT Result: Kings Lynn CC 15m TT
- TT Result: ECCA 10 mile Time Trial
- TT Result: Chorley Cycling Club 10m TT
- TT Result: Houghton CC 25m TT
- TT Result: Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers 10m TT
- TT Result: Farnham RC 10m TT
- Crit Result: King&Queen of the Bowl Series #13
- TT Result: Kernow Racing Team 10m TT
- Crit Result: Lichfield/Velospeed No Frills at Curborough #7
- TT Result: Swindon RC & Swindon Wh 50m TT
- Crit News: Spatzwear Friday Night Crit Series #6 | YBC
- GB News: Paracycling Squad for Paris 2024
- Crit Result: Thanks Crit it’s Friday 7
- Crit Result: Omega Portsmouth Circuits 6
- Result: BMCR National Road Bike TT Championship
- Crit Result: Ride Revolution Coaching Summer Crits #2
- Crit Result: Shutt Velo Rapide Hitters Crits Rd2
Other News on VeloUK
- Hill Climb Championships: Change of Course
- TT Result: Ross-On-Wye & Dist CC 25m TT
- News: Men’s Tour of Britain Route (Stage 1 & 2)
- GB News: Paracycling Squad for Paris 2024
- Ribble Redefines Road with launch of Allroad
- BMCR: National Road Bike Time Trial Championship
- SUNDAY: Bath Road Club Junior National Series Road Race
- TLI CYCLING FEATURE: SUPER4SERIES
- NATIONAL CIRCUIT SERIES UPDATE 2024
- News: Josh Tarling Extends Contract at Ineos
- Tour of Britain for Men 2024
- News: Connor Swift Extends Contract with Ineos
- Updated GB Olympic Team News
- Sunday: 2024 Youth Circuit Race Championships (Cyclopark)
- ROBBED BY THE HIGHWAYS AGENCY – National Highways
- Startlist: BMCR National Road Championships E/F/G/H
- OLYMPIC NEWS – Team GB Announces First Riders for Olympics
- News: Alex Richardson Retires
- New Releases from Shutt Velo Rapide
- STARTLIST: Men’s British Road Race Championships
- STARTLIST: 2024 Women’s British Road Race Championships
- Startlist: 2024 CAMS Yorkshire Classic Road Races
- Startlists: 2024 Circuit Race Championships
- Startlist: CAMS Ronde van Wymeswold
- Startlists & 2023 Results: National Time Trial Championships
- NEWS: Star Studded Line Up for National Road Champs
- Riders so far: London Dynamo Summer Road Races
- Women’s Tour of Britain Startlist (provisional)
- News: Lincoln winner hit by car
- Entries Wanted: Ilkley Cycles Races
- GB Team Named for Women’s Tour of Britain
- STARTLISTS: NW, Yorkshire & NE Regional RR Championships
- Startlists: East Midlands Road Race Championships
- News: Ribble Rebellion Race USA’s Armed Forces Cycling Classic
- TT Result: Legato Racing Team 10m TT
- Pre-Race Rider Quotes: Ford RideLondon Classique
- STARTLIST: Witham Wheelers Road Races
- Team News: Tour of Britain for Alba Development RT
- Startlist: Totnes Vire 2024
- Starters: NW Junior/U23 360cycling Two Day