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
- Crit Result: Crystal Palace Crits 4
- News: British UCI Teams in Women’s Tour of Britain
- Youth Result: East & Central Youth Circuit Series (Scotland)
- TT Result: Mid Devon CC 10m TT
- Crit Result: Portsmouth Evening Circuits 6
- TT Result: Ferryhill Wheelers 20m TT
- Youth Result: IOM RL360 Youth League 6
- British Road Championships 2024 – The Courses
- Crit Result: Full Gas Summer Series #6
- Youth Result: White Rose Youth League
- TLI Cycling Result: Cheshire Series Week 2
- Crit Result: Lotus Cars Cycle Race League 2
- RR Result: Bec CC Road Race
- Crit Result: Crystal Palace Crits 3
- TT Result: VC Venta 10m TT
- Youth Result: Spring in the Park #2 (Cyclopark)
- TT Result: VC Bristol 10m TT
- TT Result: Leo 30 mile TT
- TT Result: Velo Club Cumbria 10m TT
- TT Result: Anerley BC 10m TT
- TT Result: WCTTCA 10m TT
- TT Result: Mid Shropshire Wheelers 50m TT
- TT Result: Dukinfield CC 50m TT
- TT Result: Newbury RC 25m TT
- TT Result: Team Milton Keynes 20m TT
- Crit Result: West Thames Circuit Race League 5
- Crit Result: Salt Ayre Tuesday Series 5
- Crit Result: Ride Flux Spring Crit series #6
- Crit Result: Tameside Circuit Races (Rd 5)
- Startlist: Proper Northern RR Series 3 (Aughton)
- Crit Result: Some Enchanted Evenings 4
- Crit Result: Castle Combe Summer Series 2
- Crit Result: Hull Thursday RC Circuit Races
- Crit Result: King&Queen of the Bowl Series #3
- Crit Result: Spatzwear Friday Night Crit Series #1 | YBC
- Crit Result: West Lothian Grand Prix
- Entry List: BUCS Road Race Championships 2024
- Crit Result: Full Gas Spring Cup Series 4
- RR Result: Halesowen A&CC Road Race
- RR Result: Sloan Trophy Road Race
Other News on VeloUK
- News: British UCI Teams in Women’s Tour of Britain
- British Road Championships 2024 – The Courses
- Startlist: Proper Northern RR Series 3 (Aughton)
- Entry List: BUCS Road Race Championships 2024
- News: Stage 4 Route for Womens Tour of Britain
- Women’s Tour of Britain: Stage 3 Route
- STARTLIST: BEC CC National B (May 12)
- TT Result: New Forest CC 33m TT
- Events: BikeStow 3-day returns in 2024
- News: Tour of Britain (Women)
- News: Luke Rowe to Retire end of season
- STARTLIST: Sloan Trophy Road Race 2024
- Startlist: Yorkshire Under 23 Classic
- STARTLIST: Timmy James Memorial & Witham Hall Grand Prix RRs
- News: Pedal Club Lunch (April)
- STARTLIST: Youth & Junior Isle of Man Tour
- Startlists: Lincoln Grand Prix
- Startlists: Southend Wheelers Road Races
- Startlist: Tiverton Junior Nat Series Road Races
- Startlist: Harrogate Nova Spring Road Races
- Startlist: PNE National B RR
- STARTLIST: BUCS 10 TT (University Championships)
- Events: 18th Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic Route
- Events: Nigel Harrop Memorial Road Race
- This weekend: 18th CiCLE Classic UCI 1.2
- Events: SSSCCRRL Road Race League
- Ribble Collective: Ride More in ’24
- Startlist: The Drummond Trophy
- EVENTS: Proper Northern Road Races – Round 2 Oakenclough
- Events: Dave Peck Memorial
- News: Women’s Tour of Britain
- Startlist: PB Performance Espoirs Road Race
- East Cleveland Classic: Saint Piran Team
- News: New kit for Ribble Rebellion Riders
- Events: Halesowen Friday Track Nights
- Team News: Ribble Rebellion off to the USA
- News: Pedal Club Lunch (March)
- Rider News: Winning start for Billy Ladle
- News: CiCLE Classic 2024
- Startlist: Stars of the SW Men’s U23 RR