119th Paris-Roubaix - "Vagabond" Degenkolb wants to attack in the Hell of the North

By Christoph Sicars, dpa

Of all places, John Degenkolb has been billeted in his home town of Oberursel ahead of his season highlight.

"My whole family caught the coronavirus last week. That's why I'm travelling a bit like a vagabond and can't go home," the 33-year-old professional cyclist told the German Press Agency with a laugh. In preparation for his declared favourite race, Paris-Roubaix, on Easter Sunday, he was forced to improvise.

Due to the tense situation at home, Degenkolb left the Tour of Flanders after the first weekend in April to train in Mallorca - and from there straight to the Dutch Amstel Gold Race, which he finished 47th on Sunday in only his second participation since 2011. "This week I'll be in Cologne near my team-mate Nikias Arndt and we'll prepare for Paris-Roubaix together," said Degenkolb. From there we will head to northern France.

"Very special bond"

The prestigious spring classic is taking place for the 119th time - the annual highlight of the racing calendar for Degenkolb. "It's definitely my favourite race and I have a very special bond with it," he said of the "Queen of the Classics". Two Germans have won the cycling monument to date: Bavarian Josef Fischer won the inaugural edition in 1896, followed by Thuringian-born Degenkolb in 2015 in the time-honoured velodrome in Roubaix. Three years later, the DSM pro, then wearing the jersey of the Trek-Segafredo team, won stage 9 of the Tour de France right in front of the velodrome. After that, things became quieter around Degenkolb.

Since the beginning of the season, the family man has been under contract again with the Dutch DSM team, for whom he won the Italian one-day race Milan-Sanremo in 2015 under the name Giant-Alpecin shortly before Roubaix. Seven years later, Degenkolb is a long way away from successes of this calibre. He missed Sanremo this year due to a cold. In the 257.2 kilometre ride through the northern French coal region, he would at least like to be among the front runners.

Top favourite van der Poel

"I count myself among the riders who can finish in the top 10. If more is possible, that would be mega cool. But I'm also realistic enough to know that the very front will be really tough," emphasised Degenkolb. In any case, his new team believes in the veteran's strength. "He comes from the Flemish classics and is in really good form. We can expect a super-motivated John when we start on Sunday," said DSM coach Phil West.

For Degenkolb, however, "the absolute top favourite" for victory is the Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel. "We don't need to discuss that at all," he said, but added: "It's not a race like any other and you shouldn't be surprised if someone who hasn't shown anything at the front is at the front at the end. That has often been the case in recent years."

Politt confident

This could apply to Nils Politt, for example. The 28-year-old wants to be back at the front in the spring classic after struggling with bronchitis recently. "I'm hopeful that I'll be in good shape," the Bora-hansgrohe pro told the "Rheinische Post". The race was postponed by a week due to the presidential elections in France. "I feel better from race to race and it suits me that Paris-Roubaix is a little later," he said. In 2019, the rider from Cologne finished the race in second place behind Belgian winner Philippe Gilbert.

An ordeal awaits Politt, Degenkolb and his colleagues through the French north with the 30 dreaded cobblestone sections over a total of 55 kilometres. The dirt tracks with the so-called pavés lead to countless knocks on the wrists. Degenkolb said a few years ago that he couldn't even open a bottle for several days afterwards. At least when he is allowed to be with his loved ones again after the race, his wife Laura could do this for him.

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