Team LottoNL-Jumbo starts with nearly the same squad in Paris-Roubaix this Sunday as it had in the Tour of Flanders. The only difference is that Twan Castelijns replaces Bram Tankink, who isn’t recovered enough from his crash in Flanders. Sep Vanmarcke, after placing third in Flanders, is Team LottoNL-Jumbo’s front man again.

“It’s a pity that Bram Tankink isn’t able to start,” Sports Director Nico Verhoeven said before the Hell of the North. “Bram has a lot of experience, but it’s also important that you are a 100 per cent fit -- and Twan Castelijns is.”

Team LottoNL-Jumbo is looking forward to the race in northern France confidently after Vanmarcke’s Flanders ride. “What we learned from Sunday is that Sep was one of the best in the race,” Verhoeven continued. “And the race didn't go so smoothly with two crashes and a bike change. Besides that, Paris-Roubaix might suit him even better than the Tour of Flanders.”

Vanmarcke is ready for the 257.5-kilometre monument. “With the last weeks in mind, I feel confident and I'm looking forward to this race,” he said. “I want to play a key role another time to deliver another great result.”

Rain

Paris-Roubaix might turn out into a very selective race because of the weather forecast. “If it’s raining, there will be a selection earlier,” Verhoeven added. “It’s going to be harder. The riders’ helpers will fade away earlier so it will be a man-against-man-situation even more. I think that Mike Teunissen secretly laughs about those circumstances. He raced cyclo-cross in the past and is a former winner in the Under 23 version Roubaix. He might surprise everyone this year.”

Vanmarcke’s choice

Sep Vanmarcke’s choice for Paris-Roubaix is the Bianchi Infinito CV. This is the bike he rode to third place last weekend in the Tour of Flanders. Infinito CV is the best endurance racing machine to tackle the cobbles of the Northern Classics. Infinito CV is engineered with the exclusive use of Countervail® vibration cancelling technology. Countervail® is a patented viscoelastic carbon material with a unique fiber architecture that cancels up to 80% of vibrations while increasing the stiffness and strength of Infinito CV’s frame and fork. Maximized are the rider control and the handling while muscle fatigue is reduced. At the same time the peak power output on long distances is increased. Endurance Racing geometry provides higher head tube, longer chain stays and longer wheelbase to guarantee maximum performance with minimum stress for the rider.

Line-up:

Sep Vanmarcke, Maarten Wynants, Maarten Tjallingii, Twan Castelijns, Timo Roosen, Mike Teunissen, Robert Wagner and Tom van Asbroeck.

Sports Directors:

Nico Verhoeven and Jan Boven.