Paris-Roubaix preview: Terpstra, Wiggins and Kristoff vying for victory

Sir Bradley Wiggins will look to draw his Team Sky career to a close on Sunday with victory in the most challenging and prestigious one-day race in cycling, Paris-Roubaix.

The 253.5km marathon is the third of the season’s five Monuments and is also known as the “Hell of the North” thanks to its unique test of endurance, bike-handlings skills and sheer will to win.

The most difficult aspect of the race is its centuries-old, bone-rattling cobbled roads, or pavé, as they are known in France, which this year make up 52.7km of the route and are spread over 27 sectors.

Paris-Roubaix will be Wiggins' final appearance for Team Sky before leaving to begin his preparations for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio with his new team, WIGGINS.

Here’s what you need to know about Sunday’s race…

THE ROUTE

Although it’s called Paris-Roubaix, the race doesn’t actually start in Paris. Instead it begins in Compiegne, 50 miles north of the capital, and ends in Roubaix, a town just outside Lille, close to the border with Belgium.

The first 98.5km amble along relatively gently on asphalt roads, but then the “hell” begins with the first cobbled sector, from Troisvilles to Inchy. The cobbles come thick and fast afterwards, but there are three sectors in particular – all rated five out of five stars in difficulty – that are especially challenging and could have a pivotal say on the outcome of the race. They are:

- Trouee d’Arenberg (158km-160.4km): Translating as the Trench of Arenberg, this arrow-straight road cuts through the Arenberg forest and is one of the roughest sectors on the whole route. Locals plough the roadside verges to prevent racers riding on the smoother mud, and a high speed leading on to the sector means crashes are rife. There are still almost 100km to go after this sector but any riders distanced here could find there is no way back.

- Mons-en-Pevele (204.5km-207.5km): The race is now entering a key phase and it is here, with just under 50km to go, where what is left of the peloton could well get blown to pieces. A series of sharp turns exacerbate the challenge of what is already a hugely demanding sector.

- Carrefour de l’Arbre (236.5km-238.6km): An iconic and potentially crucial stretch of cobbles, it arrives with only 16.5km remaining and could have a significant say in who wins the race. Again, some of the most uneven cobbles on the route are found here.

Once over the cobbles, the race ends with one and a half laps of the outdoor Roubaix Velodrome. There might be a lone leader at this point, as there was in 2014, or there could be a handful of riders who will sprint for victory on the boards.

THE FAVOURITES

Niki Terpstra (Etixx – Quick-Step)
Last year’s winner appears to be in prime form after narrowly missing out on victory at the Tour of Flanders last Sunday, which was his third second-place finish of this year’s classics. The Dutchman won solo last year and will be the man to beat this time around. Sky Bet odds: 8/1

Alexander Kristoff (Katusha)
The powerful Norwegian is in the best form of his career after winning the Tour of Flanders last Sunday and Scheldeprijs on Wednesday  – his 10th and 11th wins of the season. He has proved himself to be adept over cobbles and has one of the fastest finishes in the sport should the race come down to a sprint. Sky Bet odds: 4/1

Sir Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky)
Wiggins has not yet shown any form this season to suggest he can win Paris-Roubaix but there are few sportspeople who rise to the big occasion quite like Wiggins does. He also showed virtually no form ahead of last year’s race and ended up finishing ninth. Sky Bet odds: 15/2

John Degenkolb (Giant-Alpecin)
Degenkolb has similar credentials to Kristoff. He has good form having won Milan-San Remo last month, and he is another sprinter who can conquer the cobbles. Finished second last year. Sky Bet odds: 15/2

Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo)
It has been a frustrating season for Sagan, who still only has one win, but an improved performance on previous weeks at the Tour of Flanders on Sunday suggested he could be coming into form. Sixth last year. Sky Bet odds: 12/1

THE OUTSIDERS

Geraint Thomas (Team Sky)
The Welshman will start the race as chief support rider to Wiggins but should his team-mate’s challenge falter, he could come to the fore. Won E3 Harelbeke and finished third at Gent-Wevelgem, but wasn’t at his best at the Tour of Flanders. Sky Bet odds: 10/1

Zdenek Stybar (Etixx – Quick-Step)
Stybar is Etixx – Quick-Step’s Plan B should Terpstra fall by the wayside. Winner of Strade Bianche last month, the Czech has proven pedigree at Paris-Roubaix having finished sixth in 2013 and fifth last year. Sky Bet odds: 7/1

Sep Vanmarcke (LottoNL-Jumbo)
Second in 2013 and fourth last year, Vanmarcke appears to be on the verge of a Paris-Roubaix victory. However, the Dutchman has been short of form so far in the spring classics and has ground to make up on his rivals. Sky Bet odds: 8/1

Greg van Avermaet (BMC Racing)
The Belgian finished third at the Tour of Flanders and second at Strade Bianche but his form during the classics has been otherwise inconsistent. Finished fourth last year. Sky Bet odds: 14/1

Lars Boom (Astana)
The Dutchman finished sixth in 2012 and also showed his pedigree over cobbles by winning the cobbled stage of last year’s Tour de France. Showed promising form at the Tour of Flanders, where he finished sixth. Sky Bet odds: 14/1

BRIT WATCH

Adam Blythe (Orica-GreenEdge).
Andy Fenn (Team Sky).
Luke Rowe (Team Sky).
Ian Stannard (Team Sky).
Geraint Thomas (Team Sky).
Scott Thwaites (Bora-Argon 18).
Sir Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky).

PREVIOUS WINNERS

2014: Niki Terpstra (Ned).
2013: Fabian Cancellara (Sui).
2012: Tom Boonen (Bel).
2011: Johan Vansummeren (Bel).
2010: Fabian Cancellara (Sui).
2009: Tom Boonen (Bel).
2008: Tom Boonen (Bel).
2007: Stuart O’Grady (Aus).
2006: Fabian Cancellara (Sui).
2005: Tom Boonen (Bel).

WHAT THEY SAY…

Geraint Thomas
“The main thing is all of us getting into that last 50km in the best shape and position possible and then making decisions from there. The important thing is to always be on the front foot and that a Team Sky rider ends up on the top step of the podium.”

Sir Bradley Wiggins
“In the 1990s sprinters would never get to the end in Roubaix. [Erik] Zabel was one of the few, but now Degenkolb was second last year, and Kristoff could do either. You don’t want to be taking guys like that to the finish. We would have to go from a small group or alone.”

Alexander Kristoff
“If you see my results here I was never really in the front. I was ninth here one year and that was the best. I must make a step up so hopefully it’s enough for this race. It’s a big race and it’s a Monument, so of course I am motivated. I think that everybody will be motivated for this race. It’s a legendary race and of course they want to win it.”
Source: www.cyclingnews.com

THE TEAMS

AG2R-LA MONDIALE 
Country: France. Status: WorldTour
Team: Johan Vansummeren (Bel), Sebastien Turgot (Fra), Damien Gaudin (Fra), Sebastien Minard (Fra), Hugo Houle (Can), Alexis Gougeard (Fra), Maxime Daniel (Fra), Gediminas Bagdonas (Ltn).

ASTANA 
Country: Kazakhstan. Status: WorldTour
Team: Lars Boom (Ned), Ruslan Tleubayev (Kaz), Borut Bozic (Slo), Laurens de Vreese (Bel), Lieuwe Westra (Ned), Maxat Azabayev (Kaz), Danil Fominykh (Kaz), Dmitriy Gruzdev (Kaz).

BMC RACING
Country: United States. Status: WorldTour
Team: Daniel Oss (Ita), Manuel Quinziato (Ita), Michael Schar (Sui), Greg van Avermaet (Bel), Jean-Pierre Drucker (Lux), Marcus Burghardt (Ger), Stefan Kung (Sui), Rick Zabel (Ger).

BORA-ARGON 18 
Country: Germany. Status: Pro Continental
Team: Bjorn Thurau (Ger), Ralf Matzka (Ger), Shane Archbold (NZ), Zakkari Dempster (NZ), Christoph Pfingsten (Ger), Andreas Schillinger (Ger), Michael Schwarzmann (Ger), Scott Thwaites (GB).

BRETAGNE-SECHE ENVIRONNEMENT 
Country: France. Status: Pro Continental
Team: Benoit Jarrier (Fra), Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr), Dan McLay (GB), Christophe Laborie (Fra), Pierre-Luc Perichon (Fra), Frederic Brun (Fra), Kevin Ledanois (Fra), Matthieu Boulo (Fra).

CANNONDALE-GARMIN
Country: United States. Status: WorldTour
Team: Alan Marangoni (Ita), Kristoffer Skjerping (Nor), Ruben Zepuntke (Ger), Kristijan Koren (Slo), Dylan van Baarle (Ned), Jack Bauer (NZ), Sebastian Langeveld (Ned), Lasse Norman Hansen (Den).

COFIDIS 
Country: France. Status: Pro Continental
Team: Cyril Lemoine (Fra), Gert Joeaar (Est), Adrien Petit (Fra), Floran Senechal (Fra), Jonas Ahlstrand (Swe), Kenneth Vanbilsen (Bel), Michael van Staeyen (Bel).

ETIXX – QUICK-STEP
Country: Belgium. Status: WorldTour
Team: Niki Terpstra (Ned), Zdenek Stybar (Cze), Guillaume van Keirsbulck (Bel), Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel), Matteo Trentin (Ita), Iljo Keisse (Bel), Yves Lampaert (Bel), Nikolas Maes (Bel).

Europcar 
Country: France. Status: Pro Continental
Team: Alexandre Pichot (Fra), Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra), Antoine Duschesne (Can), Yohann Gene (Fra), Vincent Jerome (Fra), Yannick Martinez (Fra), Julien Morice (Fra), Morgan Lamoisson (Fra).

FDJ.FR
Country: France. Status: WorldTour
Team: Arnaud Demare (Fra), Matthieu Ladagnous (Fra), William Bonnet (Fra), David Boucher (Bel), Yoann Offredo (Fra), Mickael Delage (Fra), Murilo Fischer (Bra), Marc Sarreau (Fra).

GIANT-ALPECIN
Country: Germany. Status: WorldTour
Team: John Degenkolb (Ger), Nikias Arndt (Ger), Roy Curvers (Ned), Koen de Kort (Ned), Albert Timmer (Ned), Bert de Backer (Bel), Ramon Sinkeldam (Ned), Tom Stamsnijder (Ned).

IAM CYCLING
Country: Switzerland. Status: WorldTour
Team: Sylvain Chavanel (Fra), Heinrich Hassler (Aus), Jerome Pineau (Fra), Matthias Brandle (Aut), Roger Kluge (Ger), Martin Elmiger (Sui), Aleksejs Saramotins (Lat), Jonas van Genechten (Bel).

KATUSHA
Country: Russia. Status: WorldTour
Team: Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita), Marco Haller (Aut), Alexander Kristoff (Nor), Viacheslav Kuznetsov (Rus), Luca Paolini (Ita), Aleksandr Porsev (Rus), Rudi Selig (Ger), Gatis Smukulis (Lat).

LAMPRE-MERIDA
Country: Italy. Status: WorldTour
Team: Filippo Pozzato (Ita), Niccolo Bonifazio (Ita), Davide Cimolai (Ita), Manuele Mori (Ita), Ariel Richeze (Arg), Nelson Oliveira (Por), Chun Kai Feng (Tai), Luka Pibernik (Slo).

LOTTONL-JUMBO
Country: Netherlands. Status: WorldTour
Team: Maarten Tjallingii (Ned), Rick Flens (Ned), Bram Tankink (Ned), Tom Leezer (Ned), Robert Wagner (Ger), Sep Vanmarcke (Bel), Tom van Asbroeck (Bel), Maarten Wynants (Bel).

LOTTO SOUDAL
Country: Belgium. Status: WorldTour
Team: Jurgen Roelandts (Bel), Andre Greipel (Ger), Jens Debusschere (Bel), Lars Bak (Den), Tiesj Benoot (Bel), Stig Broeckx (Bel), Sean de Bie (Bel), Marcel Sieberg (Ger).

MOVISTAR
Country: Spain. Status: WorldTour
Team: Imanol Erviti (Esp), Jose Joaquin Rojas (Esp), John Gadret (Fra), Jesus Herrada (Esp), Adriano Malori (Ita), Enrique Sanz (Esp), Jasha Suitterlin (Ger), Fran Ventoso (Esp).

MTN-QHUBEKA 
Country: South Africa. Status: Pro Continental
Team: Matt Brammeier (Irl), Tyler Farrar (USA), Theo Bos (Ned), Gerald Ciolek (Ger), Matt Goss (Aus), Reinardt Janse van Rensburg (RSA), Andreas Stauff (Ger), Jay Robert Thomson (RSA).

ORICA-GREENEDGE
Country: Australia. Status: WorldTour
Team: Jens Keukeleire (Bel), Mathew Hayman (Aus), Luke Durbridge (Aus), Sam Bewley (NZ), Adam Blythe (GB), Jens Mouris (Ned), Magnus Cort (Den), Mitchell Docker (Aus).

TEAM SKY
Country: Great Britain. Status: WorldTour
Team: Sir Bradley Wiggins (GB), Geraint Thomas (GB), Ian Stannard (GB), Luke Rowe (GB), Andy Fenn (GB), Christian Knees (Ger), Bernhard Eisel (Aut), Salvatore Puccio (Ita).

TINKOFF-SAXO
Country: Russia. Status: WorldTour
Team: Peter Sagan (Svk), Nikolay Trusov (Rus), Michael Morkov (Den), Matti Breschel (Den), Matteo Tosatto (Ita), Maciej Bodnar (Pol), Chris Juul-Jensen (Den), Pavel Brutt (Rus).

TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN-BALOISE
Country: Belgium. Status: Pro Continental
Team: Jelle Wallays (Bel), Tim de Clerq (Bel), Edward Theuns (Bel), Gijs van Hoecke (Bel), Stijn Steels (Bel), Oliver Naesen (Bel), Pieter Vanspeybrouck (Bel), Jarl Salomein (Bel).

TREK FACTORY RACING
Country: United States. Status: WorldTour
Team: To follow…

UNITEDHEALTHCARE
Country: United States. Status: Pro Continental
Team: Robert Forster (Ger), Davide Frattini (Ita), Chris Jones (USA), Alessando Bazzana (Ita), Daniel Summerhill (USA), John Murphy (USA), Tanner Putt (USA), Frederic Zurlo (Ita).

WANTY-GROUPE GOBERT
Country: Belgium. Status: Pro Continental
Team: Bjorn Leukemans (Bel), Marco Marcato (Ita), Frederik Backaert (Bel), Tim de Troyer (Bel), Kevin van Melsen (Bel), Tom Devriendt (Bel), Simone Antonini (Ita), James Vanlandschoot (Bel).