“I think I was born for this race”

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1. The first stone. At Paris-Roubaix, the winner does not receive a trophy, but a cobblestone. When I first took part in 2004, I had a hunch: this race suits me. Two years later I won for the first time. The victory stone weighs between 12 and 16 kilograms, and because I had cramps in my legs and arms, I could hardly hold it up.

2. A big mistake. After Paris-Roubaix, everyone usually only wants one thing: to go home. But after my win in 2006, we did something extraordinary: we called our hotel in Belgium, where we stayed the night before. And indeed: they still had room for our team – that was about 30 people. We had a good time that evening, ate, drank and partied. Many today still think I smelled a cheroot in the photo – but it’s a waffle tube with whipped cream. It was a great night.

3. A friend’s triumph. In 2007 I was relaxed, as this photo shows. However, I am disappointed that I was not wearing a helmet at the time. When I ran, everyone looked at me. So I said to my CSC teammate Stuart O’Grady, who you can see in the photo on the right: You do it! And Stuart actually finished first – for me it was like winning. Cycling is a give and take, I’ve also visited Stuart a few times in Australia – we’re friends.

4. The Forest of Arenberg. This stretch from Paris to Roubaix is ​​not only very tough, but above all mythical – like the Alpe d’Huez in the Tour de France. Before my second win in 2010, I was the first to shoot in and out of the woods. That’s how I liked it best because that’s how I could ride my line on the extremely bad pavés. By the way, I never fell in Arenberg.

5. Daughter with the bear. Giuliana is in this photo, he is also from 2010, not even four years old. She waits at the finish line with her bear, whom she loved more than anything. Knowing my wife Stefanie and Giuliana in Roubaix was very motivating: I not only drove from A to B, but also from A to my family.

6. Engine? No, top form. Of course, Giuliana did not understand why I had won a stone in 2010 – it was my second. But the win means a lot to me, it was probably my biggest win in Paris-Roubaix. I rode 50 kilometers alone and won solo – it was like in a movie. Later I was accused of having an electric motor in the frame. The truth is that when it was the legs that spoke, I was in great shape. The tactics, the team, the confidence – the package was 100 percent right.

7. Spartacus fights back. Three years later I beat Sep Vanmarcke, the Belgian, in a two-man sprint. Most importantly, I remember the whole pack racing against me that day. There have been numerous attacks to isolate me. I then said to my sporting director: “I don’t have such a chance, everyone is against me.” He just said, “You’re Spartacus, aren’t you?” He alluded to my nickname and aroused my ambition. I switched to a destroyer mode, exceeded my limit and flattened everything. My opponents probably thought I didn’t have them all anymore. But it worked. In the end I was so devastated that my escorts had to pick me up.

8. Leaked. In 2014 I reached Roubaix in a leading group with nine other riders. I finished third and was happy. You can’t always win, far from it. The photo shows what traces the 257 kilometers of dust and dirt left on me. I was completely deflated.

9. Like ice on the sidewalk. My last Paris-Roubaix of 2016. And my only crash in the race! It hit me on the pavé part of Mons-en-Pévèle. The sidewalk was a bit muddy. I was riding in the middle, but probably stepped on the pedals at the wrong time, applied too much pressure – maybe the cadence was too high. A mistake, of course. But also bad luck. It was like half a square meter of the sidewalk was icy in winter and you step right there. The race was over – I lost too much time.

10. Faux pass on the victory lap. Because of the fall I described, I came to the Velodrome as a dropped rider. On the victory lap I picked up a flag – but it was heavier than I thought. The accident was not serious, but a bit embarrassing. In the end I am very happy with my record in Paris-Roubaix: twelve participations, three wins and three more podiums. I think I was born for this race.

Source : Blick