02 Oct 2021
Grenadiers look forward to Roubaix test
Related riders
Michal Kwiatkowski
Luke Rowe
Dylan van Baarle
Ahead of Paris-Roubaix we caught up with Luke Rowe, Dylan van Baarle and Michal Kwiatkowski as the trio of INEOS Grenadiers discussed their form heading into Sunday, how they prepared for the 'Hell of the North' and of course, the weather.
Luke Rowe:
“There’s a lot of different factors. Obviously it’s later in the year and it’s been a long year for a lot of people, then there’s the weather. Everyone’s talking about the rain but not so many people are talking about the wind and I think both will play equal parts on the race. With a tail wind, as soon as the group’s gone, it’s so hard to bring it back. If you’re there, great, and if you’re not: goodnight Irene.
“The rain is what it is. It’s a wet Roubaix, it’s going to be an absolute mess. There’s no two ways about it. It’s going to be a dangerous day. In all of the editions of Roubaix I’ve done there’s been a couple of wet sections and there’s always a touch down. It’s going to be a mess.
“We’ve got guys who can really be at the pointy end. Dylan showed how well he’s going last weekend so who knows what he can do and then we’ve got a few guys doing it for the first time, Basso and Kwiato, and Golas hasn’t ridden it since he was a nipper!
“We’ve got a good mix but I think in the end it’s going to come down to needing a lot of luck, and a big set of balls, to go in with that attitude of whatever happens, happens. It’s quite a scary thought. I’ve seen a lot of people saying they’re looking forward to a rainy Roubaix and they’re excited for it… It’s a bit nuts. It’s going to add that extra element of danger. They’re probably just trying to sound tough. I’ll certainly put my hand up going into it and say I’m quite nervous which I’ve never ever been for any race I can remember.”
“There’s a lot of different factors. Obviously it’s later in the year and it’s been a long year for a lot of people, then there’s the weather. Everyone’s talking about the rain but not so many people are talking about the wind and I think both will play equal parts on the race. With a tail wind, as soon as the group’s gone, it’s so hard to bring it back. If you’re there, great, and if you’re not: goodnight Irene.
“The rain is what it is. It’s a wet Roubaix, it’s going to be an absolute mess. There’s no two ways about it. It’s going to be a dangerous day. In all of the editions of Roubaix I’ve done there’s been a couple of wet sections and there’s always a touch down. It’s going to be a mess.
“We’ve got guys who can really be at the pointy end. Dylan showed how well he’s going last weekend so who knows what he can do and then we’ve got a few guys doing it for the first time, Basso and Kwiato, and Golas hasn’t ridden it since he was a nipper!
“We’ve got a good mix but I think in the end it’s going to come down to needing a lot of luck, and a big set of balls, to go in with that attitude of whatever happens, happens. It’s quite a scary thought. I’ve seen a lot of people saying they’re looking forward to a rainy Roubaix and they’re excited for it… It’s a bit nuts. It’s going to add that extra element of danger. They’re probably just trying to sound tough. I’ll certainly put my hand up going into it and say I’m quite nervous which I’ve never ever been for any race I can remember.”
Dylan van Baarle
“It’s been my best season so far, with the win in Dwars Door Vlaanderen and second at the worlds, plus plenty of top 10 finishes in the other Classics as well. But this race gave me a lot of confidence, with the distance and the field of riders that were there. It has to give me confidence. If this doesn’t, I don’t know what else would.
Dylan van Baarle:
“Finishing second at the worlds was a special feeling, especially after my crash in the Vuelta. I just never expected to be at that level. But we worked super hard back home with Rok [Dylan’s coach, Leigh Bryan] and our physio and I knew the condition was there again. But to be on the podium… I didn’t expect that.
“If I had the feeling that I was not able to make it then I would have said better to stop the season but we had just enough time. If the worlds had come five or six days earlier — maybe not.
“It’s been my best season so far, with the win in Dwars Door Vlaanderen and second at the worlds, plus plenty of top 10 finishes in the other Classics as well. But this race gave me a lot of confidence, with the distance and the field of riders that were there. It has to give me confidence. If this doesn’t, I don’t know what else would.
“I’ve never really been up there in the final at Roubaix - I’ve always been there but never really for the win. But sometime needs to be the first time.
“It depends on the weather, there are so many factors. Crashes, flat tyres. We start as a team to try and win the race but let’s see how far we get into the final. Then we can see what the situation is. It’s so hard to say before this race, especially with wet weather. If you’re not there first on the cobbles, it will be difficult.
“A wet Roubaix… It’s not something that I look forward to. It’s one of my biggest nightmares! In the recon we rode full gas into Arenberg and it was sketchy. I can’t imagine how it will be when it’s wet. We will find out…”
“Finishing second at the worlds was a special feeling, especially after my crash in the Vuelta. I just never expected to be at that level. But we worked super hard back home with Rok [Dylan’s coach, Leigh Bryan] and our physio and I knew the condition was there again. But to be on the podium… I didn’t expect that.
“If I had the feeling that I was not able to make it then I would have said better to stop the season but we had just enough time. If the worlds had come five or six days earlier — maybe not.
“It’s been my best season so far, with the win in Dwars Door Vlaanderen and second at the worlds, plus plenty of top 10 finishes in the other Classics as well. But this race gave me a lot of confidence, with the distance and the field of riders that were there. It has to give me confidence. If this doesn’t, I don’t know what else would.
“I’ve never really been up there in the final at Roubaix - I’ve always been there but never really for the win. But sometime needs to be the first time.
“It depends on the weather, there are so many factors. Crashes, flat tyres. We start as a team to try and win the race but let’s see how far we get into the final. Then we can see what the situation is. It’s so hard to say before this race, especially with wet weather. If you’re not there first on the cobbles, it will be difficult.
“A wet Roubaix… It’s not something that I look forward to. It’s one of my biggest nightmares! In the recon we rode full gas into Arenberg and it was sketchy. I can’t imagine how it will be when it’s wet. We will find out…”
Michal Kwiatkowski, riding his first Paris-Roubaix:
“Roubaix always falls in the wrong place in the calendar for me, with the Ardennes. A combination of racing Roubaix and performing in the Ardennes is super hard. So I’m here this year, which is - looking at the weather forecast - perhaps not the best decision!
“Going 60km/h into a cobbled section is like nothing else. You can’t prepare for this. It will be one of the toughest races in my career. I feel quite good but it’s not that I’m dancing on the pedals. I don’t feel like a favourite. I’ve been doing my best since finishing the Tour.
"My main goal was the Olympics and then I performed quite well in Poland but gradually my body is saying, I should recover. I will keep going and do my best until the end of the season and it was always the plan to come here. It’s been a long season for me. We need to have some luck and mental strength will be super important. We will see who can perform from the team and hopefully we can get a result.”
“Roubaix always falls in the wrong place in the calendar for me, with the Ardennes. A combination of racing Roubaix and performing in the Ardennes is super hard. So I’m here this year, which is - looking at the weather forecast - perhaps not the best decision!
“Going 60km/h into a cobbled section is like nothing else. You can’t prepare for this. It will be one of the toughest races in my career. I feel quite good but it’s not that I’m dancing on the pedals. I don’t feel like a favourite. I’ve been doing my best since finishing the Tour.
"My main goal was the Olympics and then I performed quite well in Poland but gradually my body is saying, I should recover. I will keep going and do my best until the end of the season and it was always the plan to come here. It’s been a long season for me. We need to have some luck and mental strength will be super important. We will see who can perform from the team and hopefully we can get a result.”
Michal Golas will ride his 1000th and final race at Paris-Roubaix
On racing with his compatriot and close friend Michal Golas for the final time:
“I’ve done a couple of final races with Golas. His last Poland, his last worlds, and now Roubaix, his final race. At the same time as I’m enjoying his final races with him, I’m sad that he’s not going to be racing with me next year. We did many races together, many training days, and he’s the type of person you want to have next to you. It’s one last push tomorrow and for sure we will enjoy it.”
“I’ve done a couple of final races with Golas. His last Poland, his last worlds, and now Roubaix, his final race. At the same time as I’m enjoying his final races with him, I’m sad that he’s not going to be racing with me next year. We did many races together, many training days, and he’s the type of person you want to have next to you. It’s one last push tomorrow and for sure we will enjoy it.”
