Team BikeExchange-Jayco men and women’s squad will line-up for an action-packed cobble weekend with two small but mighty teams, ready to take on the ‘Hell of the North’.
After getting their first taste for the cobbles in 2021, the women are back with a team of four riders, due to various unfortunate illness and injuries, but with motivation as high as ever for the iconic second edition of Paris-Roubaix Femmes. Ready for the 124km route, which covers 17 knarly cobbles sections, are Australian’s Jessica Allen and Ruby-Roseman-Gannon, Trinidad and Tobago’s Teniel Campbell and experienced Dutch rider Nina Kessler.
The following day, the men’s team will get their chance with Luke Durbridge leading the squad, lining-up for his eighth attempt along with the experienced Luka Mezgec and Jack Bauer, while Jan Maas and Alexandre Balmer will make their debut outings.
Like always, the men’s race features no less than 30 rough cobble sectors along the relentless 257km route before the final sprint showdown in Roubaix velodrome.
Team BikeExchange-Jayco Line-up:
Jess Allen (AUS)
Teniel Campbell (TTO)
Nina Kessler (NED)
Ruby Roseman-Gannon (AUS)
Alexandre Balmer (SUI)
Jack Bauer (NZL)
Luke Durbridge (AUS)
Jan Maas (NED)
Luka Mezgec (SLO)
Teniel Campbell:
“I’m pretty excited to be back at Roubaix and I’m more relaxed after seeing the course last year. I think being there in the final would be a success for me and just leaving everything out there.
The first cobbled sector will be the hardest because everyone is going to be fighting for good position, so that’s when the fight is going to start, leading into that, but I’m looking forward to it.”
Alejandro González-Tablas (Sport Director):
“We’re ready for the second edition of Paris-Roubaix Femmes, it was good to experience the race last year and the riders are always very motivated to start this race.
We have a small team for tomorrow, but it’s a unique race and everyone is ready to give 100%. No matter what happens the riders will get another good experience, racing over these cobbles is special and we’re really looking forward to seeing what the girls can do. It’s going to be a hard race and they will need some luck, but they’re ready.”
Luke Durbridge:
“I am looking forward to lining-up for my eighth Roubaix. As a group we’ve had some ups and downs through this classics period, but we’ve had some good results with Groenewegen and Matthews and for me personally, I felt like I have got better through the classics. This is one of my favourite races.
I just really want to be a part of the race, that’s either in a breakaway or in the final and just race aggressively. You get rewarded in this race for being off the front and it will be a big fight but it is such a great race. It is hell but it is enjoyable, and we have five guys here that are really raring to go and excited and we have two very experienced Roubaix champions in the car and hopefully we can finish off with a bang.”
Mat Hayman (Sport Director) 2016 winner:
“We would love to be here with seven guys 100% fit and healthy, ready to race but that isn’t really a reality but the guys we have got here are really motivated for this race. We’ve got a couple of young guys who haven’t done this race before, they’ve tried the Roubaix cobbles in recon and now they can’t wait to start, and I am looking froward to working with them here.
We have three older guys who have been here many times before and really all know the race well and in particular Durbridge and Bauer. They really like to focus on Paris-Roubaix and it is something they live for every year so we will be supporting them as much as we can on Sunday. It is always a very special race for us.”
2022 Paris-Roubaix details:
Saturday, 14th April: Paris-Roubaix Femmes, Denain to Roubaix, 124.7km
Sunday, 15th April: Paris-Roubaix Men, Compiegne to Roubaix, 257.2km
Photos: Getty Images