Who do you want to win the Paris-Roubaix?
We’ve rounded up the top cyclists to keep a close eye on for Sunday’s gruelling race in northern France.
PETER SAGAN
The three-time world champion may have yet to stand on a podium at Paris-Roubaix but is arguably the biggest star in world cycling at the moment.
The Slovak has failed to scale the same heights as the previous two years, but Sunday could be the day when the cards finally fall into place.
The 28-year-old comes into the race after securing victory at Gent-Wevelgem, as well as achieving sixth-place finishes at Milan-San Remo and the Tour of Flanders.
Races on instinct and is capable of winning on any given day.
NIKI TERPSTRA
The 2014 champion has been in stunning form this year winning the E3 Harelbeke, Le Samyn and Tour of Flanders in recent weeks.
Aside from Sagan, the Dutchman comes into the race as the favourite based on his sparkling displays in March. With other riders eager to finish the cobble classics on a high, the 33-year-old will also be hungry for victory having been forced to abandon each of the past two editions due to crashes.
Momentum is in Terpstra’s favour to win for a second time.
GREG VAN AVERMAET
The defending champion is well off the pace of last season where he won three of the four cobble classics, but may not be as far off as some results suggest.
The Belgian finished third in E3 Harelkbebe, eighth in Dwars door Vlaanderen and fifth at the Tour of the Flanders – and if he can avoid being outshone by Quick-Step’s immense strength then he has a genuine chance to finish on the podium again.
Has the confidence and experience to storm to another victory in northern France.
JOHN DEGENKOLB
Two wins at the Challenge Mallorca got the season off to a lightning start, but the German has failed to finish inside the top-15 in any of the four cobble classics so far.
An illness ruled him out of the latter stages of Paris-Nice last month, but the 29-year-old still possesses the turn of speed to push for a podium position.
As a winner in 2015, Degenkolb will be bidding to use his experience in Paris to get his season back on track.
PHILIPPE GILBERT
The Belgian always puts himself in a position to win and as one of Quick-Step’s key decision makers, he is a serious contender to collect a first win of the season.
Despite finishing second behind team-mate Terpstra at both Le Samyn and E3 Harelbeke, his characteristics perfectly suit the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix and it would not be a surprise to see him collect another podium this spring.
At 35, his glittering career shows no signs of slowing yet.
