Team Visma | Lease a Bike counts on collective strength in Paris–Roubaix
# Team Visma | Lease a Bike Eyes Glory in Paris–Roubaix
As the 123rd edition of Paris–Roubaix approaches, Team Visma | Lease a Bike is gearing up for a challenging and exciting race. Among the seven-man selection, Belgian powerhouse Wout van Aert hopes to leverage his recent success to secure a victory on the iconic cobbled roads of northern France. Van Aert, who recently finished fourth in the Tour of Flanders, is eager to bring his current form into the grueling 260-kilometer race, which features 55 kilometers of cobblestones.
“I’m determined to seize my last opportunity for a win this spring,” Van Aert stated, highlighting his drive as he prepares for this monumental challenge. The 31-year-old, who has stood on the podium twice in Roubaix, expresses the significance of the race: “I still feel a huge drive heading into this race. It will be my seventh participation, but this race remains special. The nervousness and unpredictability make Paris–Roubaix so beautiful. Since the Italian races, I’ve been feeling good, and I was able to carry that into the Flemish classics.”
Joining Van Aert is 22-year-old Norwegian Per Strand Hagenes, who aims to make an impact in his third Paris–Roubaix appearance. After impressive performances in recent races such as Le Samyn, GP de Denain, and the E3 Saxo Classic—in which he finished second—Hagenes is looking to assert his place in the race dynamics. “My goal is to play a role in the finale,” says Hagenes. “I’ll do everything I can to stay in the front as long as possible and support Wout. I believe he can compete with the other favorites. He’s shown a lot of good things in recent weeks. In Roubaix, the race often explodes from far out nowadays, so I’m preparing for a long, tough battle.”
Head of Racing Grischa Niermann shared insights into the team’s strategy and aspirations. “Paris–Roubaix is one of those races where luck plays a role,” he noted. “In the past weeks, it became clear who we’ll have to watch. Pogačar and Van der Poel are without a doubt the top favorites, but on this terrain, the differences between riders will be smaller than in recent races. Our strength lies in the collective. Alongside Wout, Christophe Laporte and Per Strand Hagenes can also play important roles in how the race unfolds. Winning Roubaix remains a big dream for the team, and we are ready to do everything we can to make that dream come true.”
With a potent combination of experience, youth, and tactical strength, Team Visma | Lease a Bike is set to face the cobblestones with determination and unity. As the race day approaches, all eyes will be on this formidable team.
