Oliver Naesen says it's 'hard not to feel confident when I'm riding at this level' ahead of Paris-Roubaix
The Ag2r rider is one of the favourites to win on the cobbles this Sunday

Oliver Naesen after winning the Bretagne Classic 2018 (Luc Claessen/Getty)
Oliver Naesen has made a convincing start to the 2019 season, with his dark horse reputation starting to unravel after top five finishes at Milan-San Remo and Ghent Wevelgem before battling back from illness to finish seventh in last week's Tour of Flanders.
The spring Classic Naesen thinks suits both him and his Ag2r La Mondiale outfit best, however, is Sunday's Paris-Roubaix.
>>> Paris-Roubaix 2019 live TV guide
Naesen acknowledges his previous outings at the Hell of the North have been disappointing, with no top -10 performances in the last four years. He does expect to better his 12th place finish in 2018, however, a result he achieved despite being back with the cars all day long and not seeing the lead group once.
"I reckon I've got better in every respect since last year," Naesen said. "I'm still quite young, so I've matured physically and begun to reach my prime. Experience has also sharpened my tactical acumen."
The lack of climbing in Paris-Roubaix suits Ag2r, according to Naesen, making the race more conducive to team dynamics, adding that he also "shouldn't bet the farm on a sprint finish."
The former Belgian national road race champion says he'd rather not get ahead of himself, though, as "everything could go completely pear-shaped on Sunday" but equally that "it's hard not to feel confident when I'm riding at this level."
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Naesen highlights two former winners, Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Greg Van Avermaet (CCC) as the two outright favourites but admits there are a lot more riders at a similar level than in previous editions, which could make it an even more tactical race.
The nature of the cobbles means that on the day luck can play just as big a part as form, and Naesen isn't worried if he doesn't bring home the Monument, a victory that is currently missing from his palmarès.
"It's not now or never. I'm still learning and getting stronger. I'm confident that I've still got plenty of seasons ahead of me to win races."
The bronchitis that saw the 28-year-old on a course of antibiotics in the lead up to the Tour of Flanders isn't bothering him anymore, and he expects to be back up to 100 per cent for Roubaix. It would appear that form and luck could be coming together for Naesen, as weather forecasts say it will be a dry day on the cobbles this Sunday, with the Belgian commenting "anyone who hopes for rain is out of his mind!"
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Jonny was Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor until 2022.
I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
Gear up for your best summer of riding – Balfe's Bikes has up to 54% off Bontrager shoes, helmets, lights and much more
Supported It's not just Bontrager, Balfe's has a huge selection of discounted kit from the best cycling brands including Trek, Specialized, Giant and Castelli all with big reductions
By Paul Brett
-
7-Eleven returns to the peloton for one day only at Liège-Bastogne-Liège
Uno-X Mobility to rebrand as 7-Eleven for Sunday's Monument to pay tribute to iconic American team from the 1980s
By Tom Thewlis
-
I went to Paris-Roubaix Femmes and was shocked at how it is still treated as secondary to the men’s race
The women’s version of the Hell of the North is five years old, but needs to be put more on equal footing with the men
By Adam Becket
-
Broken hips, hands, and collarbones: Paris-Roubaix's lengthy injury list lays bare brutality of race
"It probably wasn't the best idea to continue," says one of weekend's many wounded riders
By Tom Davidson
-
Professional riders need more protection from mindless 'fans' at major races to avoid another Mathieu van der Poel Paris-Roubaix bottle incident
Cycling's authorities must do everything within their power to prevent spectators from assaulting riders
By Tom Thewlis
-
'I'll take a top 10, that's alright in the end' - Fred Wright finishes best of British at Paris-Roubaix
Bahrain-Victorious rider came back from a mechanical on the Arenberg to place ninth
By Adam Becket
-
'This is the furthest ride I've actually ever done' - Matthew Brennan lights up Paris-Roubaix at 19 years old
The day's youngest rider reflects on 'killer' Monument debut
By Tom Davidson
-
'One of the hardest races I've ever done in my life' - Tadej Pogačar finishes runner-up on Paris-Roubaix debut after crash
World champion reacts to 'extremely hard' battle with Mathieu van der Poel
By Tom Davidson
-
'I thought it would be dark by the time I got here' - Joey Pidcock, the last rider to finish Paris-Roubaix, on his brutal day out
Q36.5 rider finishes outside time limit, but still completes race with lap of the Roubaix Velodrome
By Adam Becket
-
'It was like a stone hitting my face' - Mathieu van der Poel calls for 'legal action' after bottle incident at Paris-Roubaix
The winner was hit by a bottle in the face on Templeuve, sector 8b
By Adam Becket