Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel's Quick-Step team announced that the rider will be taking the start line in Paris-Roubaix this Sunday.
Sylvain has already proved himself in the great classic races so far this season such as the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, the Dwars Door Vlaanderen, the E3 Prijs Vlaanderen-Harelbeke and most recently at the Ronde Van Vlaanderen that took place this past Sunday.
This was likely an easy decision for team management since Chavanel has already proven he can be a big factor in any one day race, and will work selflessly for the team.
"Sylvain really wanted to take part in this race," said Team Manager Patrick Lefevere. "Adding him to the team for the race is the right reward as he has proven to have the qualities and capabilities required in both working for himself and for the rest of the team."
As far as the classics are concerned, Paris-Roubaix to a Frenchman is what the Tour of Flanders is to a Belgian. There is no doubt that Quick-Step will again rally behind their leader Tom Boonen, but as the Tour of Flanders showed us yesterday, the plans can change - and that is especially true in the "Hell of the North".
"The Roubaix closes an important series of races for me," explained Chavanel, "a series of races where I have seen myself in the action right from the beginning of the year. I am really pleased to be able to finish along with the rest of the team this first part of the season with such an important race as the Roubaix. For us Frenchmen the Roubaix has the same charm and importance as the Ronde does for the Flemish athletes. Being able to take part in the race as protagonist with such a strong team really means a lot to me."
You can be sure that the Quick-Step tactics will be a replay of Flanders, and with Boonen, Devolder, and Chavanel all capable of winning, the deck will be stacked heavily in their favor.