HTC-Columbia have announced that Gent-Wevelgem winner Bernhard Eisel will be the sole leader for the team at this weekend's Paris-Roubaix. The American team is sending an experienced squad to support the Austrian in cycling's toughest one day Classic.
"Everybody bar Adam [Hansen] has ridden Paris-Roubaix before, so they know what to expect," says HTC-Columbia sports director Tristan Hoffman. Hoffman finished the 2004 edition of Paris-Roubaix in second place behind Swede Magnus Bäckstedt, and before that had finished the race in fourth on two occasions, in 2000 and 2002.
"Today the whole team went to ride over the last part of the course, checking out all the important cobbled sections, so that they know what's coming up. The cobbles aren't too muddy right now, and although it's been raining for the last few days the weather should be good this weekend."
Hoffman knows from experience how important pre-race reconnaissance is for Paris-Roubaix.
"Paris-Roubaix is a very special event, something unique in sport, not just cycling. So as a rider it always pays to go and remind yourself what you will be letting yourself in for on Sunday."
Eisel is expected to have strong support from the HTC-Columbia team up until the closing kilometers of the race.
"After that, Bernie [Bernhard Eisel] will be there to make his move. Paris-Roubaix is a race which suits him a little better than the Tour of Flanders, and just like in the Tour of Flanders, we'll be basing our race strategy around him."
HTC-Columbia for Paris-Roubaix: Lars Bak (Den); Bernhard Eisel (Aut); Matt Goss (Aus); Adam Hansen (Aus); Hayden Roulston (NZ); Vicente Reynes (Spa); Marcel Sieberg (Ger); Martin Velits (Svk).