Paris Roubaix 2025 favourites: 10 names to watch. Ganna takes on Van der Poel and Pogacar

Rome, 12 April 2025 – Probably the Paris-Roubaix 2025 most spectacular in recent years. The duel between Mathieu Van der Poel and Tadej pogacar this year he is also back on the Hell of the North. The Slovenian leads with 8 monuments against 7, victory at the Tour of Flanders on Sunday, but he is making his debut in Roubaix where Vdp has won in the last two years and starts with the stripes of a big favorite. His mass rewards him on the cobblestones and he is advantaged by the fact that there are no hard slopes where Pogacar can unleash his watts. At the sixth sprint uphill at Tadej's Flanders the Dutchman gave in, but on the cobblestones the racing mechanisms are totally different. Then there are the outsiders, if we want to call them that, like Mads Pedersen, Foo Ganna and Wout Van Aert, not to mention a few surprises that always pop up at Roubaix. Let's look at ten possible protagonists.

Mathieu van der Poel

Last year Vdp did a double Flanders-Roubaix, but in 2025 Pogacar has already messed up his plans, winning last Sunday. He comes from two consecutive victories in Roubaix and starts as a favorite, in a race that suits him for characteristics and specific weight. Pogacar is making his debut and certainly the experience is an advantage for Mathieu who can even the score on the Monuments.

Tadej pogacar

We don't know what to expect. There are no climbs, but insiders say that on Strava he went very fast in the main sectors. He has the physique of a climber and in theory he is very disadvantaged, but his talent can take him anywhere. The engine is there. The condition too. And you know, you also need luck to avoid falls and punctures. He certainly can't arrive in a sprint and has to leave everyone behind.

Wout van aert

Despite his great talent, he has only won one Monument (Sanremo 2020), otherwise he has always been the top finisher. At Roubaix he has always come close without winning (seventh in 2021, second in 2022 and third in 2023), and even in this case, with the two phenomena mentioned above, he starts in the second row. The hard slopes of Flanders do not reward him, but on the cobblestones for rouleurs of Roubaix, things are different. And watch out for the Gravaa, the device made available by Visma that allows the rider to directly adjust the tire pressure during the race and avoid punctures.

Mads pedersen

The crux of his career is winning a Monument, which has always eluded him so far. He too is the classic placed rider, one of those who enrich the podium of those who win, one of those who do not fight alone but who in the end always finds someone who finishes ahead of him. At Roubaix he boasts a fourth and a third place and is a tough guy who will not give up on the cobbles until the end. For someone like him, massive, it is easier to resist the attacks at Roubaix than on the double-digit walls of Flanders.

Filippo Gana

Among the Monument Classics, Roubaix is ​​the one that best suits his characteristics as a time trialist. His improvements on climbs are notable, but holding up to Pogacar in Flanders is impossible for anyone. On the cobbles, however, practically on the flat where weight also makes the difference, it could be a little 'easier' for him who finished sixth in 2023. It is the race circled in red in his spring calendar and the hope is that Ineos will support him in every way.

Stefan Kung

Another great rouleur, often a great rival of Ganna in the time trials. He also has the engine to go fast on the cobbles and the score at Roubaix speaks for itself (third, fifth and fifth in the last three years). Of course, to win he needs someone up front to miss the day, but he is one of those ready to take advantage of it.

Jasper Phillipsen

He is Van der Poel's teammate and as a result Alpecin will have clearly established the captain, but last year he was second and Roubaix is ​​his race. He is not getting there at his best because of a fall at Nokere, at Sanremo he seemed under par, but in any case he must be taken into consideration. He is not at 100%, he is a sprinter and needs a bit of luck, but he could find the right pedal stroke.

Matej Mohoric

He hasn't had a great spring so far. At Sanremo he disappeared from the fight early, at Flanders he was twenty-first and arrives at Roubaix with his headlights off. But you know, someone like him, always quick to produce unpredictable tactics, can become an unexpected protagonist. One of those that maybe you don't control and then the right day comes along. Best placement at the velodrome fifth in 2022.

Tim Merlier

He is not exactly a man for the classics, he is a pure sprinter, but if he finds the day with the right legs he could even surprise. It is difficult that he can win, but he is capable of being a protagonist. He arrives with a good load of confidence with the victory this week at the Scheldeprijs, which is still a race for sprinters. At Roubaix the score is different, but Merlier is in good shape.

Nils Politt

In theory, he starts as a domestique for Tadej Pogacar, but if necessary he can become a resource for the podium in case the Slovenian is not on his day. At Roubaix, he who is truly a great rouleur, has often done well with a seventh in 2018, a second in 2019 and a fourth last year. He can be the second striker for the UAE.

Possible surprises

The Roubaix is ​​also a race of surprises, because the unexpected is around the corner and whoever is quickest can take advantage of it. As mentioned, Italy is banking on Pippo Ganna, but Davide is also in the race Dancers for Astana and Luca Severed for Arkea who can be in the game. Watch out for other outsiders and we quote Waerenskjold, in the top ten a year ago, Pithie, ditto, Teunissen, Girmay, Garcia Cortina, Bittner, Lampaert, Demare and the young man Sawyer. Read also - Van Aert's secret for Roubaix: here is the Gravaa device