Sir Bradley Wiggins’ decision to ride Paris-Roubaix has raised a few eyebrows, not least when his pre-race programme was repeatedly chopped and changed and consisted mostly of a specified training block. His sole pre-Roubaix action arrived at the Tour of Flanders, where he finished 32nd having ridden in support of Geraint Thomas. Wiggins also competed at the Scheldeprijs, but his form ahead of his first Paris-Roubaix since 2011 is very much unknown.
Victory at Paris-Roubaix would put the 2012 Tour de France champion in an elite group of riders to have won the Tour and the Queen of the Classics. Bernard Hinault, Fausto Coppi and Eddy Merckx are among the others – exalted company indeed. Geraint Thomas, despite having been in good form for Sky so far this season, is among the support riders for Wiggins and could – along with Edvald Boasson Hagen – prove to be plan B. There are few willing to put money on plan A but, if this is to be Wiggins’ last season on the road before switching back to track, what a story it would be.
