The performances of Estonian cycling talent Madis Mihkels have impressed the leaders of his team, EF Education - EasyPost, so much that they have entrusted him with a spot in Sunday's Paris-Roubaix (259 km), considered the world's toughest one-day race.
"Paris-Roubaix is undoubtedly my favorite classic and suits me best," confirmed the 21-year-old Estonian. "It's a very tough race, the hardest of all. At the end, you feel pain in your legs and wrists, and your whole body is in pain, but if you don't have too much bad luck and you're riding at the front, it's pure joy. If you're doing well, even the cobblestone sections don't seem so difficult."
Mihkels knows what he's talking about – last year he finished 10th in Paris-Roubaix, losing nearly five minutes to the two-time defending champion Mathieu van der Poel. In addition to Mihkels, EF Education - EasyPost's lineup includes Kasper Asgreen, Owain Doull, Alastair MacKellar, Jack Rootkin-Gray, Colby Simmons, and Max Walker.
In total, Paris-Roubaix features 55.3 km of cobblestones. Many specialists believe this challenge is too tough for the recent Tour of Flanders winner Tadej Pogačar. But the organizers are already pleased, as a reigning Tour de France winner has not started their race in 34 years, and now it will happen.
