'You think top riders are machines, then you see Sagan out of breath... it opened my eyes’

Oliver Naesen has had the season of his life so far in the Classics in 2017, and says he's prepared for attacks to go early at Sunday's Paris-Roubaix

Oliver Naesen has had the season of his life at the spring Classics in 2017 (Sunada)

(Image credit: Yuzuru SUNADA)

Ag2r La Mondiale's breakthrough Classics rider Oliver Naesen is predicting an “all day” race at Paris-Roubaix on Sunday with hard riding from the very first cobbled sector over 150km from the finish.

>>> Fabian Cancellara: Watching the Classics from the sidelines

Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Having trained as a journalist at Cardiff University I spent eight years working as a business journalist covering everything from social care, to construction to the legal profession and riding my bike at the weekends and evenings. When a friend told me Cycling Weekly was looking for a news editor, I didn't give myself much chance of landing the role, but I did and joined the publication in 2016. Since then I've covered Tours de France, World Championships, hour records, spring classics and races in the Middle East. On top of that, since becoming features editor in 2017 I've also been lucky enough to get myself sent to ride my bike for magazine pieces in Portugal and across the UK. They've all been fun but I have an enduring passion for covering the national track championships. It might not be the most glamorous but it's got a real community feeling to it.