Following an injury-troubled winter and a spring where he has spent much of his time recovering from those injuries, 2004 Paris-Roubaix winner Magnus Backstedt will make a voyage into the unknown on Sunday. But it?s a voyage he says he?s ready for.
?I?ve done absolutely everything I can to be ready under the circumstances and I?m feeling really good.? Backstedt told CW on Friday afternoon. ?So I say, ?bring it on?.?
Like many real Roubaix fans, he would prefer it the good weather disappeared on Sunday - something that currently looks unlikely to happen. ?It would make it more interesting, more fun to race. I?ve been doing the raindance every night of this week, but hey, really I?m just glad to be there. I can?t afford to be disappointed after what I?ve been through.?
He admits he has few reference points because he?s not been taking part in any of the Belgian one-day Classics. ?But maybe it?ll be better for me not have ridden 250 kilometres in Flanders then had to go through a crash-ridden Ghent-Wevelgem on Wednesday. And I?ve ridden cleverly and tactically over the last three weeks, taking my time, slowly getting stronger and stronger.?
?Really, we?ll only know on Sunday if that lack of racing is to my advantage. But given the circumstances, if you bear in mind it?s only since February 20th that I?ve been able to ride my bike properly, the mere fact I?ll be there on Sunday at the start-line is already a triumph. Everything from then on is a big bonus.?
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