Taylor Phinney: Paris-Roubaix is about being a hard-man

"No guy that has won Roubaix or even come close to winning Roubaix is a wimp."

Taylor Phinney leads an escape in the 2014 Tour of Flanders

(Image credit: Watson)

Taylor Phinney loves the Spring Classics. The 23-year-old American on BMC tells Sophie Smith what makes racing on the cobbles — especially at Paris-Roubaix — just so special.

“The Classics are dramatic. They’ve always been really fun to watch, for me, so I was drawn to them just for the pure entertainment value. When I was younger I’d watch them and want to be one of those riders who is providing the entertainment.

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Contributor

Sophie Smith is an Australian journalist, broadcaster and author of Pain & Privilege: Inside Le Tour. She follows the WorldTour circuit, working for British, Australian and US press, and has covered 10 Tours de France.