Wout van Aert brushes aside tyre tech ban ahead of Paris-Roubaix as Matthew Brennan downplays chances due to lingering illness

Wout van Aert approaches this year’s Paris-Roubaix with confidence following a solid Classics campaign, despite the recent ban on self-inflating tyre technology that his team, Visma-Lease a Bike, had previously employed. The Belgian rider expressed frustration over the UCI’s decision to prohibit the Gravaa tyre system, describing it as a promising innovation in which the team had heavily invested. Nevertheless, Van Aert remains focused on the race, acknowledging that the competition will likely mirror last weekend’s Tour of Flanders, where he finished fourth behind top contenders like Tadej Pogačar and Mathieu van der Poel. Van Aert is optimistic about his chances of securing a podium finish, emphasising his determination to fight until the end even if he falls behind on the cobbled sectors. He believes the cobblestones suit his strengths and expects the main favourites to remain consistent with recent races. Despite the setback of losing access to the self-inflating tyre technology, Van Aert insists that the team has made the best possible equipment choices and that the ban will not distract him from his goal of a top-three finish. Meanwhile, Matthew Brennan, Van Aert’s Visma-Lease a Bike teammate, faces a more challenging prospect due to lingering illness that has affected his form throughout the Classics season. The 20-year-old Briton admitted that his fitness is not at the level he desires, having fallen ill before Milan-San Remo, which disrupted his ability to build race condition. Brennan hopes to play a supportive role for Van Aert and Christophe Laporte, particularly by maintaining good positioning in the race’s critical phases, which is crucial on the demanding Paris-Roubaix course. Despite his recent struggles, Brennan remains motivated by his experience from last year’s Paris-Roubaix, where he finished a respectable 44th as a WorldTour debutant. He believes that his familiarity with the race’s unique challenges could help compensate for his current lack of peak form. Both riders and their team will be looking to leverage their strengths and tactical acumen to navigate the notoriously tough cobbled sectors and contend with strong rivals in one of cycling’s most prestigious one-day events.