Rider Interview: World champion Peter Sagan received the 2018 Paris-Roubaix, however the hero of the day was undoubtably Silvan Dillier. The Swiss rider was within the break of the day and was the one rider to go together with Sagan by means of the Hell of the North to the Roubaix velodrome. Ed Hood managed to have phrases with Silvan.
In January we misplaced our good friend and colleague Ed Hood, two years after his devastating stroke. We’ll always remember Ed and his data, connections within the biking world, his writing model and love for the game. Ed wrote 1000’s of beautiful articles for PEZ, so we can pay homage the ‘King of the Blackberry’ with re-runs of his nice work.
And a giant thanks to everybody who contributed to Ed’s ‘Go Fund Me’. It made a distinction to his final two years.
You possibly can learn the PEZ-Crew’s reminiscences of Ed Hood HERE
Dillier main on the Roubaix cobbles
Peter Sagan was the good winner of Paris – Roubaix 2018 however ‘Man of the Match’ award should go to Swiss Elite Highway Race Champion, Silvan Dillier (AG2R) who completed second after being ‘up the highway’ for a lot of the day.
Sagan and Dillier searching for the very best/smoothest line
We first knew him as a time trial and observe rider, profitable nationwide junior and U23 titles within the time trial, omnium and madison earlier than graduating to win the European U23 madison in 2011. He defended that title a 12 months later and added the European U23 particular person pursuit title. That very same 12 months there was a Tour de L’Avenir stage win and a podium within the Gent Six Day partnering the legend that was ‘Massive Bob’ Bartko. In 2013 he took the Tour of Normandie general and as a BMC stagiaire with the ‘large guys’ received a stage within the Tour of Alberta.
One 12 months later he was World TTT champion in Ponferrada with Oss, Quinziato & Co. Season 2015 noticed that title defended in the US, the Nationwide Elite TT title, a stage within the Arctic Tour and a Giro journey.
The 12 months 2016 noticed him journey his first Vuelta; while the beginning of season 2017 had him second in Dwars door West-Vlaanderen and eighth within the Brabantse Pijl previous to his good Stage Six win within the Giro then general victory within the notoriously robust Route du Sud stage race in France which included the mighty Tourmalet – and the Swiss Elite Highway Race title.
The 2018 season produced early prime 20 finishes in Het Nieuwsblad and the Trofeo Laigueglia; however a damaged finger sustained within the Strade Bianche was an unwelcome distraction earlier than he bounced again to win the Route Adelie de Vitre, a tricky counter for the hotly contested Coupe de France collection. Once we noticed him go together with the break of the day round an hour into the Queen of the Classics, properly earlier than the primary pave, little did we all know that he’d be the primary man on to the velodrome in Roubaix. . .
A proud second place
PEZ: 2018 Roubaix was an amazing journey – however how did you’re feeling on Monday morning?
Silvan Dillier: Drained! It’s a tricky race, it makes use of up your physique; it’s completely different from a traditional race the place your legs are a little bit sore subsequent day however your physique is ok – after Roubaix my legs have been fantastic, however my physique was shattered!
PEZ: What was in your thoughts while you headed off up the highway on the finish of the primary hour of racing?
It was a part of our authentic workforce plan that I ought to go within the break within the first hour and from there on attempt to survive so long as I might. I wasn’t pondering long run, simply concerning the subsequent kilometer after which the following – and the following secteur.
PEZ: What did you suppose when Sagan arrived?
As I stated on the end, he’s an angel and the satan in a single individual. Within the breakaway he has a giant engine, he takes his pulls and doesn’t fiddle – we labored properly collectively and I noticed that I might make the rostrum. However while you’re making an attempt to win then he’s the satan on the velodrome – so sturdy, so arduous to beat.
Dillier and Sagan hit the pavé
PEZ: We noticed you trade phrases. . .
We agreed that he’d do the pulls on the cobbles and set a gentle tempo and we’d share the workload on the tarmac sections.
Dillier was first onto the Roubaix velodrome
PEZ: Did you have got any nervous moments?
No, probably not, I attempted to maintain relaxed, luckily I didn’t have any mechanical points or punctures and obtained nice help from my workforce automobile. They stored me updated on the race scenario, when the following secteur was arising, how lengthy it was and if we had any personnel positioned on the exit of the secteur with bidons, gels and spare wheels.
PEZ: It will need to have been particular to be first man to enter the velodrome?
Certain, I used to be conscious of all of the folks – and being first man onto the velodrome was actually particular however I used to be enthusiastic about methods to beat Sagan relatively than anything. I used to be a little bit anxious about all these flags although, I didn’t need to get tangled in a single and crash!
A fantastic second to World champion Sagan
PEZ: If you happen to might journey the race once more, is there something you’d do otherwise?
I’ve been requested that query many instances – afterwards I watched the race movies and might’t discover any level the place I’d do something otherwise. I’ve no regrets, I’m pleased that I rode a close to good race – the one factor I couldn’t do was beat Sagan within the dash.
PEZ: What concerning the well-known showers?
I didn’t get to pattern them, sadly. There was a lot to do with the media calls for, ‘selfies’ and doping controle – and the workforce have been ready for me on the bus so we might all have a beer collectively. So my bathe was on the workforce bus.
PEZ: Did the Swiss Media make a fuss about your journey?
Sure, I obtained large protection, it’s good – however after all they’re at all times looking for, ‘the following Fabian Cancellara.’ Of all of the monuments, Paris-Roubaix is finest recognized in Switzerland resulting from Fabian’s three wins within the occasion – it’s a giant deal race at house.
PEZ: Did Fabian get in contact to congratulate you?
Sure, that was very good – and I truly spoke to him earlier than the race, he gave me recommendation on which tires to journey and what pressures to run. It was good to get recommendation from the large champion, all of it provides to the big day.
Fabian Cancellara and Silvan Dillier within the Tour of Qatar 2014
PEZ: We noticed your form was good along with your win within the Route Adelie de Vitre.
I knew I used to be in fine condition however didn’t truly count on to win – in order that was good.
PEZ: These French Cups are robust races, aren’t they?
Individuals suppose that French Cups are simply small races and simple to win however that’s not the case – they’re a really completely different type of race. In skilled racing everybody has a job in a race, there’s a plan, a technique; go together with the early break, cowl the late breaks, carry the break again, lead the dash out – each race is managed. Within the Coupes de France it’s not like that in any respect, simply assaults! bim! bam! bang! It’s extra like an novice race, no management and it’s good to learn the race and discover your personal manner.
Dillier within the BMC Worlds’15 workforce
PEZ: You appear very pleased at AG2R-La Mondiale, how does it examine to your earlier workforce, BMC?
BMC was an actual ‘efficiency’ workforce; ‘how can we win? we’ve got to win!’ AG2R has extra of a household really feel; everyone knows we’ve got to do our greatest for our sponsors however so long as everybody does there finest then we’re pleased. Our goal at Roubaix was to place a rider within the prime 5; clearly we have been all delighted that I completed second but when I’d been fifth then the workforce would nonetheless have been pleased. While it’s a brand new workforce for me, again in 2010 as an U23 I rode for Chambery Cyclisme Formation which was sponsored by AG2R-La Mondiale so I knew a few the fellows from again then, Romain Bardet and Axel Domont have been workforce mates.
Dillier and Lampater within the Gent 6 2015
PEZ: I first obtained to know you as a six day rider. . .
Sure, however for the following few years I don’t suppose you’ll see me within the sixes – my highway program is so robust. I sit up for my winter off and I additionally prefer to construct as much as my highway season correctly.
Imhof and Dillier within the 2011 Gent 6
PEZ: Ultimate query on Paris-Roubaix; you need to now consider you possibly can come again and win?
Certain! I used to be so shut – if I prepare that little bit extra and tougher, I feel that it’s potential.
# It’s at all times nice to look at a rider develop, Monsieur Dillier continues to be solely 28 years-old; we sit up for his subsequent few years . . . #
Subsequent step up in 2019?
It was November 2005 when Ed Hood first penned a bit for PEZ, on US legend Mike Neel. Since then he’s coated the entire Grand Excursions and Monuments for PEZ and has an article depend in extra of 1,700 within the archive. He was a Scottish champion bike owner himself – a few years and kilograms in the past – and nonetheless owns a Klein Perspective, Dura Ace carbon Large and a Fixie. He and fellow Scot and PEZ contributor Martin Williamson run the Scottish website www.veloveritas.co.uk the place extra of his musings on our sport may be discovered.
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