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Paris-Roubaix reconnaissance - Gallery

By Cycling News

published 5 April 2018

Mud-covered cobbles will likely dry out by Sunday

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Mitchelton-Scott pre-ride the Paris-Roubaix route(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

Mitchelton-Scott recon Paris-Roubaix(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

AG2R La Mondiale's Nico Denz(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

Oliver Naesen (AG2R La Mondiale) on the recon(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

Geraint Thomas (Team Sky)(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

AG2R La Mondiale and Mitchelton-Scott(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

Stijn Vandenbergh on the pave(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

Alex Edmondson leads his Mitchelton-Scott team around the Paris-Roubaix route(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

Paris-Roubaix reconnaissance(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

Peter Sagan tests the muddy pavé of Paris-Roubaix(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Mitchelton-Scott pre-ride the Paris-Roubaix route(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) skipped the Arenberg Forest sector, taking the bike path instead(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

Mitchelton-Scott pre-ride the Paris-Roubaix route(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

Team Sky recon Paris-Roubaix(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

Peter Sagan and Daniel Oss(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

Matteo Trentin (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

Marcus Burghardt leads Bora-Hansgrohe on the cobbles(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

Mitchelton-Scott pre-ride the Paris-Roubaix route(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

Geraint Thomas (Team Sky)(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

EF Education First Drapac in their orange training kit(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

Bora-Hansgrohe(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

Mitchelton-Scott pre-ride the Paris-Roubaix route(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

Mitchelton-Scott recon Paris-Roubaix(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe)(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Edward Theuns (Sunweb)(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Unlike in the Scheldeprijs, the riders waited patiently for the train to pass(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Sep Vanmarcke (EF Education First-Drapac)(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe)(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Muddy cobbles under Jasper Stuyven(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Expect the mud to be piled up on the sides on Sunday(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Dylan Groenewegen (LottoNl-Jumbo) on the mucky Paris-Roubaix section(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

LottoNl-Jumbo found the muddiest part of the Paris-Roubaix course(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo) in the Arenberg Forest(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Peter Sagan and his Bora-Hansgrohe teammates(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

John Degenkolb (Trek-Segafredo) tackles some muddy cobbles(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Peter Sagan leads his teammates (Image credit: Bettini Photo)

The Arenberg Forest awaits(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Julien Vermote (Dimension Data) tests the muddy pavé of Paris-Roubaix(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Edward Theuns (Sunweb)(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Trek Segafredo on the mud roads of Paris-Roubaix(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Mud on the pavé of Paris-Roubaix(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Wout Van Aert in the Arenberg Forest(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Jelle Wallays (Lotto Soudal) seems to enjoy the mud(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

LottoNl-Jumbo tests the muddy pavé of Paris-Roubaix(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Wout Van Aert (Verandas Willems Crelan) tests the muddy pavé of Paris-Roubaix(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Dimension Data tests the muddy pavé of Paris-Roubaix(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Peter Sagan and Bora-Hansgrohe teammates tests the muddy pavé of Paris-Roubaix(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Peter Sagan and Daniel Oss in the Arenberg Forest(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Three days before the start of Paris-Roubaix, many of the riders took to the route to test their equipment, their legs and their skills on the cobblestone sections of the course.

World Champion Peter Sagan was among those who went out with his Bora-Hansgrohe teammates to find several of the sectors covered in thick mud.

"It's okay, it's once a year," Sagan told Wielerkrant. "A dry or wet edition makes a world of difference, it changes the style of the course."

Sagan finished a disappointed sixth in the Tour of Flanders after taking a stellar victory in Gent-Wevelgem. He described his form as "good enough".

"I'm not bad, but also not super. Good enough, I'd say."

The prospect of a muddy Paris-Roubaix will thrill many fans, but with sun and warm temperatures forecast for the coming days, much of the mud will turn to dust.

#ParisRoubaix #recon @petosagan #BORAhansgrohe @Paris_Roubaix pic.twitter.com/gz6ooFhhos