TATA MARTINS
DROPS LE COL TEAM RIDER
“Every edition of Paris-Roubaix is a special one and it’s so hard to have a favourite. Every year is inspirational and always gives me goosebumps. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would have the opportunity to compete in this iconic race.
Paris Roubaix Femmes is a big step forward for the gender equality of cycling. Four years ago I never thought we were going to have a women’s edition of the race. It’s sad not to have spectators, especially in Belgium where people love cycling. I hope it’s just a matter of time before we have people cheering for us again, we just need to be patient.
For Roubaix, there are modifications to the tyres, the pressure, as well as the wheels themselves. It was a great experience on the recon to take away tips on wheel pressure, how to be fluid on the cobbles, as well as understanding the Roubaix cobbles. You have to try not to lose speed and be as smooth as possible on the bike while trying not to hold too tight or tense on to the handlebar. Feel the cobbles as they are and enjoy!
To prepare for the race we have been studying the course, the cobbles, and the details. We’ve also been watching videos of previous editions to see how the men have handled it.”