Like in a dream! This Sunday, Niels Michotte won Paris-Roubaix Juniors, seven and a half months after his bad crash on the roads of the Grand Prix of Rüebliland, in Switzerland. He had then already missed his biggest encounters at the end of the 2021 season, but had promised himself to return to the top for this Paris-Roubaix of which he finally lifted the most beautiful cobblestones, during the ceremonial stage, at the end of ‘a nice lonely song (see ranking† DirectVelo gathered the reaction of the Luxembourger of the collective AG2R Citroën U19 in the heart of the Roubais velodrome.
DirectVelo: You’ve completed a full race!
Niels Michotte: I first left with Jan Christen on the sidewalk. Matys Grisel had attacked alone. We did well with the team. The goal was that I would keep cartridges in case of a sprint. I never thought I’d play my card like this, alone. But it is Paris-Roubaix, there are many unforeseen events in this race. Once in Mons-en-Pévèle I didn’t want to push because there were too many fresh guys in the pack, especially the Danes and Norwegians. I turned it down. Joshua Tarling and Artem Schmidt were still in the pack, they are great riders who can bring the group back.
Then you have become a victim…
Yes, it blocked my left leg. I have a friend from Luxembourg, Mil Morang, who brought me back to the first group. It took me about twenty minutes to get home. I asked my team to ride so as not to cramp. I took the time to clear my head, calm down and refuel myself. My teammates were great.
You will then have the physical and mental strength to attack again!
I wanted to avoid acorns. I know I have driving skills. An hour on a break, I like it. In this race, with the cobblestones, we know that being one step ahead can go a long way. This time I ended up with a Frenchman and a Dane in front (Victor Dattin and Henrik Breiner Pedersen, Editor’s Note)† The Dane had no reason to drive and had a big team behind him. I knew it wouldn’t work that way, so I decided to put a layer of it back in favor of a paved area. It is now or never. I quickly took fifteen yards, so I insisted. I felt good, I had good legs.
“A FEW YEARS AGO I WAS IN THE AUDIENCE”
How did you feel alone in the lead during these last twenty kilometers?
The atmosphere in the Carrefour de l’Arbre was indescribable! However, it burned with every pedal stroke. I thought back to Hugo Toumire’s 2nd place here a few years ago, it was an extra motivation (in 2019 behind the Dutchman Hidde van Veenendaal, note editors)† When on the velodrome, it was emotionally really intense! It’s the most beautiful day of my life. I still don’t believe it. My teammate Léandre Lozouet’s 3rd place is the icing on the cake. A few years ago I was in the crowd, in the same velodrome, yelling at the runners to encourage them and this time it was me who came out on top. I will never forget what I felt today (Sunday). My parents were also there, especially at ravito. They brought me luck.
You will now be playing in the shoes of the winner of Paris-Roubaix for the rest of the season… Exactly that!
Last year I probably had been too young and immature to deal with these kinds of emotions. I broke my beam during the GP Rüebliland at the end of the season. I missed the European Championship and World Cup. But also Paris-Roubaix, exactly! Mentally it hurt me. From the moment I got back on my bike, I had this Paris-Roubaix 2022 in mind.
How do you feel within the AG2R Citroën training?
It was a real delirium to join this team! I applied like so many others and it worked. I spoke with Alexandre Chenivesse and Alexandre Pacot. They liked my profile, there was room for a J2… I told them about my goals and they fully supported me. It’s crazy to be part of this team.
