Four-time Paris-Roubaix winner Roger de Vlemanc has named Mathieu van der Poel as his successor to the title of "Monsieur Roubaix." The cyclocross world champion and classics contender has indicated that he could break the record of four Paris-Roubaix wins.

De Vlaeminck ran Paris-Roubaix 14 times in his highly successful career, winning Roubaix in 1972, 1974, 1975, and 1977, four times in second place, once in third, once in fifth, once in sixth, and twice in seventh. He abstained only once, in 1980.

Only Tom Boonen has won Paris-Roubaix four times, and de Vlaeminck is one of only three people to have won five of cycling's so-called monuments.

Van der Pol has yet to make his Paris-Roubaix debut, but de Vlaeminck is confident of his ability in the most physically demanding race of the season.

"He will win Paris-Roubaix at least three or four times, maybe five times, and I sincerely hope he does," de Vlemink said in an interview with Sporza following the postponement of this year's Paris-Roubaix due to the COVID-19 epidemic. [He] can do anything. He speaks well, trains well, takes care of himself. He has class and is my favorite in every race. He's like me, he's versatile. De Vlaeminck said, "I would like to see him in a time trial again with the big riders to see how good he is."

"Wout Van Aert will also win at least three times in Roubaix. I too would like to experience Van der Pol's victory. He is also the only player who, like me, can win five monuments."[11

De Vlaeminck is also an amateur and professional cyclocross world champion, following in the footsteps of his brother Eric. He was convinced that his cyclocross skills helped him perform in Paris-Roubaix, while he completed 400 km of training rides in preparation for the Classics.

"After 250 km of racing I was able to attack 20 times.