For Sunday's grand spring cobbled finale of Paris-Roubaix, Garmin-Cervelo will be fielding a team that, on paper at least, should be able to do battle with any team or rider on the planet.
The eight-man roster consists of reigning World Champion, Thor Hushovd, Heinrich Haussler, Tyler Farrar, Roger Hammond, Andreas Klier, Gabriel Rasch, Sep Vanmarcke, and Johan Van Summeren.
It's the squad of any director's dream, but unfortunately, up until this point in the spring's major classics, it's a unit that has been conspicuously shut out from the top placings. Sunday's Hell of the North is the day the team hopes to turn things around.
Former Roubaix podium finisher, Thor Hushovd, has repeatedly noted over the last few months that Paris-Roubaix is the race he dreams of most. He reiterated that fact once again in the team's press conference this afternoon.
"For me, Paris-Roubaix is the most beautiful race in the world. As a sportsman you have many goals, my goal is Paris-Roubaix. To race Paris-Roubaix in the rainbow jersey is a great honor, and I will give everything I have to honor the jersey and my team. The competition is strong, but so are we. We're all looking forward to Sunday."
Garmin-Cervelo manager, Jonathan Vaughters, was justifiably hopeful that his juggernaut will finally take flight in L'Enfer du Nord.
"The team is incredibly motivated for Sunday. We did a course recon yesterday, and everyone seemed to be feeling good. No matter what happens, you can bet that Garmin-Cervelo will race their hearts out. The motivation is there, the heart is there, the work is done. Now we race."
Last weekend's Tour of Flanders didn't go anywhere close to the plan for Vaughters's team, but it wasn't for lack of trying. The team was represented in the early break and played a prominent role in the early goings. All the way up until the Haaghoek, just moments before Fabian Cancellara's attack, everything was going just fine…and then it wasn't. Haussler, Farrar, and Hushovd all fell to the wayside, as the favorites all weighed in.
Roubaix, however, will likely be a very different story. Hushovd is a proven commodity on the cobbles of Roubaix, and so is every other member of the black and blue unit.
Roger Hammond, a former podium finisher in Roubaix, is particularly excited about this weekend's race. His health and form are returning, and there's no questioning his motivation.
"I'm finally starting to feel healthy. I have had a very difficult sprint with this unseasonably warm weather aggravating my allergies far more than usual. I am really looking forward to the weekend. It is my favorite race, and I look forward to it all year round, so I will try with everything I have for the team. All I hope is there will be a cobblestone on our bus Sunday evening!"