Lebron James is the King on the court, but the basketball icon is also a known cycling enthusiast. And he has a favourite for Sunday’s Paris-Roubaix.
King James shared a brief pep talk, hyping up Mathieu van der Poel ahead of Sunday’s showdown with Tadej Pogačar. James seems just generally hyped, like the rest of us, on the lore and anticipation surrounding the most well-known Monument in cycling.
“Nothing but respect for greatness at the highest level. MvdP is just a different breed,” James starts. “The preparation. The mindset. The willingness to embrace the pain. That’s what separates legends from the rest.”
Van der Poel has proven he has that mix of attributes in the past. Three times, in fact. The Dutch star will chase a historic fourth victory on Sunday in a likely battle with Tadej Pogačar.
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James isn’t just about van der Poel. He’s knows that Paris-Roubaix is special.
“The Hell of the North isn’t just another race. It’s a test of will. The mud. The cobbles. The chaos. It’s about who you are when things get uncomfortable.”
James’s final message to van der Poel?
“Go be great. Go make history. The world is watching for a reason.“
Oh wait, there’s more. In line with his recent deal with Canyon, James also shouts-out the recently released Endurance CFR the team will ride Sunday.