"I am under no illusions. There are other riders in better shape than me", said Cancellara (28) ahead of the Paris-Roubaix, Sunday's 259 km race, which is being held for the 107th time.

Cancellara is not prepared to forecast the result, even though he can see signs that put him in an optimistic mood.

"The encouraging thing is that things went better for me in the Tour of Flanders when we were riding on the cobbled sections and the speed rose." Paris-Roubaix is one of Cancellara's favourite races.

In addition to this victory, he has scored three other great results, with a 2nd place in the previous year, a 4th place (2004) and an 8th (2005). Â.