PARIS – Three-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar is set to race in the legendary Paris-Roubaix for the first time, his UAE Team Emirates confirmed on Wednesday.
Known as the “Hell of the North” due to its treacherous cobbled mining roads, the race presents a significant challenge for the Slovenian rider, whose slender frame is less suited to the brutal one-day event.
The Paris-Roubaix is one of cycling’s five “Monuments” and is regarded as one of the sport’s most dangerous and unpredictable races.
Pogacar’s participation adds another layer of excitement to the April 13 showdown, as he becomes the first reigning Tour de France winner to take on the race since Greg LeMond in 1991.
LeMond finished 55th in his attempt, while past legends Bernard Hinault and Eddy Merckx also struggled to claim victory despite their Tour-winning pedigrees.
Neither Hinault nor Merckx triumphed in Paris-Roubaix after winning the Tour de France, though Merckx came closest in 1975, finishing second to Roger De Vlaeminck.
However, both riders achieved the rare feat of winning the Tour de France and Paris-Roubaix in the same year—Merckx in 1970 and Hinault in 1981. A victory in April would put Pogacar on a path to joining that elite company.
A Change in Strategy
Initially, Pogacar was slated to compete in the E3 Saxo Classic and Gent-Wevelgem. However, following discussions with his team, he opted to shift focus toward the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix instead.
“It was initially planned for Tadej Pogacar to participate in both the E3 Saxo Classic and Gent-Wevelgem,” read a statement from UAE Team Emirates.
“However, after discussions with the team, it has been decided that he will adjust his calendar to focus on the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix instead, aiming for peak form in those iconic races.”
The decision marks a victory for Pogacar, who has expressed a preference for one-day races over multi-stage events. However, the move came against the initial wishes of the team’s directors, who were concerned about the risk of injury.
Mauro Gianetti, UAE Team Emirates’ general manager, acknowledged the dangers of the notoriously difficult Paris-Roubaix course, which features over six million cobblestones, many of them uneven.
“A bad fall could put a question mark over his competing in the Tour de France and maybe the rest of the season,” said Gianetti. “He has enough time in his career to ride in Paris-Roubaix.”
Despite the risks, Pogacar remains determined, and his participation has thrilled Paris-Roubaix race director Thierry Gouvenou.
A Tough Challenge Ahead
“It is a huge moment for cycling,” said Gouvenou. “It has been a long time since we had a Tour de France winner who is a genuine contender to win the Paris-Roubaix.”
However, Pogacar will face stiff competition from the likes of reigning Milan-San Remo champion Mathieu van der Poel, Belgian star Wout Van Aert, and Italy’s Filippo Ganna.
“If Van der Poel is at the top of his game, it will be very difficult for Pogacar,” Gouvenou added. “If he wins, it will be against the odds. But that’s what we all want to see—champions tested to their limits.”
Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme also praised Pogacar’s bold approach.
“That he dares take this risk in a year he wants to win the Tour is a bold move,” Prudhomme said. “It’ll be a hell of a fight. I can’t wait to see it.”
Leave a Comment