Pogacar targets maiden Paris-Roubaix victory

UAE Team Emirates-XRG arrive in Paris with all focus on the cobbled chaos of Paris-Roubaix, a race renowned for pushing riders to their absolute limit.

After a spectacular start to the spring classics campaign, with victories at Strade Bianche, Milano-Sanremo, and Ronde van Vlaanderen, the team head into one of cycling’s most revered races full of confidence.

Known as “The Hell of the North”, Paris-Roubaix is a monument like no other. The unforgiving cobbled roads of Northern France provide the toughest of tests for even the strongest riders. The race consistently delivers breathless, drama-filled action from start to finish.

Leading the charge for UAE Team Emirates-XRG is reigning World Champion Tadej Pogacar, who continues his pursuit of becoming the first Tour de France winner to conquer Paris-Roubaix since Bernard Hinault in 1981. Returning to the race for the second time, Pogacar is no longer a newcomer to the cobbles and arrives in red-hot form following commanding performances at Milano-Sanremo and Ronde van Vlaanderen.

After a narrow, picture-finish in Sanremo to beat out Briton Tom Pidcock, Pogacar returned to his trademark aggressive style in Flanders, launching a series of ferocious attacks to distance former World Champions Mathieu Van der Poel and Remco Evenepoel. His conclusive move came once again on the Oude de Kwaremont, before riding solo over the Paterberg and onto the finish in Oudenaarde.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG bring a squad built to excel on the cobbles, with experienced specialists Florian Vermeersch and Nils Politt set to play key roles in guiding Pogacar through the mayhem and pushing the pace in the peloton. Sebastian Molano and Mikkel Bjerg will be tasked with controlling the breakaway, with Bjerg once again underlining his value with a strong performance in Flanders. Portuguese duo Rui Oliveria and Antonion Morgado complete the line-up, providing crucial protection and support in positioning Pogacar at the front of the peloton as the race hits the cobbled sectors.

Pogacar: “It’s no secret that Paris-Roubaix is one of the big goals for this part of the season. The few races I’ve done so far have gone perfectly so the motivation is high but the pressure is low.

“I’m going to enjoy it no matter what the result and I’m looking forward to a good weekend of racing. We have such a strong team with guys who have been on the podium here before so it’s not only me who is capable of a result.”

The showdown is set to feature the biggest names in the sport, with a familiar cast of rivals ready to challenge once again. Mathieu Van der Poel returns as the three-time defending champion and race favourite, aiming for a historic fourth consecutive victory.

Danish powerhouse Mads Pederson will once again be hunting his elusive first monument win, with the former World Champion hoping to arrive in the Roubaix Velodrome in a reduced group where he can unleash his sprint. Belgian star Wout van Aert also lines up as a major contender, continuing his return to top form after a convincing display at the Tour of Flanders.

The 123rd edition of Paris-Roubaix will see the peloton tackle 285km of racing, with all thirty cobbled sectors packed into the final 165km.