📸 Pogacar explores (with Flemish juniors) in Flanders (and Trouée d'Arenberg?), but first race is outside Europe

The Tour of Flanders is now less than two months away, so preparations for Flanders' most beautiful race are in full swing. The same goes for Tadej Pogacar, who sat on his former team manager Allan Peiper's bench at Berg ten Houte on Sunday. "Enjoy the little things in life," the Slovenian commented in a photo he posted. 

Peiper received the bench at Maarkedal in 2023 as a wedding present from his wife because Berg ten Houte has always been his favorite slope. "Sit and rest on my favorite climb" is written on the bench. "As a wedding present, she gave me a bench on my favorite climb, Berg ten Houte: a unique gift but one with so much meaning for now and then. Some cycling icons and friends came when it was officially revealed, and beautiful words were spoken. You can "sit and rest on my favorite climb" while hiking or biking. Thank you, Katrien ❤️," Peiper wrote when announcing the bench.

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Pogacar sits on bench Peiper in Flanders

Pogacar took that to heart during a recon in Flanders on Sunday. In the bright sunshine, the world champion sat on the bench of his former team leader, with whom he won his first Tour de France in 2020. Peiper and Pogacar have always had a special bond, even though the team leader had to quit his job due to illness.

"Enjoy the little things in life," Pogacar added with his photo. "Allan, thank you for this bench. This allows me to rest and enjoy the sun," the Slovenian said on Instagram.

Resting is still possible for Pogacar, who will begin road season in a good week at the UAE Tour. After that, he will head to the Belgian classics via Strade Bianche and Milan-Sanremo, where he performed well last year. His preliminary program for 2025 includes the E3 Saxo Classic, Ghent-Wevelgem, and the Tour of Flanders, with the three Ardennes classics after that. The big goal is Flanders, where he hopes to score a photo a la Mathieu van der Poel with a rainbow jersey and arms in the air.

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Juniors ride along with Pogacar and Wellens

During the training ride in Belgium, Pogacar was accompanied by teammate Tim Wellens, but he also got a couple of Belgian juniors on his wheel during the lap. Sixteen-year-old Maurits Baart ran into the world champion while cycling himself. "I was in Kluisbergen with my training buddy Melvin Maddelein when I immediately recognized Tadej by bike," he told Het Laatste Nieuws.

"Tim Wellens was riding next to him, and together with Melvin, we quickly positioned ourselves on their wheel. I then asked him, somewhat laughing, if he shouldn't be in Spain, to which he replied, 'Soon'. He was in good spirits. He found it anything but irritating that we were following him. It wasn't easy. I think they were slowing down a bit; it was 'pushing the limit' to follow for us. We reached a speed of 47.6 km/h at one point."

The reward for the tremendous effort? I took selfies with the world champion once I returned to the hotel. "Truly a dream come true. Of all the riders you hope to encounter at such a training session, Pogacar is the superstar. The best rider in the peloton," concluded Baart, who rides for De Molenpurters Meulbeke.

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Pogacar now also spotted at Trouée d'Arenberg

That Pogacar is training on the Flemish roads is not surprising since he has already confirmed his desire to win the Tour of Flanders again. But what about that other monument that week? The Slovenian has been secretive about Paris-Roubaix for a while now. That he wants to ride it someday is no secret. But when he is a little more elusive about that. When given a microphone under his nose, the world champion always said he would not participate until he had gained a few kilos to be as prepared as possible for the Hell of the North.

But Pogacar wouldn't be Pogacar if he didn't occasionally mislead the media. Sports photographer Gaetan Flamme reportedly spotted the UAE Team Emirates-XRG superstar on the cobblestones of the Bos van Wallers. The Belgian photographer won the award for best cycling photo of the year just this year, so this is not just another fan who thinks he recognizes someone. It is not far from the Flemish roads, so it is not entirely inconceivable that he would have taken a trip to explore the cobblestones of northern France. Will he start in Paris-Roubaix, or is he deceiving us? We probably won't know until later...

Pogacar heading to UAE Tour: "One of our biggest goals this year"

At least one thing is sure: the Slovenian will lead his team in the UAE Tour next week. "I'm really excited and motivated to start the season. Luckily I can say that I had a pretty smooth preparation for this first part of the season," the two-time winner said in a press release. "I'm feeling good and ready to go. It's been a few years now since I've raced UAE Tour and I must say I'm looking forward to it." The last time Pogacar started (and also won) was in 2022.

This year, a third title is the goal. "I'm confident to lead the team and I will have strong support around me, both from my teammates and from all the support we get from the fans in UAE whenever we race there. The important thing is we put a good show and really push to win the title in the home race. Usually the key stages will be the time trial and then the two mountain finishes at Jebel Jais and Jebel Hafeet." At the Emirates, Jay Vine, Mikkel Bjerg, Rune Herregodts, Domen Novak and Florian Vermeersch will support the world champion. Sebastian Molano may go for his own success in the sprints.

Selection UAE Team Emirates - XRG for UAE Tour 2025:

• Tadej Pogacar
• Mikkel Bjerg
• Rune Herregodts
• Sebastian Molano
• Domen Novak
• Florian Vermeersch
• Jay Vine

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