Pogacar disappoints Strava fans after "one of the highest power outputs I’ve ever seen" and enjoys Roubaix shower after crash

Tadej Pogacar likely wouldn’t have won even without his crash, the Slovenian rider from UAE Team Emirates-XRG admitted after his debut in Paris-Roubaix. The world champion battled with Mathieu van der Poel, but after crashing, he never managed to catch him again.

“The atmosphere was amazing, there were so many people on every sector. That really helps when there’s a headwind or crosswind, so it was a beautiful race,” Pogacar reflected afterward. Although he looked pale at the end after an incredibly tough day, he defended his second place valiantly. “At the end I was pretty empty, I suffered, and those last 20 kilometers felt really long.”

Just how tough was it? Pogacar already noticed it during the race. “This was definitely one of the hardest races I’ve done in my career. It’s a shame I didn’t have my bike computer for the final 40 or 35 kilometers, because that file would’ve been impressive. The power, when there was still five of us, was one of the highest I’ve ever seen in my life. It was a really tough race.”

In quotes shared by his own team, he added: “You’d think this is a flat race, but in terms of power, it’s one of the toughest I’ve done. Then you add the cobbles and the stress, and that makes it a very hard race. But this is a useful experience for the future — so I can be a little less exhausted next time.”

Read more below the video.

Pogacar misjudged the corner completely

When Pogacar increased the pace with 38 kilometers to go, cycling fans settled in for an exciting duel. But he overshot a corner. “I saw motorbikes on the edge of the road and to me, it looked like they were going straight. Nobody was turning, and suddenly I was approaching the corner very fast, because we had a tailwind and I had just launched an attack. I went full gas, but it was too fast.”

Speaking to NOS about the crash on the cobbles, he said: “In a few days I’ll probably feel stupid about it, but today it was all or nothing. I ended up second. I took too many risks and then you can crash. It was a normal race situation where you just give everything to try and drop Mathieu.”

That was necessary, because Pogacar has great respect for Van der Poel. “Mathieu is a great champion, one of the best riders in the world. It’s an honor to race against him — and if I were still a kid, he would be my idol. Racing him gives me strong motivation. But being up there with him and Jasper Philipsen wasn’t ideal, so I had to try something.”

Read more below the video.

Pogacar unsure if he will return to Paris-Roubaix

Whether he could have won without the crash, Pogacar doubted in his interview with Sporza. “I wouldn’t have had a big chance anyway. Can I win this race? I think so. I finished second in my first participation, so that means I can fight for the win. Already next year? Maybe. I don’t know yet.” That was also his answer in the mixed zone with other media: “Maybe, probably, I don’t know,” leaving the door open for a possible return to Roubaix.

With his team, he said: “Today was a great race. We finished with two guys in the top five,” referring to Florian Vermeersch, who placed fifth. “We can come back with a strong team and stay motivated in our hunt for victory in the coming years. I don’t want to be too greedy — I want to enjoy what we’ve achieved. Van der Poel and I will now ride different races with different rivals, something to look forward to.”

UAE team manager Mauro Gianetti was optimistic about Pogacar’s future chances in an interview with Cyclism'Actu: “I think Tadej surprised even himself. That feels great. He enjoyed it and rode well. He felt comfortable on the cobbles but was a bit unlucky with the crash. The fact that he attacked shows he felt good. Van der Poel was just very strong today and deserved the win. Beating him in a sprint would have been tough. That’s cycling — you’ve got to stay on your bike and have a bit of luck.”

Read more below the video.

Pogacar ends Roubaix debut with iconic shower

With all the quotes and drama, it’s easy to forget this was Pogacar’s debut at Paris-Roubaix. And when you debut, you’re treated to the iconic showers in the Vélodrome. Pogacar clearly enjoyed the warm water, resulting in some memorable footage. “Pogacar steps into a piece of history,” UAE Team Emirates-XRG posted on X. “These showers are a meeting place for the champions and the finishers, a place where the heroes and the survivors come together to wash away dirt, sweat and (often) blood all the same.”

Read also

Vanmarcke tested Visma’s tire pressure system and sees the benefits — but also the disadvantages: "If I were an opponent..."

🎥 Perpetrator quickly identified after 'attempted manslaughter' on van der Poel and reports to Belgian police

🎥 Pogacar (bleeding after 3-ton crash) and Van Aert (bleeding knee) crash, Pedersen and Ganna puncture, Teunissen crashes

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Get every week the latest news about CYCLING in your inbox!

Subscribe