Will we see Pogacar in Paris-Roubaix this year? "They haven't said no, and if there’s no no, then he’ll just ride"

It was quite a bombshell in the cycling world when we saw Tadej Pogacar flying over the cobblestones of the Bos van Wallers on his Instagram last week. The fact that the Slovenian from UAE Team Emirates-XRG wants to ride the Hell of the North at some point is no longer a secret. When exactly that will be, however, remains a mystery, as both Pogacar and his team are keeping their cards close to their chest. Yet, according to some experts, it’s going to happen this year.

Versatile. Pogacar has repeatedly shown his adaptability in the peloton. In his first race of the calendar year, the UAE Tour, the Slovenian once again demonstrated this in a playful manner. After a flat stage, he even contested the sprint, despite the finish slightly inclining. Pogi launched his sprint 250 meters too early but later explained that his original plan was to lead out teammate Molano. The Colombian had already abandoned earlier, but Pogacar still wanted to be involved in the finale. "The idea of a lead-out was apparently still in my head because I went into the wind way too early! If Molano hadn’t had bad luck, it could have been something really beautiful," he reflected afterward.

Earlier this month, Pogacar had already scouted the route for the Tour of Flanders. The Slovenian is returning to Flanders this year after a one-year absence — yes, indeed, he won the race in 2023. Not long after, Pogacar was spotted further south. The Flemish roads had been traded for the cobblestones of northern France, reigniting the Pogacar-Roubaix debate. Could this be the year we see Pogi finishing in the Roubaix velodrome?

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Pogacar made his presence known in the sprint of the opening stage of the UAE Tour

Eurosport analyst sure of Pogacar's participation in Roubaix: "For me, there's absolutely no question"

The Eurosport experts in the Kop over Kop podcast are convinced. "For the cycling world, it’s still a big question mark, but for me, there's absolutely no question," Dutch analyst Jan Hermsen stated emphatically. "Especially after Matxin’s statements this week. Pogacar is simply going to ride Paris-Roubaix. How he will perform there? That’s what I’m curious about."

While Pogacar himself has been asked about it countless times, his team also frequently faces questions about the Slovenian superstar’s schedule. Hermsen noted that the team never gave a definitive no, which led him to draw his conclusion. "They have a set program up to a certain point, and after that, he decides… They haven't said no, and if there’s no no, then he’ll just ride. That’s something I’m really looking forward to."

Former pro Bobbie Traksel, also a Dutchman, agrees with his Eurosport colleague. "It would be fantastic if he rides Paris-Roubaix. I think it will depend on how he performs at that moment. If it’s on the limit or not entirely top-level, then he won’t ride it. Instead, he’ll focus on trying to win the Amstel Gold Race, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and La Flèche Wallonne." Traksel believes that if Pogacar chooses Roubaix, it will also impact the rest of his season. "If he rides Roubaix, then I don’t think he’ll do those other races. I think he’ll then decide: Okay, now it’s time to launch and head to the Vuelta," predicts the 43-year-old Dutchman.

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