POGACAR Tadej cycles during the men's elite race of the Milano-Sanremo one day cycling race (289 km) from Pavia and to Sanremo - North West Italy - March 22, 2025. Sport - cycling . (Photo by Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse)
World champion Tadej Pogacar is set to debut at Paris-Roubaix next month, as the Slovenian prepares for another Classics showdown against two-time winner Mathieu van der Poel.
Pogacar’s team, UAE Team Emirates, announced adjustments to his itinerary on Wednesday (26 March), as the 26-year-old was slated to compete in two events later this week.
“UAE Team Emirates stated, ‘It was originally scheduled for Tadej Pogacar to take part in both the E3 Saxo Classic and Gent-Wevelgem.'”
“After talks with the team, it has been determined that he will modify his schedule to concentrate on the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, targeting optimal performance in those legendary competitions.”
Earlier this year, a video of Pogacar navigating the Arenberg segment of the race ignited speculation about his potential debut, and he subsequently informed a French radio station that “there’s a strong possibility that I’ll be at the start” either this year or the next.
This indicates that the Tour of Flanders, commencing on 6 April, will be Pogacar’s upcoming event, as the Slovenian aims for a second victory to complement his 2023 success in Belgium.
The three-time Tour champion aims for a remarkable debut victory in France as he strives to get closer to winning all five Monuments, with Milan-San Remo still on the agenda following a thrilling finish last weekend where he finished third behind Filippo Ganna and the eventual victor Van der Poel.
Van der Poel, representing Alpecin–Deceuninck, is set to be Pogacar’s key rival in Paris-Roubaix on 13 April, as the Dutch rider secured victories in 2023 and 2024.
The event, known as ‘The Hell of the North’, spans 259.2km and is renowned for its cobblestones and challenging landscape.
