After Sunday’s Tour of Flanders, the peloton heads to France for the start of Paris-Roubaix. Buoyed by his dominant win last weekend, Tadej Pogacar will be looking for his first victory on the French cobbles.
Tadej Pogacar will be the man to beat in France this Sunday. The world champion won his second Tour of Flanders last weekend in impressive style, with other riders simply unable to match his level. “We just have to accept that he is the best cyclist in the world right now,” said runner-up Mads Pedersen after the race.
But a Pogacar victory in Roubaix is not a sure thing. For one thing, it will be his very first attempt at winning the cobblestone classic. Unlike his rivals, the Slovenian has not been able to prepare properly for the race, having only decided to take part a few weeks ago.
“We just have to accept that he is the best cyclist in the world right now”
Weighing just 66kg, Pogacar is also a lightweight compared to the average Paris-Roubaix winner. The route does not have any significant climbs for the world champion to shine on, and experts believe that his weight will mean that he will simply lack the power to break away from his competitors.
Not for the first time this season, his main rival will be Mathieu van der Poel. The Dutchman has much more experience on the cobbles, having won the last two editions of the race. However, he is not at his best due to a recent illness.
Preparation and luck
Wout Van Aert could also be a threat to Pogacar’s ambitions. After a disappointing start to the season, his form has been improving week by week, culminating in a fourth-place finish last weekend.
Van Aert and his team have also been preparing meticulously for this race. The Belgian is considering wearing a time trial helmet and has tested a special set of tyres that can change pressure depending on the surface.
The most important factor, however, could be luck. A flat tyre could be the difference between victory and defeat, and the predicted rain will make the French cobbled roads even more difficult to traverse.
Paris-Roubaix takes place on Sunday 13 April.
