Paris-Roubaix remains off Tadej Pogačar's race plan (for now)
Slovenian completes recon of Flanders, Roubaix and Gent-Wevelgem alongside Tim Wellens and Fabio Baldato
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Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates - XRG) has not added Paris-Roubaix to his official race programme, despite reconning the Trouée d'Arenberg alongside his teammate, Tim Wellens.
Several media outlets speculated over the possibility of the Slovenian taking part in the race after he posted a video on Instagram that showed him riding over the famous stretch of cobbles.
However, UAE’s sports manager, Matxin Joxean Fernandez, has told us that the recon to northern France was merely part of a wider Pogačar trip, as he looked at several critical parts at the Tour of Flanders, Gent-Wevelgem and Roubaix.
Wellens is set to race Paris-Roubaix this season and was with Pogačar during the rides at Flanders and Gent-Wevelgem. Sports director Fabio Baldato accompanied both riders on the trip.
“He made the recon with Baldato and Tim Wellens. They were in the area and did the recon of the Arenberg. In Tadej’s initial race programme, there’s no Paris-Roubaix this year. He simply did three days looking at the Tour of Flanders, Gent-Wevelgem and then Paris-Roubaix,” Fernandez told us over the phone.
“He was looking at the materials, the tyres, the bike and was riding with them and looking at the critical moments of those races. Tim is racing Paris-Roubaix, and Tadej went with him. At the moment, we’ve not looked at Roubaix for his race programme. Normally, he’ll stop after the Tour of Flanders and prepare for the Ardennes Classics,” he added.
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Pogačar has never raced Paris-Roubaix, but during the winter, there was speculation that he could make his debut in the race. The recent video has added fuel to the fire for a second time, and despite the comments from UAE, a reassessment of the situation is certainly possible at a later date.
However, when asked if Pogačar could add Roubaix to his race plans after the Tour of Flanders, Fernandez said: “We can’t speak about this. Maybe after Flanders, he has good confidence, but it all depends on the situation, but at the moment, no.”
Pogačar will make his season debut at the UAE Tour later this month before embarking on a Classics campaign that starts with Strade Bianche and includes Milan-San Remo, E3 Saxo Classic, Gent-Wevelgem, the Tour of Flanders, and the Ardennes Classics.
His Grand Tour plans are so far focussed on the Tour de France in July, but there are mounting reports in the media that he’ll also race the Vuelta a España and target the only Grand Tour he’s yet to win. Fernandez would only confirm that an announcement on the Vuelta would be made in the coming weeks.
“We’ll see soon, I think at the UAE Tour, it will be explained and announced by Tadej himself. I know, but the communication will be for the team at that moment,” he said.
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