Unless you’ve been living under a cobblestone, you’ve probably heard the news that Tadej Pogačar is lining up for this year’s edition of Paris-Roubaix. In many ways it’s a rebuttal of the decades-old received wisdom that the cobbled classics are not a place for the Grand Tour contender – but Tadej Pogačar is not just any Grand Tour contender, inching closer with each passing victory to Merckxian status.
The hype and hyperbole is already flowing thick and fast, and if you’re hoping for that to die down there’s some bad news for you ahead of Holy Week: Tadej Pogačar just reconned the bulk of Paris-Roubaix, and he’s already picked up three cobbled sector KOMs.
On a 213 kilometre training ride on Wednesday, the UAE Team Emirates star tackled most of the 30 cobbled sectors, before jumping the border into West Flanders to finish off with the Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg climbs – both potentially pivotal moments in this Sunday’s Tour of Flanders. But it’s the Paris-Roubaix segments – and their virtual silverware – that will really have the attention of his rivals, and the terror of those that are just trying to make it to the finish.
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