Tadej Pogacar targets historic Monument sweep at Paris-Roubaix classic
Tadej Pogacar aims to complete a historic sweep of cycling’s five Monuments at Paris-Roubaix this Sunday in northern France.
The Slovenian enters the brutal cobbled classic needing only this victory to become the first non-Belgian rider to claim all five of the sport’s most prestigious one-day races.
Victory would place the double world champion alongside legends Eddy Merckx, Rik Van Looy, and Roger De Vlaeminck.
It follows a phenomenal start to the season where the 26-year-old has won every event he has entered, including a record-equalling third Tour of Flanders title last weekend.
Surviving the Hell of the North
Despite his preternatural ability, the unforgiving nature of the French classic presents an entirely different challenge for the five-time Grand Tour winner.
Riders must navigate 258 kilometres of treacherous terrain, including nearly 55km of brutal, bone-rattling pavé.
The massive, uneven cobblestones require immense brute force, perfect positioning, and a significant amount of luck to avoid race-ending punctures.
This inherent unpredictability means normal racing tactics are often abandoned in the face of sheer survival.
Risk versus reward on the cobbles
Participating in such a dangerous event carries massive risks for a rider with grander ambitions later in the season.
Last year, UAE Team Emirates management actively discouraged their star asset from risking his Tour de France preparations on the treacherous French cobbles.
However, the allure of sporting immortality has clearly proved impossible to resist for the relentless 21st-century Cannibal.
He now stands on the precipice of becoming only the 12th rider to complete the coveted Flanders-Roubaix double in the same calendar year.
