‘They will definitely help’: ex-winner Knaven sees how Pogačar gets chances in Paris-Roubaix

The last four Monuments all went to Tadej Pogačar. On Sunday the Slovenian world champion will try to make it five from five at Paris-Roubaix. The UAE star was beaten by Mathieu van der Poel in 2025, so 'Pogi' will want revenge this year. Former winner Servais Knaven is pleased that a rider like Pogačar can even compete for the victory and explains neatly why below.

First, a trip back a quarter of a century, because it was in 2001 that Knaven struck in Paris-Roubaix. After a rock-solid bloc from Belgian team Domo-Farm Frites-Latexco dominated the Hell of the North, the Dutchman crossed the line in celebration. 'It has always been a special race for me, from the very first time I took part. I fell in love with it straight away,' Knaven told Cyclingnews.

This is how the now 55-year-old Dutchman speaks of 'the most beautiful moment of his cycling career'. This makes sense, considering Knaven completed every edition of Roubaix between 1995 and 2010. He is the joint record holder with 16 race finishes.

'It was the first year of the team. We were desperate to claim a big victory and until that day we hadn't really achieved good results,' he recalls. And what a victory it was. 'I can't remember anything at all about the finish, because you are so overwhelmed that you still can't believe it.'

That was no less than a quarter of a century ago and so much has changed since then. Especially when it comes to equipment. 'For sure, the tubeless tyres helped Pogačar to be up there,' Knaven says, looking back at Pogačar's debut in the Hell of the North last year. The Slovenian finished second behind Van der Poel, after a crash threw a spanner in the works.

Yet a type of rider like Pogačar can go very far in Roubaix, which according to Knaven is of course not solely down to the tubeless tyres. 'I’m not saying it's only that, because he's the best rider in the peloton, but it is super nice to see him being there in action and for him it is a big goal to try to win it. But for sure the tyres help.'

The Dutchman elaborates further. 'When you were very light and you were riding in the past you were bumping a lot more. Then, as a light rider, it was more of a disadvantage than for a heavy rider. I'm happy with that. It's nice to see that nowadays the weight is less of an issue.'

And so Sunday promises to be a true spectacle once again!