Pogacar's racing style is heavily criticized, meanwhile he fuels Roubaix rumors: "Big chance in the near future"
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Follow us on GoogleTadej Pogacar’s attack in the flat fifth stage of the UAE Tour remains a hot topic. The world champion has faced plenty of criticism for his move, but it doesn’t seem to bother him. Instead, he has his sights set on something else—his potential participation in Paris-Roubaix. Meanwhile, he’s also been spotted riding with the son of a former cycling giant.
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Was he just bored? Was there a bet with Florian Vermeersch? Either way, Pogacar went on the attack in a stage where it wasn’t necessary. What he likely saw as a bit of fun or a training effort didn’t go down well. The Spanish newspaper AS reported that multiple riders voiced their frustration over his antics. After he was caught, some even approached him directly to say his move was “not done.”
Even outside the peloton, opinions were sharp. Analyst Rodrigo Beenkens told RTBF why the move was not smart. “Be careful,” he warned. “When you’re already this strong, it’s not wise to show this kind of arrogance to your rivals. And based on the feedback we’ve received, they didn’t exactly make friends in the Emirates.” Fellow analyst Gérard Bulens agreed. “The timing was really bad. I think the team management will tell him that very clearly, and he’ll likely accept it without issue. Maybe he even regrets it now.”
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Roubaix already this year? "If I’m in good shape, I can try it"
Well, it won’t bother Pogacar—he just loves to race. His mind is on other things. Speaking on BartoliTime, a show on France RMC Sport, he discussed his mission to win all five cycling Monuments. “Only Sanremo and Roubaix are missing from my list of Monuments,” he said. “I’ve come very close to winning Sanremo multiple times, but it’s one of the hardest for me to win. I recently did a recon of Paris-Roubaix, and it really caught my attention.”
That says it all—he will likely show up in the Hell of the North sooner rather than later. “There’s a big chance I’ll start in the near future. I can’t say yet whether it’ll be this year or next, but I can’t say no. There’s always a chance, so we’ll see. I used to think it was too hard for me, but after seeing the course, I think I might actually be able to do it. If I’m in good shape, I can try it. But I’ll leave the surprise for after Sanremo.”
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Son of Philippe Gilbert trains with Pogi & Urska
This will make cycling fans’ hearts race. But Roubaix is still some time away. For now, Pogacar is focused on training—alongside his fiancée, Urska Zigart. But they had an unexpected training partner: Philippe Gilbert’s 14-year-old son, Alan Gilbert, who joined them for a ride. The young rider took full advantage of the opportunity and finished the training session around Nice with a few selfies.
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Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
- I’m still learning the calendar: is cyclocross mainly preparation for the spring classics, or does he race it as a separate goal as well? I’d love to see him back in the mud.jeremya04-11-2026
- The article makes it sound as if Roubaix is the only classic where he has a realistic shot. He’s been close in Flanders too, and one good tactical day can change everything.jennifer1904-11-2026
- Milan-Sanremo and Roubaix is a pretty special pair of Monuments. Any clues yet on which cyclocross races he’ll target?andrewf04-11-2026
- He’s right to be realistic about Flanders with Pogačar and Evenepoel around, but you can’t count Van Aert out on those roads. If he gets the right opportunity, he has the engine and experience to take it.davidm04-11-2026
- That Roubaix win felt like such a release after all the near-misses. Brilliant to hear that joy outweighed relief for Wout.patriciaw04-11-2026
- Why would a mountain time trial be different from a normal one? Is it just that the riders have to climb the whole course?samanthak03-11-2026
- I don’t quite buy the “fear of failure” argument. Riders can race the Giro and still have confidence in July; it comes down to recovery and planning, doesn’t it?patriciaw03-11-2026
- The Giro-Tour double is a massive ask, even for the very best. Pogačar made it look almost routine in 2024, but that’s hardly a sensible benchmark for everyone else!pedalpowe2903-11-2026
- Bakelants makes a fair point: if the 2027 Tour really suits Remco, he can’t afford to dilute the build-up. That 37km flat TT will be tempting, mind.julien03-11-2026
- Mont Blanc sounds like a spectacular finish, though four climbs on the final day might be a bit much after eight hard stages. Hope the route details are clear soon.raceready703-11-2026
