“], “filter”: { “nextExceptions”: “img, blockquote, div”, “nextContainsExceptions”: “img, blockquote, a.btn, a.o-button”} }”>
Tadej Pogačar will have a red-carpet leadout onto the Arenberg Forest in his wildly anticipated Paris-Roubaix debut Sunday.
UAE Emirates-XRG revealed its Roubaix raiders who will chaperone the world No. 1 into the cobblestone chaos, and it’s an impressive lineup by any measure.
Pogačar, fresh off a morale-crushing win at Tour of Flanders, will be flanked by a bruising UAE Emirates-XRG squad stacked with horsepower and Roubaix pedigree.
Also read: Paris-Roubaix weekend primer
“Paris-Roubaix is a completely different race, it’s new territory, but I fully accept the challenge. I’ll try to do my best,” said the Slovenian superstar in a team release Wednesday.
“We have a very strong team for this race, with guys who have lots of experience and we can use this to our advantage.
2 former podium finishers part of Pogačar patrol
Backing Pogačar are two proven Roubaix warriors in Florian Vermeersch and Nils Politt, both former runners-up at the “Queen of the Classics.”
Their presence will provide the wheels Pogačar will need to follow the chaos and avoid trouble in the cobblestone mayhem looming Sunday.
Add in classics engine Tim Wellens, powerhouse Mikkel Bjerg, young Portuguese talent Antonio Morgado, and Colombian sprinter Sebastian Molano, and UAE’s lineup looks built for speed to protect cycling’s crown jewel against the perils of cycling’s most dangerous race.
“It will be a very hard race but I think with the shape I have now that this is the right moment to give it a try at least,” Pogačar said. “We had a great battle last weekend at Flanders and I hope we can put on a good show again this Sunday.”
Also read: How much do the Paris-Roubaix winners make?
If UAE’s henchmen can keep Pogačar upright and out of trouble, anything will be possible if he’s racing deep into the magical sixth hour near the front of the race.
If the legs can match the hype, history could be written Sunday.
UAE Emirates-XRG for Paris-Roubaix
Tadej Pogačar
Nils Politt
Florian Vermeersch
Tim Wellens
Mikkel Bjerg
Antonio Morgado
Sebastian Molano
