ANALYSIS | The world champion that Pogacar will need in order to win the 2026 Paris-Roubaix
CyclingThursday, 04 December 2025 at 21:30
In 2026, there is no doubt that Paris-Roubaix will once again be one of Tadej Pogacar's main objectives. The Slovenian loves monuments and the spring classics, and intends on winning them all before the end of his career. But to do that, he has to get through an incredible Mathieu van der Poel, and for that he needs all the weapons he can get at UAE Team Emirates - XRG. Florian Vermeersch may end up being an unexpected key weapon to use against the world's very best classics specialists.
Van der Poel, barring a setback, will again be the favorite when the "Hell of the North" is just around the corner. He has earned it by winning the last three editions of the monument - showing incredible endurance, pure power and unmatched technical ability on the road bike. These are simply aspects that Pogacar and UAE can't damage, and so they have to up their game in order to try and defeat the Dutchman.
A fundamental factor in winning Paris-Roubaix is luck. In the end, getting a flat tire is a common occurrence on the hellish pavé sectors. But that doesn't depend on Pogacar or UAE. What can be controlled and improved is the help that the Slovenian can have in the race, and for that reason Florian Vermeersch will have to offer his most complete version.
As he has proven, Vermeersch is one of the best riders in the world today in Paris-Roubaix. In fact, that was probably the reason UAE signed him for the 2025 season, besides his abilities as a rouleur and potential road captain. His best result was a second place in the 2021 edition, behind only Sony Colbrelli. And in his first year with the UAE team he finished 5th, although he wasn't fully satisfied with result, showcasing his ambition to improve further even in a race where he looked to be fighting against superior competition.
Florian Vermeersch has earned his spot at UAE Team Emirates - XRG's elite classics team in 2025. @Sirotti
Reasons to believe in an improved Vermeersch
If he is already a life insurance in Paris-Roubaix, there are several reasons to be confident that the 2026 edition could be better, and essential for Tadej Pogacar to raise his arms in the velodrome for the first time in his career:
- Vermeersch is already a world champion: the 26-year-old Belgian already knows what it's like to win a rainbow jersey. In 2025, he won the World Gravel Championships, another discipline in which he is a great performer.
- His end of 2025: in addition to the World Championships, Florian Vermeersch finished the road season at a very high level, almost winning the Veneto Classic. The UAE rider almost won the last race of the calendar, but was beaten in the sprint by the surprise of the day, Sakarias Koller Loland of Uno-X Mobility.
- Better adjustment to UAE: Vermeersch has already completed his first year with the peloton's biggest squad. In the end, joining Pogacar's team is no easy feat for anyone, but in 2026 he will be more familiar with all aspects surrounding, and even more prepared to offer his full support to the Slovenian for victory in the Hell of the North.
Original: Jorge Borreguero
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- What does he need to pay Pogi to lead him out?Veganpotter04-12-2025
- Ayuso is not a surprise if you look at his previous 5yrs.Veganpotter04-12-2025
- What do you mean?BenAflec04-12-2025
- Just making the note that it’s actually closer to 120 because most of it is consumed in the first 4 hrs, not evenly across 5 hrs up until the finish.crharnishphd04-12-2025
- WVA dropped TP and his bad knee.Cyclingnut04-12-2025
- Everyone shouts "rider x" is getting better and could beat Pogacar... Tadej is still improving year on year too.....slappers6604-12-2025
- It's not a big blow for Pogacar. Today, Pogacar relies on a close, increasingly Slovenian circle of experts. Among them, the central figure is his longtime friend Ziga Jerman, who took on the role of masseur in 2025. Jerman has known Pogačar since before his global fame, when they cycled together at the Ljubljana club Rog, so Elguezabal’s departure does not pose a threat for Pogi but rather marks the end of a very successful chapter. UAE will have to fill the gap in its professional staff, but for Pogi, this departure will not play an important role.NikkoNicco04-12-2025
- OK, enough of this BS. No one went to college or university from kindergarten. First, Remco must graduate from high school with excellent results to meet with the professor Pogacar in university and to be in same room with him. But you see, Pogi the Great also has a PhD (doctorate in cycling). In 2026, I want to see that success from Remco in high school, because I haven't seen it in these 7 years.NikkoNicco04-12-2025
- calling him a star in cross before he beats MVDP or WVA is also a big stretch.mij04-12-2025
- I think once he's the undisputed leader in a race, he can become more consistent than he was in the past.Ride197404-12-2025
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