"He is the most impressive cyclist I have ever met" - Tadej Pogacar could win any race on the calendar insists Pavel Sivakov as Paris-Roubaix rumours intensify
Cycling
The rumours continue to swirl that Tadej Pogacar could be set for a Paris-Roubaix debut in 2025, following his recent reconnaissance of the cobbles. One man who knows the Slovenian better than most, is UAE Team Emirates - XRG teammate Pavel Sivakov and according to the Frenchman, Pogacar would be more than capable of winning Paris-Roubaix.
"I've been fortunate to share a team with some of the greatest champions since my time at Sky and INEOS, but Tadej's ease, his superiority... I've never seen anything like it," Sivakov raves about his team leader in conversation with Eurosport France. One thing more than most has caught Sivakov's eye in regards to Pogacar too, the technical ability of the Slovenian.
"Technically, he's a sight to behold. He can do everything, that's his great strength," explains the Frenchman. "There are people who have that technical talent , which allows them to save a lot of energy in the race, and that allows them to make a difference even if they are not the strongest from the start, but Tadej is already very, very good physically. He is unstoppable."
And it is because of this, that Pogacar's dream of a Paris-Roubaix triumph is one that must be considered incredibly realistic, despite his relative lack of experience on the cobbles. "He can win any race. Maybe he lacks a bit of speed to be a pure sprinter, but his top speed already makes him very difficult to beat," says Sivakov. "He is the most impressive cyclist I have ever met."
When asked whether or not Pogacar will take part in Paris-Roubaix in 2025 though, Sivakov is unable to give the golden answer. "No, I honestly have no idea," he insists with a smile, although noting that the Slovenian's trip to the course for recon was an open secret within the team. "I knew back in January , because he had told me, that he was going to do that reconnaissance of both Flanders and Roubaix. But that has nothing to do with whether he is going to participate or not."
"I am sure that physically it is a test that can do him good, but I think the decision will really depend on the next races, like Strade and so on," Sivakov concludes. "It's one of those races where the 'risk factor' is highest. It's a difficult race, and after Roubaix there are the Ardennes, the Tour... It's a difficult decision to make. It's clear that he'll do it at some point during his career. But I don't know if it will be this year. The doubt between doing it this year or waiting a bit will be resolved between him and the team bosses. It's clear that seeing him there would be exceptional."
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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