"I saw the sparkle in his eyes" - UAE DS explains when and why Tadej Pogacar decided to race Paris-Roubaix

In February Tadej Pogacar did a recon of Paris-Roubaix alongside Tim Wellens and DS Fabio Baldato. The Italian team DS details how it was about fun, but the riding led to the urge growing from the World Champion to race the Hell of the North.

For this, he has also decided to skip the E3 Saxo Classic and Gent-Wevelgem this week. "That doesn't mean he doesn't like those races. It's mainly about timing, also for the training and his peak form. It shouldn't be too long a period in which you have to push yourself every weekend. So he's shifting the planning by a week," Baldato told Sporza.

After he crashed hard at Strade Bianche, there were no apparent consequences and not only did he win the race but quickly recover. That could've made a difference in confirming his aspirations to race Roubaix. "It's not about whether it's wise or not, it's about safety. But in the end, you take risks in every race, right? You can always experience something, but my bosses (team managers, ed.) should really explain this. They know the real reasons better."

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OFFICIAL: UAE finally confirm Tadej Pogacar set for Paris-Roubaix debut in 2025 - Tour of Flanders also officially confirmed for world champion

Baldato was with Pogacar in France over a month ago and whilst the training was initially not shared online - rather, the World Champion was spotted - the reveal then blew up throughout the cycling world and UAE's management has been swarmed with constant questions about his presence. Now this has finally been confirmed.

"It was his desire and his wish. That's why we're skipping the races this week. Nobody rides the entire spring, right? I was with him when he was scouting with Tim Wellens. First we were just going to do Flanders, then Roubaix followed. So that wasn't planned. But afterwards I saw the sparkle in his eyes," he details. "We saw that he wanted it, he had to convince the bosses."

So we will have a Pogacar debut in Roubaix this year and as most races, he should automatically be a favourite for the win, even though a few riders will be better adapted to hunt for the triumph in the velodrome. "He deserves it too. Tadej is such a talent. If he wants to, he should follow his heart. And the team was prepared to go along with his dream."

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"They're two opposites when it comes to these things" - Tadej Pogacar's Paris-Roubaix start sets him apart from Jonas Vingegaard according to Bjarne Riis

"I see them both as equals" - Jan Ullrich insists there is nothing to separate Jonas Vingegaard & Tadej Pogacar ahead of 2025 Tour de France

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