“I see him causing absolute chaos" - Legendary commentator Phil Liggett previews Pogacar's Paris-Roubaix debut
Cycling
Tadej Pogacar’s upcoming debut at Paris-Roubaix has the cycling world buzzing, and legendary commentator Phil Liggett is among those watching with curiosity and excitement.
Speaking on NBC’s Beyond The Podium, Liggett shared his thoughts on the reigning Tour de France champion taking on one of the sport’s most unforgiving races.
“Once you get to the forest of Arenberg, and the trenches outside, it’s every man for himself, it’s a battleground,” Liggett explained. “If you drop a wheel your race could be over.”
Paris-Roubaix, often referred to as the “Hell of the North”, is notorious for its brutal cobbled sectors, unpredictable conditions, and chaotic racing. Pogacar, known for his attacking flair and incredible endurance, will face a vastly different challenge on the bone-rattling pavé of northern France.
“I wonder how Tadej will handle all that chaos,” Liggett continued. “He will have to hold his position at the front from the first cobblestones.”
With his aggressive style and love for racing on instinct, Pogacar might be tempted to light up the race early. But as Liggett cautioned, the real challenge may lie in pacing his efforts across nearly the monument distance.
“Such a difficult race. With his enthusiasm, he’s going to want to let himself go as soon as he gets the chance. But can he last the distance – that’s the question?”
The Slovenian superstar has already conquered the Tour of Flanders and has Il Lombardia, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and the World Championships on his palmarès. But Roubaix remains an entirely different beast, one that has humbled many greats.
Still, Liggett is certain that Pogacar won’t go unnoticed: “I see him causing absolute chaos!”
With Mathieu van der Poel (the reigning Paris-Roubaix champion) expected to be on the start line, fans could be treated to yet another showdown between two of the sport’s generational talents.
The question remains: can Pogacar beat Van der Poel at his own game on the cobbles of Roubaix? We’ll find out next month in one of the most highly anticipated editions of the Hell of the North in years.
He'll certainly last it and prob ride his own race, at the front 😁
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- I don't think so, maybe in a different GT, not in the Tour. Last year, to be 3rd, he would have to be better than Remco. And he wasn't, on any terrainvappaxbipmv03-04-2025
- Or sprinting, or against wind. I think by now they’ve optimised the tire tech and pressures to largely smooth out rider weight effects. BUT, I’m going to go through past podiums to see what weight distribution trends are to be spotted coz I’m curious now.Mistermaumau03-04-2025
- I also wasn’t too impressed by the final lead out, they’ve got to practice that, Wout had far too long to ride alone but then again it seemed as if the lead-outs had themselves run out of steam too early which is what makes me believe none of them could have won, Powfull looked totally fresh and in the end it was just a case of him being stronger than the others, not much you can do against that, just like you can’t outdo MVDP in the end when he’s in shape.Mistermaumau03-04-2025
- Exactly, a rider (or sprinter in athletics) can’t even tell themselves when it will happen until it does. Obviously if you have an idea that could happen, you should maybe envisage testing your theory with perhaps an small sharp attack well before race-end.Mistermaumau03-04-2025
- Yes but 20 minutes as a domestique isn’t 20 minutes as a leader, and you know as well as anybody that Pog winning is in no way a guarantee. Granted, neither Pog nor Remco nor Jinas nor Primoz or some more winning starts to seem far-fetched but a podium would certainly be targetable if he doesn’t have to worry about Jonas.Mistermaumau03-04-2025
- The final appeal he lost against his old team for « breaking » his contract.Mistermaumau03-04-2025
- How exactly is that a good thing on cobbles or flat? Lower weight is only beneficial on a climbvappaxbipmv03-04-2025
- I said much better, not better. He probably will improve but right now he needs about 20 minutes of free time to win the Tour against Pogacar. And the was offered leadership in Giro and other races but turned it downvappaxbipmv03-04-2025
- If niermann this he can predict cramps, that would be helpful for a lot of people around the world. It was the standard strategy for Benoot and Jorgensen to attack and they should haveabstractengineer03-04-2025
- Wow! People have to understand that being light is absolutely a good thing on cobbles, as bouncing means you have to lift yourself over and over again. Being a lighter cyclist is always a good thing (ceteris paribus), unless you're going downhill.acem8203-04-2025