"I think he had to sprint with a flat tire" - UAE teammate believes Tadej Pogacar couldn't do regular sprint in Roubaix
Cycling
Paris-Roubaix is a race where many just survive. That was the case with António Morgado, who punctured five times during the race. However he was able to provide Tadej Pogacar with key support, and also believes the World Champion arrived at the finish with a flat tire on his bike.
"Fortunately, I didn't crash. In the end, I did get a puncture five times. Four times before the Trouée d'Arenberg and then another one in the finale, so it was difficult to finish the race at all," Morgado said in a post-race interview with In de Leiderstrui.
The Portuguese rider worked intensely over the first cobbled sectors of the race as UAE looked to push the pace from early on and create fatigue in the peloton, as well as reducing it. It was a plan that was well on its way, until Tadej Pogacar punctured and had several minutes of riding then on a neutral bike.
Morgado waited for his leader and then helped in the chase, but whilst doing so punctured himself and just like that his aid to the eventual second place had ended. "Fortunately, I was able to change wheels quickly twice and also change with my own team twice".
"That last time I had a puncture, Jayco gave me a wheel, that was nice of them. But yeah, this race is... just making sure you make it to the velodrome. I don't even know if I made it within the time limit (he arrived within 15 minutes, well inside the limit, ed.), but what ultimately matters is that everyone is safe. We will try again next year".
Morgado hints at flat tire on Tadej Pogacar's bike
What mattered for UAE was Tadej Pogacar however, and the plan didn't come to fruition, with a repeat of last year's seecond place. "We had a good plan. When we came down from sectors 27 and 26, we had four men at the front. I got a puncture there, but the guys really did a good job".
"It wasn't really a lucky day for us. I also heard that Florian [Vermeersch] had crashed. So luck wasn't on our side, but we should be proud as a team. We did everything to get Tadej into the best position. Second again, that's not a bad result".
After the finish Morgado looked at Tadej Pogacar's bike and has an interest observation, which is yet to be confirmed by the man himself or the team staff: "I think he had to sprint with a flat tire. We checked his bike and it looked like he had a flat rear tire".
"We are really very proud of him, because he also had to change bikes. When I got back to him, I got another flat. Today was very tough, but I am very, very proud to be part of this team. As I said, we will definitely come back," he concluded.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
claps 16visitors 15
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- I think Jonas would have lost the TDF by 4+ minutes (at the least) and might not have even been in the top 3. Too much talent in the younger riders to say anyone not named Pogačar would have been top 3md197503-11-2026
- this is just stupid. you already have 23%, gravel is over the topabstractengineer03-11-2026
- There was once a time when Lance was supremely popular and he used his artificial "It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life" persona to lead his mob in going after Greg. There was no one Lance did not abuse in protecting his phony hero image. Lance promoted himself as a divine megastar and he let down millions of cancer victims and gullible devotees who clung far too long to the charade. Lance is the epitome of a corrupt person and because of his power, many around him, including business enterprises, succumbed to the evil. All who got in Armstrong's way were mercilessly attacked by him and his minions. This remarkably continues today with a new generation. LeMond was a number one enemy and paid a huge price. Who do you think slandered who?Yepperoni03-11-2026
- You despise him because he calls out the truth....OK clown !frieders303-11-2026
- JV is really slighting himself with not doing the 1 dayers.. 🤷
leedorney02-11-2026 - Watch the interview on youtube. I don't speak French. I do speak English and Spanish and you can hear it in his voice. Years ago LeMond had real personal problems I imagine in no small part because of Armstrong. then Armstrong goes round "full blast" re: LeMond having drinking and drug problems. The same way Andreu was expelled from mainstream cycling so was LeMond. On the positive side the clips of the ride and chatting with old teammates and was good. To seemed like a fun day and experience and good reason brush up his French.atom02-11-2026
- and another no-news article around the ‚2 tokyo jogging rounds‘ headline, this time spiced with some days old ‚news‘ that the LA and japan vacation trips come during or after the tdf route release. i am getting more and more annoyed by this time-stealing no-news crap. but who am i to complain? nobody forces me to come back for more ‚news‘ day after day …Ketterechts02-11-2026
- It would likely be a very steep section of 4.1 km, not changing the average gradient considerably, with the climb remaining 10.1 km at 11.8%. It would reach 20% on the gravel. It would start 1.6 km in, and finish with 4.2 km left to climb (before the short final descent)
Rafionain-Glas02-11-2026 - Welcome to the off-season.
santiagobenites02-11-2026 - guillaume martin in this list is quite a surprise as a gc rider.Ketterechts02-11-2026
Loading
14 Comments