"I was watching the motorbikes..." - Was a momentary lapse of concentration to blame for Tadej Pogacar's Paris-Roubaix crash?
CyclingMonday, 14 April 2025 at 12:15
He may not have managed to crown his Paris-Roubaix debut with a win, but Tadej Pogacar has once again left the entire cycling world incredibly impressed following his 2nd placed finish at the 2025 edition of the 'Hell of the North' behind Mathieu van der Poel.
For much of the race, Pogacar seemed every bit the match of Van der Poel, following any moves from the Dutchman and even launching a few of his own. At just over 38km to go however, disaster struck for the UAE Team Emirates - XRG leader, as he took a corner too exuberantly on the cobbles and ended up crashing, leaving Van der Poel solo at the head of the race, something he would not relinquish for the remainder.
"That atmosphere was amazing. On every sector there was so many people and it helps. Whether it's crosswinds or headwinds, it helps if there is a lot of people!" Pogacar smiled in his post-race interview afterwards. "In the end, I was pretty empty and yeah, I was suffering. The last 20km was really, really long."
On the crash itself, Pogacar admitted he may have lost a bit of concentration in his approach to the corner. "I saw the motorbikes, I think they were standing in the corner. I was watching them and in my head they were going straight, but nobody was turning so I came to the corner going really, really fast," he explains. "There was a tailwind, I was attacking and we were going all-out. So yeah, it was just too fast."
"It was definitely one of the hardest races I've ever done in my career," concludes the world champion. "It's a shame I didn't have a computer in the last 40km, when there was five of us in the front, my power was some of the highest I ever saw in my life."
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- They don’t half come up with some crap to turn events into stories. Problem is, if all this was true and so influential, that means 1. Riders are lacking inherent motivation and possibilities for motivation, 2. it’s due to race radio chatter he won and 3. They were lucky no attention was given and race radio didn’t mention him. In fact you are basically admitting outside influence skewed the race and if it works, this technique might get exploited commercially in future by corrupt or biased staff, rivals and officials. So c’mon guys, let’s stay a little factual coz otherwise you’re only going to shoot yourselves in the feet.Mistermaumau06-06-2025
- Maybe Ayuso will ride Tour de France coming July to help Pogi better than Adam Yates. We don't know what Gianetti and Matxin going on their minds.
James2631806-06-2025 - Glad it worked for Yates, I don't believe for 1 second that UAE would conduct themselves like so with Pog. #noway
leedorney06-06-2025 - He'd won the Giro after all. That should put him as the strongest rider by itself. His rivals couldn't match him on the Finestre. Superior team tactics, but also superior legs by no means. He didn't even miss a doping test. Believe it or notBM06-06-2025
- Solid worker this guy 💪leedorney06-06-2025
- One of the amazing things about cycling is how many races are happening at the same time. Stage, GC, and (as is clear here) job. It’s what makes the sport so interesting. On screen maybe not much is happening, but and yet so much is happening.RidesHills06-06-2025
- In contract year, i would say that if team duties permit, you are allowed to market yourself.abstractengineer06-06-2025
- Now its not a good team for talent development and opportunities. With Tadej hogging the GTs and the Monuments and the rest left fighting for scraps, there is very little chance for leadership roles which are critical in development of future greatsabstractengineer06-06-2025
- That is why talents shouldn't sign long term contracts of 5+ years. It leaves them vulnerable to team's decisionsabstractengineer06-06-2025
- OMG you've never been in a sprint if you get touched a little and stop sprinting ! Stay back on the peleton then if you can't take a lil' touch !frieders306-06-2025
It was still an incredible debute and winning this race is very much possible for Pogi if gives it a few more years experience. I was wondering if he didn't get good intel from the car and seemed to be trying to attack round the corner or at least apply pressure which it was just not the right place. Maybe the bikes played a part in why he didn't realise himself but I do feel given his stature and being the first ever Paris Roubaix for Poggi, if he needed more support from those around him in knowing the corners that you simply can't take like normal. I remember a gravel lane I took too hard once and it was a gentle turn but if you try to take hard it will throw you. Seems it was pretty common knowledge now for the others in the event but I didn't know and it ended up bloody and bruised all because I wasn't aware of this corner where the normal rules don't apply. I'd suspect similar myself.
I think with Tadej it’s often a case of his mind’s will being stronger than his racing intelligence, he’s lucky to be strong enough to recover from potential mistakes so knows he never has to worry too much about going past his natural limit but under pressure he makes more misjudgment than the average elite pro. I think Mohorič knows that about him too and possibly saved him from himself.
Those motorbike riders were pretty good at taking that corner, probably fooled him into thinking it couldn’t be so difficult, notice how in comparison, MVDP looks like his bike had ABS. Tadej was close to staying on the bike but he kept hold of his front brake trying to come to a complete standstill, had he eased the pressure to let the wheel roll on a little he’d not have gone over.
You was awesome Tadej, as usual... a super megachampion, unique! the Tour de France champion, second in his Paris-Roubaix debut... TaEDDy Pogacar!