Mathieu van der Poel unsure how Paris-Roubaix will be raced without "partner in crime" Tadej Pogacar
Cycling
Mathieu van der Poel is one of the big favourites for Paris-Roubaix. It's a tough race for any rider and without the climbs it's always a tough one for the main favourites. The Alpecin-Deceuninck rider is confident, but admits to not have ideal conditions.
Asked about the absence of Tadej Pogacar and what difference it could make, van der Poel responded during the race's press conference: "I think he's always a partner in crime and he already showed that he's good on the cobbles as well in the Tour de France last year when he was also in front here. I think it's always nice to race with strong competitors but there will be enough strong riders on Sunday."
Click
here to create your own team for the Fantasy Paris-Roubaix. At least $6,500/€6,000/£5,720
in prizes!
As the Slovenian saves his debut for another year, van der Poel tackles the cobbles for the third time. He's made a big mark in his two participations in Roubaix, but with no win to his name yet. Third time's a charm perhaps for the Dutchman, who is named the big favourite alongside Wout van Aert. However he knows they are not the only two contenders.
"The usual suspects, I think. Filippo Ganna will be really good. Mads Pedersen. Wout van Aert, of course. In Roubaix, you can name like 10-20 riders who can win the race," he continues. "Given the circumstances, you need a bit of luck as well. For sure I'm among the favourites but it's really difficult to pick out one top favourite for the race."
Van der Poel has the form in the climbs but this is different terrain where positioning, endurance and some luck will be needed and important. Good mechanical decisions are as well. Technique on the bike is at it's most important in a race like this, but the dry conditions won't see him benefit: "Actually, I enjoyed the wet editions (2021, ed.) as well but I think gives some dry weather conditions. Maybe there will still be a bit of mud. Today it was still muddy in some places, but it won't be like it was two years ago."
"I think we will have some different circumstances during the race. It was still quite wet and muddy, but of course, it's never bad to do it again because you only ride here once a year. It's difficult to know every section by heart." The Dutchman is not the most experienced figure in the field, but he has ridden Roubaix enough to know where to spend his bullets.
Asked how his legs were, he responded: "In Scheldeprijs already they felt pretty good. Yesterday I took a day off and today we did a slightly longer recon. I think that should do for Sunday. I think the Tour of Flanders suits me a bit better than Paris-Roubaix but for sure it's a hard race as well, so I hope I have the same legs on Sunday."
"I think I have a good shape so it's always fun when you're riding good. I think the problems with my back are also getting better, almost solved. This was maybe why I didn't reach my full potential last year. I also chose together with the team to do a bit less racing and to be fully focused on the races I do," 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 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
- I'm picking .... .... Never mind 🫥flyer07-11-2026
- If Tiberi has a better and more consistent 2027 I somehow doubt it will be because of this victorious warning. Unless his preparation has been off, cycling isn't football.flyer07-11-2026
- Love this guy. He is such a pure racer.mij07-11-2026
Loading
One more sleep until the gates of Hell will be opened up! 😈 @parisroubaix calling! 📞 📷 @facepeeters #AlpecinElegant #AlpecinDeceuninck #ParisRoubaix #Elegant #HellOfTheNorth
Write a comment