OFFICIAL: UAE Team Emirates-XRG unveil Paris-Roubaix lineup as Tadej Pogacar targets historic Monument sweep

Tadej Pogacar will return to Paris-Roubaix this weekend backed by a powerful UAE Team Emirates - XRG lineup, as the Slovenian targets one of the most elusive achievements in modern cycling.

Already victorious at Milano-Sanremo and the Tour of Flanders this spring, Pogacar arrives at the Hell of the North holding four of the five Monuments. A win on Sunday would see him complete the full set, becoming the first rider since Roger De Vlaeminck in 1979 to do so.

For Pogacar himself, the focus is clear, but the pressure is not. “It’s no secret that Paris-Roubaix is one of the big goals for this part of the season," he says in a press release. "The few races I’ve done so far have gone perfectly, so the motivation is high but the pressure is low.”

UAE Team Emirates-XRG have built a lineup designed not just to support, but to compete across the brutal pavé sectors that define the race. Pogacar will be joined at the start in Compiègne by Florian Vermeersch, Nils Politt, Mikkel Berg, Sebastián Molano, António Morgado and Rui Oliveira. It is a group with both depth and pedigree on the cobbles.

Vermeersch remains one of the standout Roubaix performers in the squad, having finished second on debut in 2021 after entering the Roubaix Velodrome alongside Sonny Colbrelli and Mathieu van der Poel. The Belgian has carried that form into 2026, playing a key role in Pogacar’s Monument victories this spring while also delivering strong results of his own.

Politt, meanwhile, brings proven consistency at Paris-Roubaix, having finished second in 2019 and fourth in 2024. His power and experience on the flat cobbled sectors make him a natural road captain in the latter stages of the race.

Together, they form the backbone of a team capable of both protecting Pogacar and shaping the race itself. “We have such a strong team with guys who have been on the podium here before, so it’s not only me who is capable of a result.”

Paris-Roubaix remains the one Monument missing from Pogacar’s palmarès, but his debut in 2025 suggested it may only be a matter of time.

The Slovenian finished second behind Mathieu van der Poel after crashing inside the final 40 kilometres, having already forced a decisive selection at the front of the race. Prior to the fall, the race had been shaping towards a direct duel between the two.

Now, Pogacar returns stronger and with momentum firmly on his side. “I’m going to enjoy it no matter what the result, and I’m looking forward to a good weekend of racing.”

Victory in Roubaix would not only complete Pogacar’s Monument set, but also place him alongside Eddy Merckx, Rik Van Looy and Roger De Vlaeminck as the only riders in history to have conquered all five. It would also see him hold all five Monuments at the same time, an unprecedented feat in the modern era.

But standing in his way is the man who has defined this race in recent seasons. Mathieu van der Poel arrives as a three-time defending champion, chasing a fourth consecutive victory on terrain that has consistently rewarded his power and positioning.

For Pogacar and UAE Team Emirates-XRG, the task is clear. To conquer Paris-Roubaix is to conquer cycling’s most unpredictable Monument.