OFFICIAL: UAE Team Emirates-XRG unveil Paris-Roubaix lineup as Tadej Pogacar targets historic Monument sweep
Cycling
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.”
A proven Roubaix core around Pogacar
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.”
Pogacar returns to unfinished business
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.”
Pogacar finished 2nd on his Paris-Roubaix debut in 2025
History within reach on the cobbles
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.
UAE Team Emirates - XRG for Paris-Roubaix 2026
| Rider |
| Tadej Pogacar |
| Florian Vermeersch |
| Nils Politt |
| Mikkel Berg |
| Sebastian Molano |
| Antonio Morgado |
| Rui Oliveira |
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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- Sure, little fella.awp02-11-2026
- You'll be the ongoing joke of 2027 with anything you post here!frieders302-11-2026
- Awwww your inside information must be from PogiFanGirl. You two daughters of different mothers?frieders302-11-2026
- Hey PogIFanGirl...wipe that cream from your lips! You're ever loving drooling and whatever you have for Tadej has your brain fried!frieders302-11-2026
- Why should he 'let it go' ! Because you said so? Anytime LA Doper is called out is a win win !frieders302-11-2026
- Geez LeMond...let it go. You're a has been, albeit a former great one. But this is all water under the bridge and just undermines your legacy further.Mshark01-11-2026
- 'The Slovenian has collected four Tour de France titles' ... '[Kieran Wood's] ... reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis'. i would say that is pretty inaccurate accurate coverage, kieran wood ... too bad that AI's knowledge often lags several months behind ... but proof reading is certainly part of accurate coverage, isn't it? but fortunately does Kieran Wood place 'strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.' i would say the fifth tdf title is pretty new (and even verified) information, so feel free to update this article.Ketterechts01-11-2026
- You are wrong, they are already working on his new tt position. And yes, Trump does love you 😂👍🏼awp01-11-2026
- The Erola Jons incident was not isolated. She felt she could do that because that's how everyone treats Tadej. Remember when he said "If I say wait 2 mins do you show the middle finger and walk off angry?" about the supposed fan who did exactly that? There's nothing wrong with the nurses and doctors asking him to give autographs... but do the surgery first
Rafionain-Glas01-11-2026 - Perhaps he has what Mark Cavendish had, the Epstein-Barr Virus. It caused him severe and unexplained chronic fatigue. I hope he gets better.
parisbound0001-11-2026
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