Sep Vanmarcke thinks Paris-Roubaix is "too flat" for Tadej Pogacar against true specialists: "I don't see that he can just drop them or beat them in the sprint"
Cycling
Tadej Pogacar was once again phenomenal at the Strade Bianche. Not a rather ugly crash could stop the Slovenian from defending the title on the sterrato roads. This brings back on the discussion of whether Pogacar is suited to fight for victory at the ultimate cobbled classic - Paris-Roubaix. At the very least we can be certain he doesn't lack the toughness.
In the podcast Café Koers, Vanmarcke talks about the chances of the UAE Team Emirates - XRG leader at the Hell of the North. "If he rides Paris-Roubaix, he can reach the final. But I don't believe he will immediately take the cobblestones. Paris-Roubaix is so different from a Tour of Flanders."
Of course, Pogacar has endless talent and can also ride fast on the flat, acknowledges Vanmarcke. "But so can Van der Poel, Van Aert and Pedersen. I don't see that he can just drop them or beat them in the sprint. Even though he is the best rider. They have absolute power, while he has the watts per kilogram. That is still a difference, because he is no better than those strong men on the flat."
The analyst says he doesn't expect the crash in Strade Bianche to affect Pogacar's (possible) ambitions in Paris-Roubaix. Although he will suffer from the burns for a while. "The most painful thing is the shower afterwards. Scrubbing your wound."
"I have already become unwell a few times, because the abrasions were more painful than possible fractures. One person feels nothing, the other almost falls to the ground in pain. He must not have slept well last night."
Moreover, it will cost energy to recover. "Your liver should not digest lactate or other waste products now, but only the recovery and damage that you have suffered there. My trainer always said that you should cycle for a few days, but do not build up fatigue. Otherwise your body will not recover. I think Tadej will now exercise for a few days, but very quietly."
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Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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