Tadej Pogacar targets Monument history at Paris-Roubaix 2026 as UAE line-up begins to take shape
Cycling
Tadej Pogacar’s long-awaited Milano-Sanremo victory on 21 March has already shifted the focus towards what comes next. After conquering the Monument that had eluded him, attention now turns to another long-standing ambition: Paris-Roubaix 2026.
The Slovenian edged Tom Pidcock on the line to secure one of the most significant wins of his career, overcoming a race often considered one of the most difficult to control. With that milestone achieved, the “Hell of the North” on Sunday, 12 April, now stands as his next major target.
Pogacar has previously made clear that Monuments such as San Remo and Roubaix hold greater appeal for him than the Tour de France. That perspective adds further weight to his upcoming Roubaix challenge, where he will look to go one better than last year.
On his debut in 2025, Pogacar finished second after a crash disrupted his race, leaving Mathieu van der Poel to take a third consecutive victory. A year on, the opportunity to rewrite that outcome is already taking shape, with UAE Team Emirates - XRG reportedly close to finalising the team that will support him.
UAE close to finalising Roubaix support squad
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Ciro Scognamiglio, six riders are already set: Pogacar will be joined by Florian Vermeersch, Nils Politt, Mikkel Bjerg, Julius Johansen and Rui Oliveira. The final place is expected to go to either Antonio Morgado or Sebastián Molano.
Vermeersch is expected to play a key role. The Belgian is widely regarded as one of the strongest riders for Paris-Roubaix and finished fifth at the Roubaix Velodrome in 2025, his first season with UAE. He has also indicated that, depending on how the race unfolds, he could pursue his own chances.
For Pogacar, the stakes extend beyond a single result. Victory at Paris-Roubaix would complete his set of Monument wins, a milestone that would place him alongside Eddy Merckx in discussions around the greatest riders in the sport’s history.
On 12 April, he faces another defining test. The question now is whether he can turn opportunity into history at Paris-Roubaix.
Potential UAE line-up for Paris-Roubaix 2026
| Rider | Country |
| Tadej Pogacar | Slovenia |
| Florian Vermeersch | Belgium |
| Nils Politt | Germany |
| Julius Johansen | Denmark |
| Mikkel Bjerg | Denmark |
| Rui Oliveira | Portugal |
| Sebastián Molano or Antonio Morgado | Colombia or Portugal |
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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Rafionain-Glas04-11-2026 - maybe this is something else they can protest in the streets of France.mij04-11-2026
- his Roubaix win was amazing. not to take anything away from him - arguably one of MVDP's wins was at the expense of a WVA flat - but so many things need to line up to get one of these. He had a perfect race with fewer bike issues on an attritional course. And crazy strong as usual. Glad he got this done.mij04-11-2026
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- Podcast sounds great. Two so called experts stating the f*cking obvious.wrsty04-11-2026
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