The man who discovered Tadej Pogacar on his chances at Roubaix: "I think he can do it, but it's not ideal terrain"

As team manager at UAE, Allan Peiper saw Tadej Pogacar rise to the top of cycling about five years ago when he won the Tour de France for the first time. For personal reasons, he stepped down from that position, but as a racing enthusiast he enjoys what the Slovenian shows time and again. 

The Australian was in the wider range of favorites at the Tour of Flanders himself, having finished in the top-10 twice in late 80s. Seeing his "For me it's a highlight of course. The Tour of Flanders was the race I couldn't win, I wasn't good enough. And I see him playing here on my terrain. I don't live far from here," he told Sporza.

Peiper saw Pogacar seize his chance to leave Mathieu van der Poel behind. On the penultimate climb it happened. "He had few chances to break it. He had to drop him on the Kwaremont. Otherwise it would have been impossible to win, but he did it."

Allan Peiper himself followed the race from front row. "I saw him at the starting line and I shook his hand. After the Koppenberg I called out to him on a small track. He looked sideways at me, my day was a success."

Peiper accompanied the Slovenian. "He has a heart of gold, he is constantly thinking of other people. Certainly for me, that is a boost in my life. He is never angry, never jealous and takes everything as it comes. He is free to race, you see that on the racing bike."

The Australian ex-rider also looked into his crystal ball. What can Pogacar do in his first participation in Paris-Roubaix? "I think he can do it, but it's not ideal terrain. With his weight and his strength it should be more for Mathieu (van der Poel). Wout (van Aert) will also play a role." Whatever happens next Sunday, Allan Peiper went home happy. "I see my protégé winning, how can it be better?" he laughs.