After winning the Tour of Flanders for a second time last
weekend, Tadej Pogacar now turns his attention to new ground ,quite literally,
as he prepares for his debut at Paris–Roubaix this Sunday. It’s a race
considered one of the most brutal in cycling, and far from a guaranteed
success, even for someone of Pogacar’s extraordinary calibre.
Thierry Gouvenou, one of the lead course designers for the
Tour de France and a key figure in French cycling, shared his thoughts on the
Slovenian’s Roubaix debut in an interview with Cyclism’Actu.
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"The arrival of Tadej Pogacar is still an exceptional
moment. We've been waiting for the arrival of the last winner of the Tour de
France for 34 years... and there you go, it's for 2025! We can't wait. We know
he's ultra dominant at the moment.
“On the other hand, we don't know how he'll perform in
Paris-Roubaix. Can you win Paris-Roubaix without having done it before? If you
look at the statistics, no... but with him, you never know. He's knocking on
the door of the cycling legend, he's as great as Eddy Merckx, and he wants to
add this Monument to his list of achievements. For the moment, nothing can
resist him," he said.
While Pogacar has proven he can master the cobbles, as shown
in his performances at the Tour of Flanders and on the pavé during the Tour de
France, Roubaix presents a different kind of challenge altogether.
"But Pogacar's real opponent is first and foremost the
course, and it will be interesting to gauge him on it, with 55 km of formidable
cobblestones. We can think that they will still wear him out. Only after that
will he have to deal with the competition, with riders at their best like
Mathieu van der Poel, Filippo Ganna, Mads Pedersen, and a Wout Van Aert who is
coming back well. It promises a lot, and we can think that it will be the
smartest who will win Paris-Roubaix."
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as 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. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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