Thijs Zonneveld doesn't believe Tadej Pogacar's chances at Paris-Roubaix: "Even Stuyven has a better chance than Pogacar"

Tadej Pogacar will become the first Tour de France winner to race Paris-Roubaix since Bradley Wiggins in 2014, and first reigning champion to do so since the ancient times of cycling (Greg LeMond in 1990-91). And the world champion never comes to race in France just to participate. Of course he wants a victory.

"It's really cool that a Tour winner is going to Paris-Roubaix," Thijs Zonneveld begins in the latest episode of In Het Wiel podcast. "The fact that he dares to do that is of course really cool. There is a chance that he will fall and his entire preparation for the Tour will be in jeopardy, but he just does it. Pogacar is actually crazy for doing that."

And why is he mad? The Dutch analyst thinks that the Slovenian has no business at the Hell of the North. "Pogacar is not going to win anyway. He has to ride off Van der Poel, Van Aert, Pedersen and Ganna on one of the sections, because he will probably be beaten in a sprint. I just can't imagine that he will win Paris-Roubaix. A podium is possible, but nobody is going to let Pogacar ride away."

It's not completely unknown grounds to Pogacar, he already got a taste of Roubaix cobbles during 2022 Tour de France when he was seen attacking with Jasper Stuyven during fifth stage. But his challengers next Sunday are not some lanky GC riders.

"I understand the UAE team management very well," Zonneveld continues. "The chance is just so small and you can also just crash really hard, which ends your season. But Pogacar just wants to win all the big races, and apparently he also thinks he can win Paris-Roubaix. Only he has to be realistic about that: even a Stuyven, who is not even a top favorite, has a better chance than Pogacar."