"This is the right moment to give it a try" - Tadej Pogacar locked and loaded for Paris-Roubaix debut
Cycling
UAE Team Emirates - XRG has revealed it's lineup for Paris-Roubaix and in the lead will be Tadej Pogacar. The World Champion will finally make his debut in the Hell of the North after months of anticipation - he did a recon in early February, and then convinced UAE management to participate - and will be a key part of what is expected to be a memorable race.
The UAE team includes very experienced specialists in this classic such as Nils Politt and Florian Vermeersch; Mikkel Bjerg, Tim Wellens and António Morgado. In Flanders the team experienced bad luck with Wellens and Narváez crashing before the peloton even arrived at the key sections of the race, but with it's remaining riders it controlled the gap to attacking groups and then Pogacar himself was able to make the difference on the cobbled climbs.
However in this terrain, without ascents, the task won't be as easy. Tactically speaking, Roubaix is a more complex race, and the Emirati team will have to aim to use it's depth in the offensive, not in closing down attacks. Alpecin-Deceuninck, Team Visma | Lease a Bike and Lidl-Trek will also start with a multitude of quality riders in this field, and an alliance could make or break Pogacar's race.
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“Paris-Roubaix is a completely different race, it’s new territory, but I fully accept the challenge," he said in a press release. "I’ll try to do my best. We have a very strong team for this race, with guys who have lots of experience and we can use this to our advantage". Although this is the Slovenian's debut, his chances of winning should not be underestimated as Sonny Colbrelli achieved this only four years ago, and Pogacar himself has thrived on the cobbles of the Tour de France before.
Regardless of his result, most likely the Slovenian and the story that has built up towards Roubaix will be the most important one of the weekend. "It will be a very hard race but I think with the shape I have now that this is the right moment to give it a try at least. We had a great battle last weekend at Flanders and I hope we can put on a good show again this Sunday.”
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😈 Ready to take on the “Hell of the North”? 🌈 World Champion @TamauPogi is set for his debut! Here’s our lineup for this Sunday🪨:
— @UAE-TeamEmirates (@TeamEmiratesUAE) April 9, 2025
🇩🇰 @mikkelbbjerg
🇨🇴 @sebasmolano_
🇵🇹 @morgadoisme
🇸🇮 @TamauPogi
🇩🇪 @PolittNils
🇧🇪 @FlorianVermeers
🇧🇪 @Tim_Wellens #WeAreUAE #ParisRoubaix pic.twitter.com/WtB2I3oeBz

Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
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Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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