“We are a bit afraid something might happen to him” - Tadej Pogacar’s parents fear Roubaix danger as history beckons

Tadej Pogacar arrives at Paris-Roubaix this weekend with a chance to complete cycling’s full set of Monuments, having already conquered Milano-Sanremo and the Tour of Flanders this spring.

But while the cycling world focuses on history, those closest to him are looking at something else entirely.

“We are a bit afraid that something might happen to him. It’s dangerous, with the crashes, the bad roads, the high speeds…” Speaking in quotes collected by HLN, Pogacar’s parents Marjeta and Mirko offered a perspective that cuts through the growing noise around their son’s Roubaix bid.

Victory on Sunday would place Pogacar alongside the very few riders to have won all five Monuments, a feat not achieved since Roger De Vlaeminck. It is the defining narrative heading into the race, especially after his near-miss on debut last year, when a crash ended what had been shaping into a duel with Mathieu van der Poel.

Yet that narrative carries little weight within his own family. “Journalists always talk about making history, but as parents, we don’t think that way,” his mother explained. “For us, it’s important that he enjoys cycling. That he can do what he loves. Whether he wins or not is not so important to us. Of course, it’s nice if it works out, but if it doesn’t, he will just try again next time.”

Paris-Roubaix stands apart even among the Monuments. With more than 50 kilometres of cobbles, high speeds and constant risk of crashes or mechanicals, it is a race where even the strongest riders can lose everything in a moment. Pogacar experienced that first-hand in 2025, when a fall removed any realistic chance of victory despite his aggressive racing.

That reality is what shapes his parents’ view. For them, the priority is not the velodrome finish, the trophy, or the history that may follow. It is simply that he gets there.

The scale of Pogacar’s success has transformed him into one of the most recognisable figures in the sport, but his parents insist little has changed away from racing.

“As a person, he hasn’t changed. He is still kind, calm and polite, just as we raised him,” say Pogacar's parents proudly. “He would give up his place for someone else. In life, not in racing.”

It is a contrast that runs through their entire outlook. Where the outside world sees dominance and legacy, they see the same person they raised, one whose priorities extend beyond results.

Pogacar himself appears relaxed heading into the race. According to his parents, there was no sign of nerves when they saw him at the team hotel in the days before the start. “He was in a good mood, calm, and really looking forward to it.”

For them, being present matters as much as the race itself. “It’s important to be here, because we don’t see Tadej very often. He doesn’t come to Slovenia much.”

Paris-Roubaix will once again be framed by rivalry, history and the pursuit of greatness. Pogacar has already shown he can match the very best on this terrain, and arrives in form after a dominant spring.

But within his own family, the stakes are defined differently. Not by what he might achieve, but by what he comes through.