Get ready for a cycling showdown like no other—Tadej Pogačar is setting his sights on two monumental goals: conquering Paris-Roubaix and securing a historic fifth Tour de France title in 2026. But here's where it gets controversial: would winning Paris-Roubaix mean more to him than adding another Tour de France victory to his already impressive tally? Let’s dive into the details.
Tadej Pogačar, the reigning World Champion, has officially confirmed his ambitious racing program with UAE Team Emirates-XRG for 2026. His spring schedule is packed with iconic Monuments, including the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix—where he narrowly missed victory this year with a second-place finish—and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. After these one-day classics, he’ll shift his focus to stage races like the Tour de Romandie and Tour de Suisse, all leading up to his ultimate goal: another shot at the Tour de France’s yellow jersey.
When asked to choose between a first-ever Paris-Roubaix win or a fifth Tour de France title, Pogačar didn’t hesitate. 'I think I would choose Roubaix,' he said. 'I already won the Tour four times, and if you win four or five, it’s not... I think the difference between zero and one is bigger than four and five.' Bold words from a rider who already has four Tour de France titles, matching Chris Froome’s record. A fifth win would place him alongside legends like Miguel Induráin, Bernard Hinault, Eddy Merckx, and Jacques Anquetil in the Tour’s hall of fame.
At this year’s Tour de France, Pogačar finished ahead of Jonas Vingegaard and Florian Lipowitz, while rival Remco Evenepoel was forced to abandon on stage 14 at the Col du Tourmalet. Speaking of Evenepoel, the Belgian star has moved to Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe for 2026 and is targeting the Tour de France in a co-leadership role with Lipowitz. But here’s the twist: when asked if he’s 'afraid' of the Evenepoel-Lipowitz alliance, Pogačar simply said no. Confidence or complacency? You decide.
Adding another layer of intrigue, one of Pogačar’s key teammates, João Almeida, announced he’ll skip the 2026 Tour de France to focus on the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España. This means Pogačar will be without one of his strongest climbers as he chases that fifth yellow jersey. However, he’ll have the support of Isaac del Toro, who’ll make his Tour de France debut in 2026. And this is the part most people miss: Pogačar isn’t just banking on experience—he’s already grooming the next generation of stars.
Pogačar’s 2023 season was nothing short of extraordinary, with 20 victories, including his fourth Tour de France title, a second Tour of Flanders win, a third Liège-Bastogne-Liège victory, and a record-tying fifth win at Il Lombardia. His 2026 program kicks off with Strade Bianche, followed by Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the Tour de Romandie, and the Tour de Suisse—all building up to his Tour de France campaign.
In a surprising move, Pogačar recently visited Roubaix for a 160km reconnaissance of the Paris-Roubaix course, testing materials and getting a feel for the infamous cobbles. 'It was good training,' he said. 'We got lucky with the weather, and it was a nice experience.' While he admits winning Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix would be career highlights, he’s not 'obsessed' with ticking every box on his cycling bucket list.
So, here’s the burning question: Is Pogačar’s focus on Paris-Roubaix a strategic move or a sign that he’s already looking beyond the Tour de France? And how will the Evenepoel-Lipowitz alliance shake up the dynamics of the race? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this is one debate you won’t want to miss!
