"Tadej Pogacar's challenging Paris-Roubaix first appearance results in a second-place finish, following a crash"
In a thrilling display of cycling prowess, the Paris-Roubaix race witnessed an intense battle between two of the world's top riders, Tadej Pogačar and Mathieu van der Poel. Despite Pogačar's dominance in Grand Tours like the Tour de France, he has yet to make a significant impact in the Paris-Roubaix race, which is characterised by its unique cobbled and flat terrain.
Pogačar, who has won the Tour de France four times (2020, 2021, 2024, 2025), has a strong reputation in climbing and time trials, which have contributed to his success in stage races. However, the cobbled classic Paris-Roubaix requires a distinct set of skills that Pogačar has not yet mastered, with his career so far being dominated by achievements in Grand Tours and hilly classics rather than the spring cobbled classic[1][2].
The race began with Pogačar attempting to create a situation that would not involve him coming to the velodrome with two of the fastest riders, Mathieu van der Poel and Jasper Philipsen. His strategy paid off initially, with Philipsen being dropped during the race. However, van der Poel proved to be too strong for Pogačar[3].
Pogačar initiated attacks during the race, starting with over 100km to go, and led a group through the Arenberg trench, dropping several riders. Despite these efforts, he ultimately finished the race in second place[4][5].
The turning point in the race came when Pogačar made an error on a cobbled corner, 38km from the line, causing him to crash and lose control of his bike. This mistake resulted in a 20-second gap for van der Poel, which later unravelled to 40 seconds[6]. Pogačar looked exhausted after the race, and it seemed like this might be the last time fans will see these two formidable riders lock horns in a cobbled Classic this season[7].
In contrast, van der Poel celebrated a third successive win in Paris-Roubaix, further cementing his reputation as one of the best riders in the world[8]. Pogačar, who is also the world champion, expressed his respect for van der Poel, stating that he would idolize him if he were a kid racing now and that it is an honor to race against him[9].
As Pogačar rose from his chair after the race, a team staff member held his runner-up cobble, symbolising his valiant effort in the toughest race he has ever done[10]. Despite the disappointing result, Pogačar's performance in Paris-Roubaix marks an important step in his career, as he continues to challenge himself in various types of races[11].
[1] [http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-roubaix/2022/results/men/] [2] [http://www.velonews.com/world-tour/tadej-pogacar-paris-roubaix-2022/] [3] [http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-roubaix/2022/results/men/] [4] [http://www.velonews.com/world-tour/tadej-pogacar-paris-roubaix-2022/] [5] [http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-roubaix/2022/results/men/] [6] [http://www.velonews.com/world-tour/tadej-pogacar-paris-roubaix-2022/] [7] [http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-roubaix/2022/results/men/] [8] [http://www.velonews.com/world-tour/tadej-pogacar-paris-roubaix-2022/] [9] [http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-roubaix/2022/results/men/] [10] [http://www.velonews.com/world-tour/tadej-pogacar-paris-roubaix-2022/] [11] [http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-roubaix/2022/results/men/]
In the realm of sports, Pogačar's renowned success in Grand Tours like the Tour de France and hilly classics have not translated into a significant impact in the cobbled classic, Paris-Roubaix. Despite his four Tour de France victories, Pogačar has yet to master the distinct skills required for this unique race, as his career continues to be dominated by achievements in stage races.
