Tadej Pogačar has confirmed that he’s chasing a victory at Paris-Roubaix and a historic fifth Tour de France title because the focal factors of his racing programme with UAE Crew Emirates-XRG in 2026.
The reigning World Champion outlined his spring schedule that features focused Monuments: Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix – a race he completed second at this 12 months – and Liège-Bastogne-Liège earlier than turning his consideration to stage races that may lead as much as his subsequent yellow-jersey bid on the Tour de Romandie and Tour de Suisse.
Requested if he had to decide on between successful Paris-Roubaix for the primary time or a fifth Tour de France, Pogačar stated he would slightly have a victory on the Hell of the North.
“I believe I might select Roubaix as a result of I already gained the Tour 4 occasions, and in case you win 4 or 5, it’s not … I believe, it is a larger distinction between zero and one than 4 and 5,” Pogačar stated.
Pogačar confirmed his racing schedule to pick members of the media, together with Cyclingnews, assembled at a crew coaching camp press convention held on the 4 Factors Sheraton Resort in Benidorm, Alicante, Spain, on Saturday.
Pogačar at the moment has 4 Tour de France titles, the identical quantity as Chris Froome, however ought to he safe a fifth victory on the Tour de France, he would tie that report already held by 4 different champions, and add his title to the Tour’s historical past books alongside Miguel Induráin, Bernard Hinault, Eddy Merckx, and Jacques Anquetil.
At this 12 months’s Tour de France, Pogačar completed forward of runner-up Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) and third-placed Florian Lipowitz (Crimson Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), whereas rival Remco Evenepoel was compelled to desert on stage 14 on the Col du Tourmalet.
Pogačar and Evenpoel had raced neck-to-neck in most of the greatest one-day races of the 12 months. The Belgian has since transferred from Soudal-QuickStep to Crimson Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe in 2026 and lately instructed the media that he too is focusing on the Tour de France in a co-leadership function together with his new teammate Lipowitz.
Requested if he was ‘afraid’ of the Evenepoel-Lipowitz alliance for the Tour de France, Pogačar stated no.
UAE Crew Emirates-XRG’s media day had already produced one main shock earlier within the morning with considered one of Pogačar’s key lieutenants, João Almeida, asserting that he could be lacking out on the Tour de France in 2026, opting to deal with the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España as an alternative.
The choice signifies that Pogačar will race with out one of many crew’s finest climbers by his aspect as he bids for a record-equalling fifth yellow-jersey title. Nevertheless, he could have the assist of Isaac del Toro, who will make his debut on the Tour de France in 2026.
“I hope so, sure, possibly he may even be higher,” Pogačar stated when requested about Del Toro’s future potential in Grand Tour racing. “He’s beginning his personal means, he has his personal means and elegance of using, and I already admire him as a rider and an individual. I hope that he continues in the identical means that he has and that he enjoys biking as a lot as he’s now.”
Pogačar had one other excellent season this 12 months, securing 20 victories, together with his fourth title on the Tour de France, a second victory at Tour of Flanders, a 3rd victory at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the general title at Critérium du Dauphiné, a second consecutive highway race title on the World Championship, the highway race title on the European Championships, and a historic record-tying fifth victory at Il Lombardia.
He confirmed his racing programme, beginning with Strade Bianche earlier than occurring to race Milan-San Remo, Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Tour de Romandie, and Tour de Suisse, all forward of his principal summer time deal with the Tour de France.
“My programme would be the Classics, like virtually yearly, I’ll begin with Strade Bianche and transfer on to Milan-San Remo, in Italy. Then it’s Flanders, Roubaix, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Tour after which we’ll see. I believe that’s ok. Earlier than the Tour, I’ll do two races in Switzerland: Romandie and Suisse. I am wanting ahead to the brand new challenges this 12 months,” Pogačar stated.
He lately made a shock go to to Roubaix for a 160km reconnaissance of the Paris-Roubaix course and pavé sectors, which was an early indication that he was already planning to return to the ‘Hell of the North’ in 2026.
“It was good coaching. We examined some supplies from the crew, we bought fortunate with the climate and had good coaching, good sensations on the cobbles, and it was a pleasant expertise,” Pogačar stated.
Pogačar stated that it could be a spotlight in his profession to win Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix, however that he’s not ‘obsessed’ with making an attempt to win each race that he has not but gained.
“If I ever win these two races, I might suppose – roughly – there’s not way more you are able to do [in his cycling career],” Pogačar stated.
Turning his consideration to the Tour de France, Pogačar stated that anyone of his teammates could be an asset as he chases his fifth victory. Though will probably be months earlier than UAE Crew Emirates-XRG announce their full Tour de France squad, he stated, constructing that crew requires cautious planning.
In his journey so as to add his title, but once more, to biking’s historical past books on the Tour de France, Pogačar was reminded of the phrase: It is exhausting to get to the highest, however even more durable to remain on prime. To that, he stated that whereas it has been a tricky journey at occasions, it is also been price it.
