The China Mail - Tour de France champion Pogacar bids to add Paris-Roubaix to his laurels

The 26-year-old Slovenian will be the first reigning Tour de France champion to tackle the most dangerous of the Monument races since Greg Lemond in 1991 -- the American finished 55th.

Cycling legends Bernard Hinault and Eddie Merckx also tried to win the one-day race in 1982 and 1975 respectively, a year after winning the Tour de France.

Neither was successful although Merckx finished second, edged out on the line by Roger De Vlaeminck. However, they both achieved perhaps an even greater feat in landing the two races in the same year, with Merckx doing the double in 1970 and Hinault in 1981.

Victory on April 13 would set Pogacar up nicely to join that elite duo. He already has seven Monument victories to his credit, including the 2023 Tour of Flanders.

"It was initially planned for Tadej Pogacar to participate in both the E3 Saxo Classic and Gent-Wevelgem," read UAE's statement.

"However, after discussions with the team, it has been decided that he will adjust his calendar to focus on the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix instead, aiming for peak form in those iconic races."

The change of plan is a victory for Pogacar, who has said he prefers the one day races to multi-stage ones, as he had argued to compete in the Paris-Roubaix, against the wishes of the team directors who were concerned about the possibility of injury.

- 'Huge moment' -

Paris-Roubaix is considered the most dangerous race of them all, largely owing to its six million cobble stones, many of them uneven, which has resulted in serious injuries to the riders.

Mauro Gianetti, UAE team manager, highlighted their concerns for the best paid member of the peloton -- he is believed to earn 8 million euros ($8.6 million) a year -- in the one-day races after he had fallen in the Strade Bianchi before getting back up to win it.

"A bad fall could put a question mark over his competing in the Tour de France and maybe the rest of the season," said Gianetti.

"He has enough time in his career to ride in the Paris-Roubaix."

However, his decision, after finishing third in the Milan-San Remo, delighted Paris-Roubaix race director Thierry Gouvenou.

"It is a huge moment for cycling," said Gouvenou.

"It has been a long time since we had a Tour de France winner who is a genuine contender to win the Paris-Roubaix.

"He is going to face a challenge suited to his talent."

Gouvenou, though, believes Pogacar is up against it with rivals like Dutch ace Van der Poel, Belgian Wout Van Aert and Italy's Filippo Ganna, who was second in the Milan-San Remo.

"If Van Der Poel is at the top of his game, it will be very difficult for Pogacar," said Gouvenou.

"He is going to race on a route that is not suited to him.

"If ever he wins Paris-Roubaix it will be against the odds. But that is what we all expect: to see champions up against it.

"This race could make him even greater than he is now."

C.Fong--ThChM