Paris: Three days out from the third monument of the season, UAE Team Emirates-XRG presented its lineup for Paris-Roubaix, with Tadej Pogacar hoping to take a historic victory for the Emirati squad. Already a winner of both Milano-Sanremo and the Ronde van Vlaanderen this season, Pogacar heads into Sunday’s race as the current title holder of four of the five great cycling Monuments.

According to Emirates News Agency, if Pogacar were to win on Sunday, he would become the first rider since Roger De Vlaeminck in 1979 to have won all five Monuments, which include Milano-Sanremo, Ronde van Vlaanderen, Paris-Roubaix, Li¨ge-Bastogne-Li¨ge, and Il Lombardia. For Pogacar, Paris-Roubaix is the last Monument standing and perhaps his ultimate test. It is a race once thought beyond the reach of a rider whose expertise lies in winning Grand Tours.

Last season, Pogacar became the first reigning Tour de France champion to start Paris-Roubaix since Greg LeMond in 1991. Despite the race’s fierce reputation, Pogacar made his Roubaix debut for UAE Team Emirates-XRG in 2025, drawing much attention and intrigue. He secured a second-place finish behind Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck), showcasing his capabilities on cycling’s most challenging terrain.

Pogacar’s performance might have been even more remarkable had he not misjudged a corner with 38.1km to go, resulting in a fall. This incident allowed Van der Poel to secure victory, marking his third consecutive win. Pogacar will be back at the start line in Compi¨gne alongside teammates Florian Vermeersch, Nils Politt, Mikkel Berg, Sebasti¡n Molano, Ant³nio Morgado, and Rui Oliveira.

Speaking ahead of the race, Pogacar expressed eagerness to bring his confidence from the Ronde van Vlaanderen into his second start at Paris-Roubaix this weekend. “It’s no secret that Paris-Roubaix is one of the big goals for this part of the season. The few races I’ve done so far have gone perfectly, so the motivation is high but the pressure is low,” he stated.