Tadej Pogačar likes to win, as any cycling fan knows. Nearly a year after surprising everyone with an impromptu pre-race recon posted on his social media, the Slovenian was spotted again this Tuesday on the iconic pavé — deep in winter and with unmistakable intent. As La Voix du Nord put it, “it’s a pretty daring move” to be out there in these conditions, but Pogačar clearly doesn’t mind showing how much he wants the Monument that still eludes him.
Another go at it
Last spring, he scrambled his schedule to debut at the Hell of the North and lived up to the moment. After months of speculation, Pogi was there to ride the hardest one-day in the world. He clung to Mathieu van der Poel for hours before crashing with 38 km left. His eventual second place left him both frustrated and convinced he could win. Paris – Roubaix is now a confirmed target for his 2026 campaign.
Tadej Pogačar on a Ronde van Vlaanderen recon today. 🪨
🎥: Peter Malaise pic.twitter.com/3VTgmIrPa3
— Lukáš Ronald Lukács (@lucasaganronald) December 10, 2025
Race director Thierry Gouvenou is happy to see him back. “You have to assume he enjoyed it,” The former pro added that Pogačar “really doesn’t like losing — he’s not used to it.” Gouvenou believes the world champion has the legs to win and warned that Van der Poel “will need to be very strong again” to stop him.
A tough day in the saddle
Tuesday’s reconnaissance showed how seriously Pogačar is preparing. He was joined by two UAE teammates: Belgian champion Tim Wellens and Nils Politt, a former Roubaix runner-up. Local rider Jean-Luc Gallus, who lives nearby, described to La Voix du Nord how he recognized the group: first the UAE cars, then Wellens’ tricolour jersey, and finally “the rainbow bike — that’s when I knew it was Pogačar.”
Gallus was struck by how friendly the world champion was. “I asked if I could take a picture, and he said it was no problem — he even posed,” he said.
What surprised him most wasn’t the star power but the timing. “In the middle of winter, it’s a bold thing to do,” Gallus said. With heavy rain leaving the cobbles slick and the sectors muddy, it wouldn’t make for a fun training ride. But Pogačar showed up anyway — which says everything about how badly he wants Roubaix.
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Canadian Cycling Magazine…