'Next to impossible' for Pogacar to beat Van der Poel at San Remo and Roubaix, says Voigt

Jens Voigt believes that it will be “next to impossible” for Tadej Pogačar to win Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix if Mathieu van der Poel arrives at the Classics on top form.

Pogačar is chasing victory at Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix in order to complete a full set of Monument victories, but Van der Poel has proven his bête noire in those races in recent years.

Van der Poel thwarted Pogačar at Milan-San Remo in 2023 and 2025, while he helped his Alpecin teammate Jasper Philipsen to victory in 2024. Pogačar impressed in his Paris-Roubaix debut last year, but he had to settle for second place behind Van der Poel after crashing with 40km remaining.

“The way I see it, as long as Mathieu van der Poel is active, riding and is in normal shape, it’s next to impossible for Tadej to win Paris-Roubaix or to win Milan-San Remo, because these races just suit Mathieu van der Poel much better,” Voigt told the Domestique Hotseat podcast.

However, the former CSC rider pointed out that Pogačar’s pre-eminence at Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Il Lombardia had persuaded Van der Poel to stop chasing victory in the hilly Monuments. 

Van der Poel placed 10th in his lone Il Lombardia in 2020, while he took third place behind a rampant Pogačar at Liège in 2024. Pogačar has won Liège three times, while he has landed Il Lombardia a record five years in succession.

“As long as Tadej Pogačar is racing and wanting to win, it’s next to impossible for Mathieu van der Poel to win the two missing Monuments for him, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Giro di Lombardia, because they’re too hilly,” Voigt said. “I love the clash between those two in the pursuit of greatness to win all five Monuments, year after year. They give it their best and provide a great show.”

In a wide-ranging interview, Voigt also discussed Remco Evenepoel’s transfer to Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe and his Tour de France prospects.

“Remco, what a champion he is, but Remco also is hot or cold. You know, he wins the Vuelta or he blows up in a leader’s jersey and loses 50 minutes in a day,” Voigt said, adding that he could benefit from sharing leadership with Florian Lipowitz.

“It’s good to have a backup system installed. Remco is growing up, he’s becoming more mature, but we have seen him a few times moving and waving his arms in TV when he is unhappy at World Championships and some races. But I mean, Remco, you’re a world class athlete, people don’t ride for you to make you win. They ride against you, not for you. They are on a different team. They want to win as well. You got to realise that.”

Listen to the full Hotseat podcast with Jens Voigt👇