Pogacar downplays Paris-Roubaix pressure as Monument history beckons: 'It's not an obsession'

Twelve months ago, it was a fateful right-hand corner on the Pont-Thibault to Ennevelin sector where Pogačar made a misjudgement that saw him crash, while Mathieu van der Poel rode off into the distance to seal a hat-trick of wins.

Speaking at the team presentation on Saturday, Pogačar confirmed that he had come face to face with the stretch of cobbles that saw the opportunity of emulating Sonny Colbrelli as the only rider to win on his debut in the 21st century slip from his grasp.

“Yeah, if you do the recon, you see the corner,” Pogačar told CyclingProNet. The world champion insisted that the incident isn’t something that he is losing any sleep over, as he will have another opportunity on Sunday to win the Hell of the North.

“No, in cycling you crash quite often, so it shouldn’t bother you, one corner,” said Pogačar.

Pogačar was asked about his experience twelve months ago and if he felt confident that he had more experience following his debut. However, Pogačar suggested that he doesn’t feel a great deal of experience but hopes he can draw upon the lessons from last year. “I mean experience, not a lot because I did it one time, but I hope I learned something last year, and I can fight for the win again.”

If Pogačar is victorious on Sunday in Roubaix, he will become just the fourth rider to win all five Monuments in cycling, joining Rik Van Looy, Eddy Merckx and Roger De Vlaeminck. 

The momentous nature of the occasion isn’t getting to Pogačar, a rider who has been regularly matching and shattering records for many years now. When asked if winning the race is an obsession, Pogačar simply responded: “No, it's not an obsession.”

Pogačar will have the boost of an in-form Florian Vermeersch alongside him, a former podium finisher, who indicated that he is all in support of the ambitions of the World Champion.

“We go all in for Tadej, so I won’t consider myself as one of the favourites,” Vermeersch told CyclingProNet. “I think with the level the big leaders have shown last week, I think it will be pretty straightforward.”

“The guys with the best legs will be at the front, and I expect it will be the names that everyone will expect. Maybe there will be some surprises there, but for the win, I think it will be someone we expect,” said Vermeersch.