On his debut in 2025, Pogacar finished second after a crash disrupted his race, leaving Mathieu van der Poel to take a third consecutive victory. A year on, the opportunity to rewrite that outcome is already taking shape, with UAE Team Emirates – XRG reportedly close to finalising the team that will support him.
Vermeersch is expected to play a key role. The Belgian is widely regarded as one of the strongest riders for Paris-Roubaix and finished fifth at the Roubaix Velodrome in 2025, his first season with UAE. He has also indicated that, depending on how the race unfolds, he could pursue his own chances.
For Pogacar, the stakes extend beyond a single result. Victory at Paris-Roubaix would complete his set of Monument wins, a milestone that would place him alongside Eddy Merckx in discussions around the greatest riders in the sport’s history.
On 12 April, he faces another defining test. The question now is whether he can turn opportunity into history at Paris-Roubaix.