{"id":530460,"date":"2026-04-14T15:06:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T15:06:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/530460\/"},"modified":"2026-04-14T15:06:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T15:06:09","slug":"he-has-no-other-way-to-win-this-race-expert-questions-whether-tadej-pogacar-can-ever-crack-paris-roubaix","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/530460\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cHe has no other way to win this race\u201d \u2013 Expert questions whether Tadej Pogacar can ever crack Paris-Roubaix"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the immense satisfaction of seeing Wout van Aert win\u2026 it was time for a great race, a formidable stage, to redeem him from so much frustration,\u201d Ares explained, underlining the emotional weight behind the Belgian\u2019s triumph.<\/p>\n

A race unlike any otherA key part of Ares\u2019 analysis centred on the unique demands of Paris-Roubaix<\/a> itself. He stressed that the race stands apart from every other Classic, not just in difficulty, but in the way it combines chaos and endurance. \u201cParis-Roubaix is a race unlike any other,\u201d he said, pointing to the constant tension between control and unpredictability.<\/p>\n

That unpredictability, however, should not be confused with randomness. Ares was careful to highlight that while luck plays a role, it never fully determines the outcome. \u201cIt\u2019s a bit cruel that luck plays such an important role in this race, but it\u2019s not the only factor.\u201d<\/p>\n

With punctures and crashes affecting many of the leading contenders, his conclusion was clear: success in Roubaix is not about avoiding problems, but about responding to them better than anyone else.<\/p>\n

\"Tadej<\/p>\n

Tadej Pogacar ahead of Paris-Roubaix 2026<\/p>\n

Pogacar\u2019s limits on Roubaix terrain<\/p>\n

When turning to Pogacar, Ares shifted towards a more structural reading of the Slovenian\u2019s performance. The issue, he suggested, is not talent, but suitability. \u201cParis-Roubaix is even more difficult for Pogacar because there he has rivals who can ultimately beat him in a sprint in the velodrome.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rather than pointing to a single decisive moment, Ares framed this as an inherent disadvantage against specialists more naturally suited to the race\u2019s demands.<\/p>\n

He also noted how Pogacar\u2019s aggressive racing style may have worked against him over the cobbles. \u201cHe managed to bridge across\u2026 putting strain on his team\u2026 in a race where he needs something more.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a race where positioning, support and energy conservation are critical, that constant pressure can come at a cost.<\/p>\n

Van Aert\u2019s decisive edge<\/p>\n

In contrast, Van Aert\u2019s ride was presented as a masterclass in control and awareness. Beyond the physical effort, Ares highlighted the psychological battle that unfolded in the finale. \u201cHe was forcing Pogacar, psychologically, to make that little bit more effort.\u201d<\/p>\n

That subtle edge, combined with tactical clarity, proved decisive in a race where margins are often defined by small moments rather than outright dominance.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, Ares framed the duel as a clash of styles, each rider bound by their own strengths and limitations. \u201cPogacar had no other option\u2026 driven by his courage, his energy, his bravery\u2026 he has no other way to win this race.\u201d<\/p>\n

It is a conclusion that cuts to the heart of Roubaix itself: while Van Aert adapted perfectly to its demands, Pogacar was left forcing a race that was never fully designed for him.<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cWith the immense satisfaction of seeing Wout van Aert win\u2026 it was time for a great race,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":530461,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[4985,169894,110509,101,8782,56,54,55,8783],"class_list":{"0":"post-530460","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cycling","8":"tag-cycling","9":"tag-javier-ares","10":"tag-paris-roubaix","11":"tag-sports","12":"tag-tadej-pogacar","13":"tag-uk","14":"tag-united-kingdom","15":"tag-unitedkingdom","16":"tag-wout-van-aert"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/530460","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=530460"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/530460\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/530461"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=530460"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=530460"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=530460"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}