Why Tadej Pogacar was saved by the mud ahead of Paris-Roubaix after recon crashes, Wout van Aert reacts to UCI ban
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Published 11/04/2026 at 20:18 GMT+1
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Tadej Pogacar appeared unfazed by two crashes he suffered on a reconnaissance ride for Paris-Roubaix, as the UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider said his final preparation for the race has been "really good". Pogacar could make history on Sunday by winning the 'Hell of the North', while one of his main rivals, Wout van Aert, has been hit by a setback with Visma-Lease a Bike slapped with a UCI ban.
'It was not even cobbles' - Pogacar explains recon crashes before Paris-Roubaix
Video credit: TNT Sports
Tadej Pogacar has brushed off two crashes he suffered while doing reconnaissance rides for Paris-Roubaix, as he makes his bid for history on Sunday.
Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) revealed his bike set-up for the race, as he attempts to become just the fourth rider in history to win all five Monuments, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
He will face stiff competition from a star-studded startlist that includes Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike), Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers), Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) and reigning champion Matheiu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) - though Van Aert has faced his own problems in the build-up to the race.
Pogacar revealed more details of his recon on the route in March with UAE teammate Gianni Vermeersch.
"It was so muddy it was not even cobbles, we were basically riding on the field," he said.
"I crashed twice, but luckily there was so much mud I did not get hurt, but so dirty!"
He added that his final recon before his date with destiny had been more successful.
"It was really good,” Pogacar said of his ride on the aero frame.
"In Paris-Roubaix the technology, the tyres, the frames are always developing. It is not as targeted as the road bikes, so there is always still room for improvement.
"I think we definitely did upgrade from last year, but I think everybody is doing upgrades for the year to come.
And on his tyre set-up, he revealed: "The front [tyre] is 35mm, the back is 32."
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Highlights: Pogacar drops one rival after another to reclaim Tour of Flanders crown
Video credit: TNT Sports
Victory would mean Pogacar joins Belgians Eddy Merckx, Roger De Vlaeminck and Rik Van Looy in the exclusive club of tasting victory in every Monument, and he would keep alive the dream of becoming the first rider to win all five in the same year after wins at Milano-Sanremo and the Tour of Flanders earlier this season.
But it will be a tough task on the flatter course that leaves few uphill ramps for the Slovenian to unleash his signature attacks, with Pogacar’s main rivals typically more suited to the terrain.
Van Aert hopes to ignore impact of UCI ban
Despite his undoubted talent, and his status as one of cycling’s superstars since 2019, Wout van Aert remains stuck on one Monument, as one of the biggest victims of Pogacar and Van der Poel’s one-day dominance in recent years.
The closest Van Aert has got since then is the 2023 edition of Paris-Roubaix, when he matched Van der Poel’s every move, but was undone by a puncture in the final 20km, and finished 46 seconds behind the Dutchman, and his quest for redemption on Sunday has been dealt a blow by the UCI.
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Visma had planned to use a system that would allow riders to change their tyre pressures while on the move, and even rode with it in Grand Prix de Denain, but the UCI banned the gadget days before Paris-Roubaix.
Mathieu Heijboer, Visma’s head of performance, raged against the decision on the In de Waaier podcast. Per Cycling Weekly, he said: "Does this reduce Wout van Aert's chances? Yes! This is no coincidence, we received no announcement that this was coming."
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Van Aert plays down impact of banned tyre system before Paris-Roubaix
Video credit: TNT Sports
However, Van Aert was more diplomatic. He said: "It has an impact on our team, because it was a system we liked to use. We are still having the same tyres, trying to start with the best possible set-up. I am not planning to let it distract me.
He added: "Hopefully, I can confirm it [my shape] with the legs, because it is been good so far, still felt good this week, and I am really motivated for tomorrow, because it is my last chance for this spring, and I think there is a real opportunity.
"Last week [at the Tour of Flanders] was a confirmation of what I already thought, and what we could have known - especially Tadej is stronger than the others."
Van Aert is yet to taste victory this season, but has four top-five finishes already, was fourth at the Tour of Flanders, and won the sprint at Milano-Sanremo behind leading pair Pogacar and Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5).
Stream the 2026 cycling season, including Paris-Roubaix, the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
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