Paris-Roubaix is a race that does not understand mathematics and escapes logic. It’s cobblestones, punctures and, above all, chaos. There, in its impossible stretches and in its untamed terrain, Wout van Aert He achieved what cycling had so often taken from him: a victory at the Roubaix Velodrome. However, the other side of the coin was Tadej Pogacarwho saw how the ‘Hell of the North’ took away the glory he had longed for.
Its 258 kilometers and 30 paved sections did not spare the Slovenian: three punctures, with subsequent bicycle changes. Something that would have ended anyone’s options, but not his. Therefore, Pogacar does not run alone against the rest, it does so against history and all forecasts. Precisely, the latter are the ones who do not encourage optimism, who even go so far as to advise against participation in a race full of giants and dominated by colossi.
This was Van Aert’s spectacular victory in Roubaix 2026
The last edition of Paris-Roubaix left a devastating fact: The average of the ‘Top-10’ was 75.6 kilos. A figure that could go unnoticed, but not when compared to Pogacar’s weight —66 kilos. The Slovenianwhich this year completed its second edition, part with a ‘deficit’ of almost 10 kilos with respect to the classicomaniacs who meet on the cobblestones of the ‘Hell of the North’. However, the figure is more surprising if we look at the winners of the last 15 years.
Since 2011 – edition in which Johan Vansummeren claimed victory –, The test has left a total of 13 different winners, with their particular morphologys. If these champions are analyzed, the prospects are no more encouraging for Pogacar: The average weight is 76.9 kilos.10 more than the Slovenian currently presents in this type of races. Of all of them, John Degenkolb and Tom Boonen, with 82 kilos, were the heaviest cyclists to reign at the Roubaix Velodrome, a figure that is 16 units higher than that of the UAE rider.
Roubaix winners’ weights.
Difficult, but not impossible
After finishing second, The Slovenian took stock of a career that has gone down in history and will help him gain valuable learning for future editions.. “When Wout attacked, I managed to react, but I didn’t have enough strength left to let him go on the cobblestones. I tried to counterattack, although he ran very intelligently. We collaborated well until the end, but I knew that beating him in the sprint would be difficult. I gave my best, but today he was the strongest and deserved the victory. Even so, I am leaving proud and satisfied with the result,” said the man from Klanec. Even so, when asked about his possible return to the ‘Hell of the North’, he did not finish confirming his presence: “Return? I can’t rule it out, so maybe yes.”
Return? I can’t rule it out, so maybe yes
The question seems obvious: after winning the ‘Classicissima’, Is Paris-Roubaix the most complicated race for Pogacar? The Slovenian is clear: “Two weeks ago I would have said Milan–San Remo, but now that I have come second again…”. This suggestion is not made by just anyone, it is made by the runner himself, the one who feels and suffers the cobblestones like a martyrdom during the 260 kilometers that link Compiègne and Roubaix.
Tadej Pogacar, in the Roubaix showers.
365 days. That is the exact number of days left until the starting signal for Paris-Roubaix 2027. Knowing Pogacar, this figure is not an obvious one, but a real obsession that will haunt him throughout the next calendar year. You may have the Tour de France or the World Cup in mind, and even win both events, but The ‘Hell of the North’ will continue to be burned into your memory, searching and wishing for the month of April to arrive to try to close the circle of Monumentswhich would take him to the top of an Olympus that, at the moment, is monopolized by Eddy Merckx.