UAE Team Emirates-XRG confirmed on Thursday that Tadej Pogačar will lead a seven-rider squad at the 2026 Paris-Roubaix, the one Monument still missing from his palmarès.
After taking the Tour of Flanders on Sunday, Pogačar added himself to the record books alongside rival Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) as one of just eight riders to have won the race three times. The seemingly unstoppable Slovenian is looking at some other bits of history this coming Sunday at Paris-Roubaix as he tries to win the race and add the final Monument to his collection. Only Eddy Merckx, Roger de Vlaeminck and Rik Van Looy have achieved this remarkable feat.
But, that isn't all. After winning Milan-San Remo earlier this season and the Ronde last Sunday, if he takes Roubaix he will be very much on track to take all five Monuments in one season. A feet never previously achieved. It seems plausible, too, as Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Il Lombardia suit him far better than the other three.
At Paris-Roubaix, however, Pogačar has history. He made his debut at the race last year, coming second. He attacked with over 70km to go and was in the battle along with Van der Poel until he misjudged a corner and crashed, allowing his Dutch rival to ride away and take another Roubaix cobblestone, despite puncturing himself. What would have happened had that crash not taken Pogačar out of contention? We may find out this Sunday.
The team set to take on the cobbles in support of the world champion is, of course, packed with talent.
The full selection:
Tadej Pogačar
A squad built for the cobbles
The composition of this roster suggests UAE Team Emirates-XRG is treating the race as a tactical operation. Politt and Vermeersch are the most telling selections. Politt is a former Paris-Roubaix second place finisher with the diesel power and cobbled-road durability to shelter Pogačar through the most destructive sectors. Vermeersch, also a former runner-up, could pursue his own chances if the race unfolds in UAE's favour.
Bjerg adds another high-wattage engine for the flat and wind-exposed sections that define the first half of the race, while Molano, Morgado and Oliveira provide the depth needed for positioning, covering early splits and responding to mechanicals or crashes. Paris-Roubaix is a race where support riders are not interchangeable. The ability to hold position on narrow cobbled farm roads, chase back after a puncture and react when the peloton fragments sector by sector separates functional Roubaix teams from those that merely show up with a leader and hope.
Last year's race illustrated the fine margins involved. Pogačar's crash came while he was in the lead group and actively contesting the race, not while he was out of position. The 2026 squad gives him more bodies in the right places at the right time, reducing the chance that a single incident removes him from contention before the Roubaix velodrome.
The announcement also carries context about Pogačar's 2026 spring campaign. His Milan-Sanremo victory came after he recovered from a crash during the race itself and beat Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5) in the sprint finish. His Tour of Flanders win four days ago was his third, tying the record. Each result has narrowed the Monument conversation to a single question: can he win Paris-Roubaix?
UAE Team Emirates-XRG's squad selection is a signal that both rider and team believe the answer is yes. The seven riders are confirmed, the objective is public and the race will settle the matter on Sunday.
Cover image credit: Tony Esnault
