Pogacar’s Monument chase

Tadej Pogačar won Milano–Sanremo on March 21, 2026, covering 298 km in 6h35’49” with Thomas Pidcock second and Wout van Aert third. (giroditalia.it)) Pogacar crashed with roughly 33 km to go near Imperia, rejoined by the bottom of the Cipressa and then launched a decisive move about 24.4 km from the finish to outlast Tom Pidcock in a half‑wheel sprint. (velo.outsideonline.com)) Former pro Adam Blythe called Pogacar “the GOAT” after Sanremo and said the Slovenian has “one more Monument to win” — naming Paris‑Roubaix as the remaining marquee target that would, in Blythe’s words, see him “complete cycling.” (cyclinguptodate.com)) UAE Team Emirates-XRG are reported to be assembling a Roubaix support squad that, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport via race coverage, would likely include Florian Vermeersch, Nils Politt, Mikkel Bjerg, Julius Johansen and Rui Oliveira, with the final spot between António Morgado or Sebastián Molano. (cyclinguptodate.com)) Organisers have reshaped Paris‑Roubaix Femmes for April 12, 2026: the race will start in Denain, run about 148.5 km to Roubaix and now includes 33.7 km of cobbles — up from 29.2 km in 2025 — with three added sectors at Haussy, Saulzoir and the 2.5 km Haveluy‑à‑Wallers (sector 18). (cyclingnews.com)) The women’s edition has been moved to the same day as the men’s for April 12, 2026, with organisers saying the revised opening layout and denser early cobble sequence (returning to a 2024 layout near Briastre and Troisvilles) could “accelerate the racing.” (paris-roubaix-femmes.fr)) Pogacar’s Paris‑Roubaix bid follows his runner‑up finish on debut in 2025 behind Mathieu van der Poel, who claimed a third successive Roubaix victory that year — a result that frames the 2026 race as a direct rematch opportunity. (cyclingnews.com))