Taddei Pogachar will one day be able to take on Paris-Roubaix, but it will be "the ultimate challenge," says his friend and former director sportif Alain Piper.

"Someday we will definitely be at the start," Piper predicts, and he is confident that Pogachar will conquer cycling's five Monument Classics.

Piper, a former professional rider and sports director based in Flanders, told the Belgian newspaper Dernière Heure that he has kept in touch with the Slovenian rider since his departure in 2021 due to illness, and the two exchanged messages last week about race strategy The two exchanged messages last week about race strategy.

The Australian also watched the early stages of the Tour de Flanders from the roadside and then watched Pogachar's victory on TV at home.

"It was a very special day, very emotional," Piper said. 'I've lived in Flanders for 46 years and I've tried to win this race, both as a racer and as a coach, but I've never succeeded.'

"Taddei's victory was very emotional and special. We are good friends, we have a good relationship and we keep in touch regularly." Piper suggested that Pogachar could have won the 2022 Tour de Flanders, and that because the television in the team car was broken, when Pogachar and Mathieu van der Pol were battling for the win, Dylan van Baarle and Valentin Maduas' return that management could not warn the team. 11]

Piper had nothing but praise for Pogachal's development on Sunday. He ran a perfect race," Piper said. When we exchanged messages last week, he said that Quaremont was the perfect course of attack for him."

Piper also said that he was "very happy with the way the race went.

"He let a big group get away and with 60 km to go he was down by 3 minutes and the group started to panic. And he and his teammates did what they had to do."

Regarding Paris-Roubaix, Piper saw it as a challenge for Pogachar, but many observers, including Eddy Merckx, believed that Pogachar could win all five monuments, including Paris-Roubaix.

"He loves cycling history and knows the big races and the legends. The races in Flanders are part of that greatness, and Paris-Roubaix is part of that history," Piper said. [Last year he was very surprised by the Tour de France in the Pavé, "I was very surprised by the way he rode in the Tour de France.

"I don't know what his plans are for the next few years, but one day he will be at the start of Roubaix.

"His best season is yet to come and he likes adventure and new experiences. And I think Paris-Roubaix will be his ultimate challenge."

Piper pointed out the differences between Flanders and Roubaix, explaining why the latter is more difficult for the Slovenian.

"On Sunday, he was 10 kg lighter than Van der Pol, which was an advantage in Kwaremont and Paterberg. In Roubaix, however, the lighter weight means he has to pedal harder, which means he loses energy.

"Taddei says Milan-San Remo is the toughest challenge, but I think Paris-Roubaix. But he is a phenomenal racer, so anything is possible."