Mid-race scare for Tadej Pogačar after puncture, neutral spare bike sees race favourite off the back at Paris-Roubaix

Tadej Pogačar’s bid for victory at Paris-Roubaix suffered a significant setback when he suffered a puncture midway through the race on the 22nd cobbled sector between Quérénaing and Maing. The World Champion was forced to stop with a spinning rear wheel and initially declined the neutral service wheel offered by race motorbikes, hoping for assistance from his team car. However, due to the narrow roads and large gaps in the peloton, no team vehicle was nearby, compelling him to switch to a Shimano neutral support bike and causing him to lose nearly a minute on the leading group. After mounting the neutral bike, Pogačar found himself isolated at the front of the second chase group, which included riders like Josh Tarling of Ineos-Grenadiers. His team car eventually caught up with him around 115 kilometres from the finish, allowing him to swap back to a familiar team-issued spare bike. Meanwhile, rival teams Visma-Lease a Bike and Alpecin-Premier Tech were pressing hard at the front, with Mathieu van der Poel notably driving the pace and launching attacks to widen the gap. It took some time for Pogačar’s UAE Team Emirates-XRG teammates to realise their leader was no longer in the front group. Once aware, António Morgado, Nils Politt, and Mikkel Bjerg dropped back to support him, helping to reduce the deficit to around 20 seconds as the race approached the Haveluy à Wallers sector. Despite the puncture and mechanical issues, Pogačar showed resilience by moving to the front of the chase group and eventually rejoining the lead pack just before the iconic Trouée d’Arenberg, a crucial point in the race. The incident highlighted the challenges of racing on the cobbles, where mechanical problems and positioning can drastically affect a rider’s chances. Pogačar’s recovery demonstrated his determination and the importance of team support in such demanding conditions. While the puncture disrupted his rhythm and strategy, rejoining the front group kept him in contention as the race entered its decisive phases, underscoring the unpredictable nature of Paris-Roubaix and the fine margins that separate victory from defeat.