Tadej Pogačar almost knocked off bike by his own team car at Paris-Roubaix

Tadej Pogačar's afternoon racing Paris-Roubaix was almost derailed by a collision with his own team car, the world champion making contact with the UAE Team Emirates vehicle following a feed.

In the kilometres prior, Pogačar was grimacing and visibly keen for support from his team, some online suggesting he was struggling, or had cramped or bonked. When the team car arrived he downed a small bottle of liquid before the driver and rider collided, Pogačar making contact with the corner of the team car but avoiding a fall.

A scare for Tadej Pogačar!

That could have been disastrous 😰 pic.twitter.com/Ae1LfbXwyi

— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) April 13, 2025

Any suspicion that Pogačar was cracking was quickly dismissed as the Slovenian launched a race-splitting move on the Tilloy à Sars-et-Rosières sector which only Mathieu van der Poel could follow. An untimely puncture left Mads Pedersen to drop back to the chase group of Wout van Aert, but Van der Poel's teammate Jasper Philipsen was able to rejoin the leading pair after the sector.

A crash on the cobbles saw Pogačar split from Van der Poel who soloed to a third consecutive Roubaix crown, although the Dutchman was also struck in the face by a bottle thrown from the crowd.

💥 🇸🇮@TamauPogi crashed!

💥 Chute de 🇸🇮@TamauPogi ! #ParisRoubaix 😈 pic.twitter.com/ng73a5YWZ8

— Paris-Roubaix (@parisroubaix) April 13, 2025

Watching the replay of the near miss with his own team car, TNT Sports commentator Carlton Kirby commented: "That was so dangerous, that shows how empty he is. Goodness me, there you go, a bit of sustenance... that was a very very dangerous moment. [He] hands it back in... honestly that could have been disastrous."

Robbie McEwen agreed: "It could have been. The most dangerous part of the day for Tadej Pogačar..."

Philpsen himself had been just one of numerous riders to hit the deck earlier in the day, the damp roads and race for position causing carnage in the first half of the cobbled classic.

Jasper Philipsen Paris-Roubaix crash (credit: TNT Sports)

Astana XDS rider Davide Ballerini narrowly avoided joining the ranks of those who suffered crashes, the Italian somehow managing to stay upright and dodge a soigneur who appeared to step in the road after dropping a bottle.

Davide Ballerini crash save (credit: TNT Sports)

Alexander Kristoff, Edward Theuns, Bert Van Lerberghe, Jasper Stuyven, Alec Segaert and Niklas Behrans were just some of those who crashed in the opening 100km.

British debutant Cat Ferguson explained last night that her crash in yesterday's women's edition was caused by a spectator stepping onto the course.