Late last night Tadej Pogacar posted a clear, unequivocal, laconic message. Some photos taken during the last training session on the pavé with his teammates and a single phrase "The plan is ready". Following are the names of the six athletes who will accompany him in UAE Emirates XRG jersey, namely Mikkel Bjerg, Nils Politt, Juan Sebastian Molano, Antonio Morgado, Florian Vermeersch and Tim Wellens.

A clear message to fans, the team and opponents: "The plan is ready". And now the race of hypotheses begins: where does the world champion think of attacking? In which sector? How will he manage his team? And if the race is wet? And if the race is dry? And if opponents attack first? And if...

THE RECONNAISSANCE. Just under 100 kilometers of reconnaissance were enough for Tadej Pogacar to get an idea of what he will face tomorrow in the Paris-Roubaix. The world champion, with his team, carefully examined the final part of the route, to make hypotheses and try the best possible tactics. Pogacar will have to deal with Classic specialists and the lack of climbs, which could force him to duel in a sprint with the fastest men on the planet.

The Enfer du Nord awaits its heroes and the stones where one must go fast mark the path to the André-Petrieux velodrome, which since 1943 has hosted the race's finish, and where only the strongest arrive alone to the sound of the bell.

Pogacar has conquered eight Monument Classics, the last one last Sunday at the Tour of Flanders. Tomorrow could be the ninth and might not be a surprise, considering the confidence with which he approached yesterday's reconnaissance.

The Slovenian will have a strong team by his side, with Nils Politt, Tim Wellens, Florian Vermeersch, Juan Sebastian Molano, Antonio Morgado and Mikkel Bjerg, who will have the task of escorting him until he flies alone towards the finish line. UAE Emirates yesterday reviewed nineteen of the thirty pavé sectors of Paris-Roubaix and the public began to cheer at the team's passage. Pogacar did not speak and statements came from Fabio Baldato, the team's sports director, who wanted to tell about the reconnaissance to Aso.

"We had thought of doing a bit less, but Thursday evening Tadej asked us to start from the Arenberg Forest. So we started from there and did a good reconnaissance - explained Baldato - It's mainly for the head, to visualize well, to look carefully. The weather was nice and we did a good job".

Paris-Roubaix is a race you can't improvise and strategy plays an important role. "We'll see what the other teams do. Visma Lease a Bike or Lidl-Trek can put many men at the front, so we'll have to be careful. But we have experienced riders, like Nils Politt, Tim Wellens and Florian Vermeersch. It's easy to talk in advance about what we'll do. Will it be at Arenberg or Mons-en-Pévèle or at Carrefour de l'Arbre? In any case, everyone will go extremely fast".

Pogacar tried some sections of the route and among the most challenging was Mons-en-Pévèle, the eleventh sector, 3000 meters long and characterized by 5 stars of difficulty.

At the exit from the Arenberg Forest, many fans were waiting for the passage of the world champion jersey, who arrived speeding through teammates Wellens and Vermeersch and some enthusiasts on their bikes tried to follow him, but speed immediately made the selection.

Analyzing the Slovenian's data while crossing various sectors, he tackled some sectors at high speed, as if he were racing, including sector 15, Tilloy-lez-Marchiennes - Sars-et-Rosières (2400 m, 4 stars), sector 12, Auchy-lez-Orchies - Bersée (2700 m, 4 stars), while he exited sector eleven more cautiously. "Tadej had already completed the entire Paris-Roubaix route before doing the Tour of Flanders - Baldato recalled - We did this route also in February, and the pavé was wet, there was a lot of water. We wanted to have everything clear, now we just have to race".