American cycling legend Greg LeMond believes Tadej Pogacar can conquer the grueling Paris-Roubaix at his first attempt on Sunday—and is well on his way to becoming the sport’s greatest rider of all time.

The 26-year-old Slovenian will take on the brutal cobbled roads and dirt tracks of the Paris-Roubaix as the reigning Tour de France champion—becoming the first rider to do so since LeMond in 1991.

LeMond Backs Pogacar To Tame The Hell Of The North

LeMond, now 63, was surprised to learn he had been the last Tour de France winner to race Paris-Roubaix, telling AFP, "It's almost... it should be illegal. I mean, as a pro cyclist, how could you not want that experience?"

"It’s a magical race. It’s the best race," he added. "The Tour de France is my first choice, but Paris-Roubaix is the one I would have loved to win."

LeMond finished 55th in the 1991 edition of the race, which is notorious for mechanical failures and brutal attrition—with roughly a third of the field failing to finish.

Despite Pogacar’s slight frame, LeMond believes he can handle the 259km challenge, which includes nearly 30 sectors of rough cobbles along the Franco-Belgian border.

"He can win it, absolutely. He’s not too light," LeMond said of the 66kg Pogacar, who gives up 10–15kg to heavier rivals. "(Mathieu) Van der Poel, for me, is still probably the favorite, purely from his past results and his experience. But there are a lot of strong riders right now."

Chasing Monument Glory And Cycling Immortality

Pogacar and LeMond both have three Tour de France titles, but the Slovenian has already notched eight Monument wins and could earn a ninth on Sunday in Roubaix.

"He loves cycling. It looks like he’s having fun doing it, and could be the greatest cyclist ever. I mean, the way he’s winning, the races he’s won—it’s exceptional," LeMond said.

Pogacar, who earns €8 million annually with UAE Team Emirates, rose to fame with his shocking 2020 Tour de France win and has since dominated one-day races as well.

"Pogacar is like the one in a million. He is dominating in a very competitive peloton right now," LeMond added. "With radios and structured teams, his solo wins are even more impressive."

After winning last Sunday’s Tour of Flanders, Pogacar insisted he was racing Roubaix for the joy of it, not his trophy case. But LeMond believes his legacy is already historic—and still unfolding.

"He’s only 26. Pogacar has probably several more Tour offensives in his legs. But you can’t discount (Jonas) Vingegaard. They are very close in the Tour de France. That’s what’s making cycling so exciting right now."

A New Generation Rising

LeMond—whose own career was disrupted at 26 by a hunting accident—has long been seen as a clean rider in a sport with a turbulent history. He sees Pogacar as part of a brighter, younger generation.

"I don’t think it’s unusual that riders are climbing faster. They’re lighter—probably three to four kilos on average," LeMond said. "If I had been 10 kilos lighter, I’d have climbed so much faster too."

"What I also like about this generation is that they’re proving themselves at a very young age."

Paris-Roubaix, which starts in Compiègne 80km from Paris, is known as the "Queen of the Classics" among the five Monument races for its punishing terrain and prestige.