Tadej Pogacar added another prestigious victory by winning the Tour of Flanders for a record-equaling third time with a dominant solo effort against a world-class field, further cementing his place in cycling lore.
Pogacar, from the UAE Team Emirates-XRG team, and his great one-day classic rival Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) were the strongest in the pack and rode together at the front with about 18 kilometres remaining when the world champion launched an attack in the final ascent of the Oude Kwaremont.
Pogacar's move last year on the same climb had proved decisive, but this time van der Poel was not dropped and managed to limit the gap to just a few seconds at the top of the hill.
Van der Poel, however, could not close the gap and Pogacar gradually extended his lead, redoubling his effort on the Paterberg, a short but brutal cobbled climb with gradients exceeding 20 per cent. That proved too much for van der Poel, a three-time winner of the race, who lagged 15 seconds behind at the summit.
Once he realized he would not be caught, the four-time Tour de France winner sat up, raising his arms in triumph and punching the air as he crossed the line 33 seconds ahead of van der Poel.
On his Tour of Flanders debut, Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) finished third ahead of Wout Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike).
Pogacar and van der Poel were mobbed by photographers and warmly hugged each other after the finish.
Also known as De Ronde (The Tour), the Tour of Flanders is one of cycling's most challenging one-day races and was first held in 1913. This year's 278km (172.7-mile) route featured 16 short but punishing climbs and several cobblestone sections.
The race is one of the "monuments" of cycling — the five most prestigious one-day events in the sport — along with Milan-San Remo, Paris-Roubaix, Liege-Bastogne-Liege and the Giro di Lombardia.
Pogacar triumphed at Milan-San Remo for the first time earlier this year and could win all five this year. The only Monument missing in his impressive trophy cabinet is Paris-Roubaix, which takes place next weekend.
Pogacar has won all three races he has competed in this year, also claiming the Strade Bianche last month.
In the women’s race, Demi Vollering secured an equally-dominant victory for FDJ United-Suez to claim a Tour of Flanders crown for the first time.
The Dutchwoman had finished second behind Lotte Kopecky in 2023 but picked her moment on the Oude Kwaremont to distance Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, Puck Pieterse and the rest.
The European champion has been in fine form during the early weeks of the classics season, with Vollering also successful at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.
AP
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