Tadej Pogacar claimed a stirring victory at the Liege-Bastogne-Liege race on Sunday, breaking away solo just 30 kilometers from the finish line. The Slovenian cyclist dedicated his win to his girlfriend’s late mother, who passed away ahead of the 2022 event.
Facing the Ardennes forests, marking the end of the spring classics, Pogacar’s acceleration left competitors trailing behind. Mathieu van der Poel, winner of Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders, settled for third place, while Frenchman Romain Bardet secured second.
Expressing his emotions post-race, Pogacar revealed, “It was a poignant day for me, not just because of my previous injury but also because two years ago, just before the race, Urska’s mother passed away. So today, I rode for her.”
This marks Pogacar’s second Liege-Bastogne-Liege victory, adding to his impressive tally of six one-day Monument victories. He now sets his sights on the Giro d’Italia, aiming to replicate Marco Pantani’s historic Giro-Tour double achievement in 1998.
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Despite chilly conditions, Pogacar remained focused, stating, “I wore plenty of layers today. It was still quite cold out there.” Reflecting on his strategy, he added, “I pushed hard on the climbs, stayed cautious on the descents, but in the end, it was all about enduring the suffering.”
With seven victories in just 10 days of competitive racing this year, Pogacar’s dominance is evident as he prepares for future challenges.
In the women’s race, Australian cyclist Grace Brown secured victory in a tightly contested finish in downtown Liege, crossing the line ahead of Elisa Longo Borghini and Demi Vollering. Brown’s triumph followed a late burst of energy in the final kilometers, capping off an exhilarating event.
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