04/05/26 11:15:00
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04/05 11:13 CDT Monumental Pogacar wins Tour of Flanders for record-equaling
third time with another solo attack
Monumental Pogacar wins Tour of Flanders for record-equaling third time with
another solo attack
OUDENAARDE, Belgium (AP) --- Tadej Pogacar added another prestigious victory
Sunday 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. They rode together at the front having dropped all other contenders along
the grueling route with about 18 kilometers 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 immediately 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%. 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
34 seconds ahead of van der Poel.
"It was really a crazy race today," Pogacar said. "It was super hard and then a
bit of a waiting game."
On his Tour of Flanders debut, Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)
finished third, 1 minute, 11 seconds off the pace, 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
278-kilometer (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 competed in this year, also claiming the
Strade Bianche last month.
"I don't race too much, when I race there is pressure to win," Pogacar said.
"So far, everything went perfect for me. I can be more than happy, coming next
week to Roubaix, I'll try to enjoy the cobbles."
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AP cycling: https://apnews.com/hub/cycling
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