OUDENAARDE, Belgium (AP) – Tadej Pogačar claimed victory at the Tour of Flanders on Sunday, marking his third win at this prestigious event, equaling the record for most wins.
Pogačar, representing the UAE Team Emirates-XRG, executed a powerful solo attack against a competitive field, further solidifying his legacy in professional cycling.
During the final stages of the race, Pogačar and his rival Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) distanced themselves from the pack, navigating a challenging route with approximately 18 kilometers remaining. Pogačar launched his decisive attack on the Oude Kwaremont, reminiscent of his successful strategy from the previous year.
Key Moments in the Race
Pogačar’s earlier move on the Oude Kwaremont had proven critical in the previous race, but this time van der Poel managed to stay close, limiting the gap to just a few seconds at the top. However, Pogačar’s relentless pace on the subsequent Paterberg climb, characterized by steep gradients, ultimately left van der Poel trailing by 15 seconds at the summit.
Recognizing his lead was insurmountable, Pogačar celebrated as he approached the finish line, concluding the race 34 seconds ahead of van der Poel.
Pogačar’s Reflections and Future Aspirations
“It was really a crazy race today,” Pogačar remarked. “It was super hard and then a bit of a waiting game.” He expressed satisfaction with his performance, highlighting his successful season so far, which includes victories at Milan-San Remo and the Strade Bianche.
On his debut at the Tour of Flanders, Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) secured third place, finishing 1 minute and 11 seconds behind Pogačar, while Wout Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) followed closely.
Women’s Race Highlights
In the women’s race, Demi Vollering from FDJ Suez claimed her first victory at the Tour of Flanders, launching her attack on the Oude Kwaremont as well. She finished 42 seconds ahead of Tour de France champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, with Puck Pieterse completing the podium.
Tour of Flanders Overview
Known as De Ronde (The Tour), the Tour of Flanders is one of cycling’s most challenging one-day races, first held in 1913. This year’s course spanned 278 kilometers (172.7 miles), featuring 16 demanding climbs and numerous cobblestone sections.
The event is part of the five prestigious cycling monuments, alongside Milan-San Remo, Paris-Roubaix, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, and the Giro di Lombardia. Pogačar aims to complete the set this year, with only Paris-Roubaix remaining on his list of potential victories.
“I don’t race too much, when I race there is pressure to win,” Pogačar stated. “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.”