Tadej Pogacar raised his finger in the air after an almost unbelievable triumph, put his hands in front of his face and could hardly believe his luck.
Cycling’s new cannibal has grabbed the next monument and spoiled the Belgians’ unofficial national day. In the style of the once insatiable Eddy Merckx, Pogacar triumphed at the 107th Tour of Flanders, winning the brutal cobblestone classic on a second attempt. After 274 kilometers and 19 poisonous climbs, the two-time Tour de France winner relegated Dutch title defender Mathieu van der Poel to second place. Third in the race, which was marked by serious falls, was Danish ex-world champion Mads Pedersen, while Belgium’s hero Wout van Aert had to make do with fourth.
“I won’t forget that day. I gave everything. I knew it was going to be tough, but I had to pull away on my own. It was the only way to win the race,” said Pogacar, adding: “I could resign now and super proud of my career.” Even if he doesn’t win the tour this year, the season would already be a success.
Already the tenth win of the season for Pogacar
The show of the big three in front of several hundred thousand spectators began 55 kilometers from the finish with an attack by Pogacar at the Oude Kwaremont. After the Paterberg, the Slovene let himself be caught up again, a little later he competed again on the up to 22 percent steep cobblestone monster Koppenberg. Only van Aert and van der Poel were able to ride and the trio went in pursuit of a twelve-man lead group. However, only Pogacar and van der Poel made it there after van Aert was unable to follow the Dutchman’s speed increase on the Kruisberg.
At the last Kwaremont crossing, the final was finally opened. Pogacar left van der Poel behind, and shortly afterwards swept past the leading Pedersen with impressive ease. With that he once again demonstrated his excellent spring form, for the 24-year-old it was already the tenth win of the season. Most recently, he duped the Danish tour winner Jonas Vingegaard on the difficult Paris-Nice tour.
Before the start on the Bruges market square, a three-way battle between defending champion van der Poel, Belgian hero van Aert and ex-Tour winner Pogacar was expected. The race started very nervously, no group formed for the first 100 kilometers. Then eight drivers break away, including Hesse Jonasrutsch.
Van Aert involved in mass crash
The maximum lead was more than six and a half minutes, which was also due to a heavy mass fall in the field. On the first approach to Oude Kwaremont, about 142 kilometers from the finish, Pole Filip Maciejuk got into a ditch when the road narrowed. The 23-year-old recklessly jumped back onto the road and cleared almost the entire field. Van Aert was involved in the crash, as were ex-world champions Julian Alaphilippe (France) and Peter Sagan (Slovakia). Pogacar lost his most important helper in Tim Wellens, the Belgian suffered a broken collarbone.
About 100 kilometers from the finish, a strong group formed with Stefan Küng, Pedersen, Matteo Trentin and Kasper Asgreen. Of the three favourites, only van der Poel did not have a driver up front, but his squad was not strong enough to pursue. Since no one showed any serious interest, the lead grew to two minutes and they merged with the slide group.
The next serious fall happened in the already decimated field. Biniam Girmay touched the rear wheel of the man in front on a downhill road and fell at high speed. Several riders fell over the 2022 Gent-Wevelgem winner. Both Girmay and former Sanremo winner Matej Mohoric had to retire. Undeterred, Pogacar carried out his plan and, with van Aert and van der Poel in tow, fought his way to the top and the final was on.
