LLiège–Bastogne–Liège. The oldest cycling race in the world, 131 years old, 258 kilometers long, one of the five monuments of cycling, was intended as a big stage for a long-awaited duel. For a glimpse into the future of cycling. But the duel between the 24-year-old Slovenian Tadej Pogacar (Team UAE) and the one year younger Belgian Remco Evenepoel, two cycling wonders, has failed.
Evenepoel won the race comfortably as a soloist after Pogacar, two-time Tour de France winner and serial winner this spring, had to retire early after a fall on a descent. After just 84 kilometers it was the end of the line for him. He injured himself and was taken to a hospital, where he underwent surgery on his left wrist on Sunday.
Pogacar in the clinic – clearing the way for Evenepoel, the Quick-Step team captain who had made himself scarce this spring. He came to Liège from a high-altitude training camp. Until then he had left out the Ardennes classics, his focus is on trying to win the Giro d’Italia after the Tour of Spain and the World Championship title last year. In 2024 it should be ready. Then Evenepoel wants to make his debut at the Tour de France, and then, as can be expected, the cards will be reshuffled. Then the future of cycling will begin, in the center of which many experts have been expecting this duel between two spectacular riders for years, the prelude to which fell through on Sunday.
Evenepoel blew up the field 33 kilometers from the finish on the twelve percent steep climb to the Côte de la Redoute. Only the Brit Thomas Pidcock from the Ineos Grenadiers team was able to follow his start for a short time before Evenepoel switched to time trial mode and easily drove away from him. The Belgian unwound the last 29 kilometers as a soloist, at a pace that the competition could only marvel at.
Within just seven kilometers he built up a lead of more than a minute in the pouring rain. A class difference opened up and a bit of nostalgia at Pogacar’s retirement, which presumably spoiled a furioso finale between two outstanding drivers. As it was, Evenepoel was in a league of its own. “I hope he’s doing reasonably well,” said Evenepoel, “I’m sorry he fell. I wish him a speedy recovery.”
