After the solos of Mathieu van der Poel on the pavement of Tour of Flanders and of Paris–Roubaixthe coasts of Liège-Bastogne-Liège have become the perfect theater for the show Tadej Pogacar. The Slovenian, a great favourite, did not betray: he waited for the moment of maximum tension, the Redoubt, to dance on the pedals, sprint and greet the rest of the company 33.8 km from the finish. The others, mere mortals, only saw him there at the finish line. Van der Poel, however, was rejected by the pending decisions Deanerythe oldest of the Monument Classics: the Dutch world champion still managed to finish on the podium, third behind a rediscovered Romain The bard. But if it is incomparable on stones, when the road rises above a certain percentage it still cannot hold up rhythm of the best in the world: he arrived at two minutes by the winner.
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In fact, Pogacar has shown that, especially if they are missing Remco Evenepoel (winner of the last two Lieges) e Jonas Vingegaard, there is none for anyone else. The Slovenian signs his sixth triumph in the Monument Classics: three Tours of Lombardyand Flanders and now two Deanery. Italian fans can already rub their hands: Pogacar is ready to set off fireworks at Tour of Italy and then attempt the double with the Tour de France. The injuries of the two main rivals could pave the way for the appointment with the history. But he too, now 25 years old, seems to have reached the maturity to manage a record year.
In fact, the management of Liège was practically perfect: the Uae ha checked the race in way impeccable and it is no coincidence that Pogacar did not stay entangled in the fall that broke the group in two sections after half the race. Among others Van der Poel and Thomas Pidcock they remained behind, while the Slovenian was always among the first. Then, when the legendary arrived Redout Coast (average gradient of 9.5% and peaks close to 22%), Pogacar opened the throttle. Again without overdoing it, with the calm and the beauty which derive from the awareness of its power. He went down the hill with a few seconds advantage, but while the rivals faced the following kilometers to the côte with the penzolating tongue not legs durethe Slovenian continued to push and thus slowly dug a furrow more than a minute.
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Nobody has the legs to keep up with Pogacar’s pace. Who wins in the end with one simplicity almost embarrassing, as it had been for Van der Poel at Roubaix. The question now is to understand who will be able to counter the Slovenian in the 2024 Grand Tours. Net of the chances of recovery of Evenepoel and Roglic (good), of the possible return of Vingegaard (very difficult), this Liège has shown some glimpses of the truth Egan Bernal. The Colombian who rides for the team Ineos Grenadiers is returning from a scary accident, but at 27 he can still return to the highest levels: in his palmares there are a Tour and a Giro. And he seemed to be growing too Richard Carapaz, another who has the pink jersey on his board. However, both the Ecuadorian and Bernal will make the Grand Boucle. While the 33-year-old Bardet will be in the Corsa Rosa.
2024-04-21 14:33:24
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