Tadej Pogacar Rewrites History with Third Tour of Flanders Victory

Tadej Pogacar has ascended to a rarefied air in professional cycling, cementing his status as one of the greatest to ever grace the sport. On Sunday, April 5, 2026, the Slovenian powerhouse claimed his third victory at the Tour of Flanders, a triumph that propels him to second place on the all-time list of Monument winners.

The 110th edition of “De Ronde” served as a masterclass in resilience and raw power. After a grueling battle lasting six and a half hours, Pogacar crossed the finish line in solo fashion, leaving the world’s elite trailing in his wake. The victory marks a historic milestone: Pogacar is now the first rider in the history of the sport to win four consecutive Monuments.

A Battle of Titans in Flanders

The race was defined by a high-stakes duel between Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel. Despite the eventual margin of victory, the road to the podium was fraught with tension. Pogacar’s path was not without incident. the current two-time world champion suffered a fall during the race, forcing a grueling recovery effort to rejoin the lead group.

The decisive moments arrived in the closing stages. Pogacar launched a devastating attack that eventually broke Van der Poel, who had been his primary challenger throughout the day. In the final six kilometers, the gap widened to 40 seconds as the Dutchman was forced to concede. Pogacar entered the final kilometer alone, savoring a victory that felt as inevitable as it was dominant.

Van der Poel finished second, arriving just over 30 seconds after the winner. Rounding out the podium was Remco Evenepoel, who made his debut in the Tour of Flanders, finishing 1 minute and 10 seconds behind the leader.

The Road to 12 Monuments

With this win, Pogacar has elevated his career tally to 12 Monument victories, surpassing the legendary De Vlaeminck to take sole possession of second place on the historical classification. Only Eddy Merckx, with 19 wins, remains ahead of him.

The scale of Pogacar’s current momentum is unprecedented. His streak of four consecutive Monument wins includes:

• Liège-Bastogne-Liège (2025)
• Il Lombardia (2025)
• Milan-San Remo (2026)
• Tour of Flanders (2026)

His victory in Milan-San Remo earlier this year was equally dramatic, as he recovered from a crash at the Cipressa to triumph on the Via Roma against Van der Poel and Tom Pidcock. This pattern of overcoming adversity to deliver clinical finishes has become the hallmark of the “Little Prince.”

The Final Piece of the Puzzle

While the record books now reflect his dominance, one glaring omission remains in Pogacar’s palmarés. Of the five cycling Monuments—Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Il Lombardia, and Paris-Roubaix—only Paris-Roubaix has eluded him.

The quest for the “complete set” is now the primary narrative of his career. For context, Van der Poel’s most recent Monument success came at the 2025 Paris-Roubaix, highlighting the specific terrain where the Dutchman still holds a competitive edge over the Slovenian.

For those following the sport, the implications of this win extend beyond the trophy. Pogacar’s ability to dominate both the climbing-heavy Monuments like Il Lombardia and the cobbled classics like the Tour of Flanders demonstrates a versatility rarely seen since the era of Merckx. He is no longer just a Grand Tour specialist; he is the definitive force in one-day racing.

As the cycling world digests this historic performance, all eyes shift toward the remaining classics. The question is no longer whether Pogacar can win, but rather who—if anyone—can stop him from claiming the final Monument and further closing the gap to the all-time record.

Check back for further updates on the 2026 cycling season and the road to the next Monument. Let us know your thoughts on Pogacar’s legacy in the comments below.