Tadej Pogačar once again wrote his name in cycling history, winning the biggest one day race of his young career and becoming the youngest winner of Liège-Bastogne-Liège in 44 years.
With a determined sprint, the Slovenian from UAE Team Emirates triumphed at “La Doyenne” ahead of world champion Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step), David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ), Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) and Michael Woods (Israel Start-Up Nation).
The quintet had an advantage on the main group 13.5 km from the finish when, near the brow of the Côte de la Roche aux Faucons, Davide Formolo pulled back Richard Carapaz (Ineo-Grenadiers), opening the way for an attack by Michael Woods. Pogačar, Gaudu, Valverde and Alaphilippe followed the Canadian and this group managed to maintain an advantage of just over 20” on their pursuers until the final sprint.
Entering the sprint, Pogačar was glued to Alaphilippe’s wheel, coming around the Frenchman in the final metres before the line.
The win topped off a very solid team performance with UAE also claiming 6th place with Marc Hirschi and 16th with Davide Formolo.
“I am almost speechless,” said Pogačar at the finish. “I really love this race: winning here was a dream of mine and it is incredible to have achieved this goal and finish ahead of these big names . In the sprint I was behind Alaphilippe when he opened-up and I tried to stick with him. I wasn’t sure I would be able to overtake him but, with strength and a bit of luck, I did it.
I have won the Tour de France, I have won other high level races and now I have conquered the Liège-Bastogne-Liège: I’m living a cycling dream.
Now I will rest, spend some time with my family and then resume my preparation for the Tour de France. “
Julian Alaphilippe finished second at “La Doyenne”, six years after getting the same result at his debut there, albeit on a different finish. Alaphilippe waited for the others to kick out before launching his sprint on the right side of the road with 150 meters to go and coming round his opponents only to be pipped on the line by Pogacar. It was Julian’s sixth podium in a Monument, one that brings to a conclusion another impressive spring campaign that saw Deceuninck – Quick-Step’s rider finish top ten at all three Ardennes Classics.
“I did a very good race and the same can be said about the team, they rode perfectly today and did a stellar job, controlling everything from the start until the last ascent, and I must say a big thank you to them. After the main group formed over the top of the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons, we worked well together and managed to open a nice gap on the chasers, which allowed us to focus on the finale. I opened my sprint at the right moment and did everything as I should, but one rider was stronger today and there wasn’t much to do about that, so I don’t have any regrets. Despite not winning the race, I am still happy, because being on the podium of Liège–Bastogne–Liège is always a special moment. Overall, I can be satisfied with my Ardennes campaign”, said the World Champion.
2021 Liège-Bastogne-Liège Results:
- Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) 6h39’26 “
- Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step) s.t.
- David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) s.t.
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