Tadej Pogacar equals Eddy Merckx by storming to victory at Tour of Flanders

UAE Team Emirates star Tadej Pogacar won the Tour of Flanders on Sunday with a searing solo attack in the final 20km on the one-day race to equal the great Eddy Merckx's achievement almost half a century ago.

The Slovenian two-time Tour de France winner now has four Monuments to his name after finishing 17 seconds ahead of last year's winner Mathieu van der Poel.

Pogacar, 24, is attempting the rare crossover of Grand Tour riders to try and win the epic one-day races known as Monuments, and his soaring triumph makes him the first man since Merckx to win both the Tour de France and the Tour of Flanders (1969, 1975).

Pogacar has twice won the Tour of Lombardy, and has won one Liege-Bastogne-Liege, making this his fourth.

"It's a day I will never forget," said Pogacar, who was handed a large portion of local speciality chips at the finish line.

"I almost cracked on the last climb but it was the only way to go," he said, referring to his great rival Van der Poel being a stronger sprinter in a two-up finish.

When asked about equalling the Merckx feat, Pogacar didn't hold back, describing it as the biggest one-day race in the world.

"That is an exploit in itself," he said. "My season is already a success because of it and even if I don't win the Tour de France this year I could still retire after this win and be super proud and happy."

Pogacar has two Monuments he needs to win to collect all five.

"Milan-SanRemo looks like the hardest to go and get, and I might need to put on some weight to win (Paris) Roubaix," he said of the remaining two.