Tadej Pogacar one away from Ardennes sweep after La Fleche Wallonne victory, Liege-Bastogne-Liege awaits

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) will head to Liege-Bastogne-Liege on Sunday targeting the Ardennes sweep after taking another fine victory at La Fleche Wallonne. The Slovenian, who ticked off part one at Amstel Gold on Sunday, hit the front on the steep ramp of the Mur de Huy, dropping a short but devastating attack that left his rivals squabbling for second. Mattias Skjelmose (Trek-Segafredo) won the battle behind ahead of Mikel Landa (Bahrain-Victorious).

Ad “I left it all on the climb. It was super hard and it was a spectacular finish,” said Pogacar, who was quick to praise his UAE team-mates after they marshalled the peloton for the entire race. Amstel Gold Race'Inexplicable' or 'nothing wrong'? Debate over Pogacar's car slip stream17/04/2023 AT 14:07 “It gives me a boost when the team do such an amazing job.

Today there were a few times I was like ‘what good guys I have in front of me and I need to pull it off, otherwise the good work is for nothing’. It gives me more motivation,” he continued. “It was really nervous but the team did a really good job in keeping me in the front.

There was one moment where I almost crashed. It was quite hectic but we really pulled it off.” Pogacar is now one win away from joining Davide Rebellin (2004) and Philippe Gilbert (2011) as the only riders to win all three Ardennes classics in the same season. He is the undisputed top rider in the men’s peloton right now, having also won Paris-Nice and the Tour of Flanders this season.

“For everybody, you don’t get bored crossing the line first. I really enjoy that and I’m really grateful that I have this moment now in such great shape so I’ll enjoy this moment while I can,” he said. Vollering stars on Mur de Huy to triumph as Deignan