Tadej Pogačar's work is growing in size and importance. A monument already adorns his showcase, on paper the most appropriate to his profile, the Liège-Bastogne-Liège, one of the greatest ever, the doyenne, in the locker of the youngest stars of the circuit.
This cyclist, who seems to be an all-rounder, who can do anything, who does well on any course, is one of a small list of riders who in history have managed to combine the Tour de France and Liège in a row. Attention, we are talking about very historic riders: Fredy Kübler, Eddy Merckx, up to four times, and Bernard Hinault.
With them Pogačar is perched as a measure of the size of his work, a glittering legacy at only 22 years old. "Speechless" he repeated overwhelmed at the finish. No wonder he has conquered a piece of the fat ones, of the most desired in a choral performance of UAE Team Emirates that left stamp.
Entering the cut and winning the sprint
The Liège-Bastogne-Liège of 2021 came half a year after the previous edition. Back then, Pogačar had already taken note of the keys to a simply demolishing course. Then the Slovenian would enter, arm in arm, complaining about the esses that cost Julian Alaphilippe a disqualification.
Then as this time, Pogačar was in front, disputing, and at his side, Marc Hirschi, again a protagonist in Liège.
"I love this race, winning it is a dream, and more so in front of these big names."he said more calmly next to the finish line where he had won by speed against the aforementioned Alaphilippe plus David Gaudu, Alejandro Valverde and Michael Woods.
It was, the latter, on the final climb, in Roche-aux-Faucons who opened fire and the definitive distance between the best and the rest. Pogačar joined the group, entered the relay and gave life to the cut that seemed and was the good one. Behind Davide Formolo and Marc Hirschi gave cover to the contras of the rivals. A textbook strategy in which the Swiss ended up in an intermediate cut and, therefore, also in the top ten.
Again Liège, again sprint, but the story was very different from last year. Pogačar faced the straight last, knowing that the headwind could hurt him, leaving the rest to do: "I put myself on the wheel of Alaphilippe when he opened the sprint and tried to overtake him. I wasn't sure I'd make it, but I had the strength and luck I needed."
Now it's time to look ahead. He closes a sensational start to the campaign with two stage tours, the UAE Tour and Tirreno-Adriatico, and the Liège-Bastogne-Liège plus a podium and stage in Itzulia. I've already won the Tour, other big races and now Liège. I'm living in a dream.
With two months to go, it's impossible not to think about the Tour. I want to enjoy a few days with my family," he concludes, "and then I'll think about the Tour. In between we'll see him in the Dauphiné. DefenderHe will be crowned in France at the age of 22.
PhotosBettiniPhoto / Fizza Photo
