The 'Doyenne' is for guys with callus. The endless series of 11 ascents through the narrow paths of Wallonia punish joints and block neurons. A hell for novices, an ordeal for experts. Liège-Bastoña-Liège is only available to gifted people, such as
Tadej Pogacar
, who this Sunday registered his name as the winner of the 107th edition of the oldest race, the third Monument of this season of classics. Huge this Slovenian, devourer of records and forecasts. A trunked climber who surpasses a sprinter like
Julian Alaphilippe
and who makes the 41st birthday of the unrepeatable
Alejandro Valverde
bitter
.
The last winner of the Tour de France exhibited a cunning and ambition typical of the chosen ones. In the sprint on the Boulevard d'Avroy in Liège he played his cards masterfully. He was placed in the tail of the select group of escapees, where Valverde assumed command, with Alaphilippe,
Gaudu
and
Woods
controlling the Spanish maneuvers from a distance. Valverde did not control the distance and accelerated with 500 meters to go, too early. It looked like a rerun of Insbruck's World Cup. But this time there was Alaphilippe, full of his victory in the Walloon Arrow. He pressed the French and Pogacar jumped after him. The Frenchman also did not dose his efforts and from behind, with enormous power, the UAE champion appeared. Another exhibition of the new benchmark in world cycling.
A triumph that rewarded the excellent work done by the Slovenian in the last spring classic. The Dean, with its 259 kilometers of route, decided, how could it be otherwise, in the final section, with the climbs to La Redoute and Roche-aux-Faucons, the latter just 14 from the arrival of the idustrial Liège. The escapees (
Marczynski
,
Huys
,
Paasschens
,
Rota
,
Vliegen
,
Chernetskii
and
Van Poucke
) were neutralized after more than 200 kilometers of adventure by the push of Ineos, who tried to take down Alaphilippe. Very attentive Roglic, Valverde and Pogacar. Extra work for the gregarious of the French, those of the Deceuninck, who managed to close the gap and lead their leader to the group of the best.
Carapaz
insisted with a brave offensive with 20 kilometers to go. On the outskirts of Roche-aux-Faucons he had an advantage of 18 seconds. Pogacar, backed by
Hirschi
and
Formolo
, assumed responsibility for hunting the Ecuadorian. After the capture, the Slovenian accelerated to eliminate Roglic. Ahead fled the last Tour winner, Alaphilippe, Valverde, Gaudu and Woods. The young Slovenian broke the race and went ahead decisively, not caring that Valverde and Alaphilippe, a priori, were faster. The accumulated wear and tear of a very hard classic took its toll. And the decisive moment, intelligence is more decisive than forces. And there, Pogacar, is the most daring and clever of the class.
The Slovenian takes over from Roglic in the Liege record and joins the winners of the most relevant classics of the first half of the season.
Before the closing of the triptych of the Ardennes, the Dutch
Van der Poel
(Alpecin) was awarded the Strade Bianche and Through Flanders;
Belgian
Jasper Styven
(Trek Segafredo) won Milan San Remo;
the Danish
Kasper Asgren
(Deceuninck) surprised in the Tour of Flanders, the Belgian
Van Aert
(Jumbo) shone in the Ghent-Wevelgen and Amstel Gold Race, the British
Thomas Pidcock
(Ineos) made his debut in the Brabanzona Arrow and Alaphilippe scored the Walloon Arrow.
Pogacar, the king who embittered the 41st anniversary of the splendid Valverde.
According to the criteria of The Trust Project
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