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Pogacar Triumphs Again: Secures Second Tour of Flanders Title in Thrilling Finish

Tadej Pogacar, the three-time Tour de France champion racing for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, has once again etched his name in cycling history by winning the prestigious Tour of Flanders for the second time

Pogacar Triumphs Again: Secures Second Tour of Flanders Title in Thrilling Finish

In an exhilarating race that spanned 270 kilometers, Pogacar demonstrated his remarkable endurance and tactical prowess, finishing with a time of five hours, 58 minutes, and 41 seconds.

Pogacar's victory came after a fierce battle against defending champion Mathieu van der Poel and a determined chasing pack. The Slovenian cyclist crossed the finish line just over a minute ahead of Denmark's Mads Pedersen, who claimed second place, while Dutchman Van der Poel recovered from a significant crash to secure third position.

"The goal was to win, but at the end it's hard to realize. I cannot be more proud of the team," said the 26-year-old Pogacar, reflecting on his hard-fought victory. His triumph marks a significant milestone in a race known for its challenging climbs and iconic cobbled sectors, affectionately referred to as De Ronde.

The race took a dramatic turn when Van der Poel crashed with 127 kilometers remaining but rejoined the peloton within just 10 kilometers. As the race progressed, Pogacar made a decisive move on the final ascent of the Oude Kwaremont, launching a race-winning attack with approximately 15 kilometers to go. From there, he cruised along the flat roads to a solo victory, leaving competitors scrambling for the remaining podium positions.

In the women's race, Belgian cyclist Lotte Kopecky made history by becoming the first athlete to win three editions of the Tour of Flanders. Riding for Team SD Worx, Kopecky showcased her sprinting prowess in a thrilling four-way finish, outpacing France's Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, Liane Lippert of Germany, and Poland's Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney.

"It was a crazy race with a lot of crashes in the beginning," Kopecky remarked. "When it went with the four of us, I was pretty confident." Notably, Italian rider Elisa Longo Borghini, a favorite to win, had to withdraw after crashing around 95 kilometers from the finish.

The 2024 Tour of Flanders attracted an impressive crowd of approximately 750,000 spectators, who lined the streets from Bruges to Oudenaarde to witness this historic event. Known as one of cycling's five Monuments, alongside Milan-San Remo, Paris-Roubaix, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and the Tour of Lombardy, the Tour of Flanders continues to captivate cycling enthusiasts worldwide.

Looking ahead, Pogacar is set to tackle the infamous cobbled tracks of Paris-Roubaix—known as the "Hell of the North"—on April 13, where he will once again face Van der Poel, the defending champion. "Roubaix is a completely different race, but I will accept the challenge and try to do my best," Pogacar stated, hinting at the fierce competition that lies ahead.

2025 Tour of Flanders Top 10

01  Pogacar Tadej UAE Team Emirates-XRG 05:58:41
02  Pedersen Mads Lidl-Trek + 01:01
03  van der Poel Mathieu Alpecin-Deceuninck + 01:01
04  van Aert Wout Team Visma | Lease a Bike + 01:01
05  Stuyven Jasper Lidl-Trek + 01:04
06  Benoot Tiesj Team Visma | Lease a Bike + 01:53
07  Küng Stefan Groupama-FDJ + 01:53
08  Ganna Filippo INEOS Grenadiers + 02:19
09  García Cortina Iván Movistar Team + 02:19

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