Tadej Pogacar wins third Liège–Bastogne–Liège after devastating attack

Tadej Pogacar wins third Liège–Bastogne–Liège after devastating attack

In a breathtaking display of cycling prowess, Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates triumphed at the 2023 Liège–Bastogne–Liège, securing his third victory in this prestigious one-day race. The Slovenian superstar executed a masterful solo attack 34 kilometers from the finish line on the Côte de la Redoute, leaving his competitors in his wake and crossing the finish line with an impressive lead

Tadej Pogacar wins third Liège–Bastogne–Liège after devastating attack

Pogacar's victory comes just days after his win at La Flèche Wallonne, showcasing his exceptional form and strategic acumen. As he powered up the Côte de la Redoute, Pogacar launched a powerful seated attack that caught his rivals off guard. Despite a strong chase group that included Tom Pidcock, Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost), Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor Pro Cycling), and Giulio Ciccone (Lidl-Trek), Pogacar quickly built an insurmountable lead, ultimately finishing more than a minute ahead of Ciccone and Healy, who claimed second and third place respectively.

Reflecting on his performance, Pogacar noted the absence of Remco Evenepoel from the lead group on the decisive climb as a motivating factor for his audacious move. "It feels great to finish the first part of the season like this," Pogacar said. "The whole season so far went perfect, I'm so happy."

When asked if he had planned his attack on the Côte de la Redoute, Pogacar admitted, "No, actually it was not the plan. But it was such a hard pace before that I saw a number of guys who did not have a lot of their teammates left anymore. I thought I'd test my legs a bit and see if I got a gap on the top where I would then decide if I continued or not. Then I just committed when I saw that I did as I had good legs on the second climb after la Redoute. I was so happy I could then go to the finish."

The race began under a bright sky, with teams jockeying for position early on. Quick-Step dominated the early stages, controlling the pace and keeping the pack in check. However, as the race progressed, key riders began to fall off the pace, setting the stage for Pogacar's decisive move.

As Pogacar approached the streets of Liège, the cheers of fans filled the air, marking his ninth Monument victory and solidifying his status as one of cycling's elite riders.

2025 Men's Liège–Bastogne–Liège Top 10

1 Pogacar Tadej UAE Team Emirates-XRG 06:00:09
2 Ciccone Giulio Lidl-Trek + 01:03
3 Healy Ben EF Education-EasyPost + 01:03
4 Velasco Simone XDS Astana Team + 01:10
5 Nys Thibau Lidl-Trek + 01:10
6 Bagioli Andrea Lidl-Trek + 01:10
7 Martinez Daniel Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe + 01:10
8 Laurance Axel INEOS Grenadiers + 01:10
9 Pidcock Tom Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team + 01:10
10 Powless Neilson EF Education-EasyPost + 01:10