It had been almost 50 years since a king of Paris had risen to the throne of Flanders. Only Louison Bobet (1955) and Eddy Merckx (1969 and 1975) had achieved it. The French champion and the Belgian giant have no choice but to make room for Tadej Pogacar, the Slovenian boy who does not understand limits or prohibitions. Pogacar, light but stubborn, put the Tour of Flanders at his feet, defeating Van der Poel, Van Aert and the rest of the classicists on their terrain, on the hills and cobblestones, to reach the finish line alone, escaped, triumphant from Oudenaarde.
It may be his most special victory. His body and legs are perfect for the big tours. His way of running fits perfectly with Lombardy and Liège, the two classic friends of the dominators of the generals. But De Ronde is something else. It is a race that requires getting soaked, suffering, breaking stones and fighting in the opposite field. And yet he dominated her at her will.
The exhibition is one of those that will be remembered, one of those that will be discussed among the locals and the most seasoned. The flamingos almost hugged him as if he were one of them. He practically gives you the lion passport. His way of emotionalizing is unattainable for Vingegaard's charisma, who can defeat him but never unseat him.
It was the most cannibalistic version of Pogacar, who stood alone, letting go of all his rivals, with a feeling of overwhelming superiority, like Merckx who in 69 took Gimondi away in more than five minutes. The one from the UAE attacked and always where he was expected and always achieving his goal. 50 km on the first climb up the Paterberg. At 20 from the finish line in the second pass through Oude Kwaremont.
If the Slovenian learned something in his debut in 2022 (he was fourth) it is that he could not play it at the end with Mathieu van der Poel. So, the Dutchman put up with him, barely gave up a few meters and overtook him in the sprint as he wanted. This time, every time Pogacar started he picked him up.
Cheerful but aware of the tactic so as not to repeat the frustration of the past, in the old Kwaremont he went alone, then he stabilized his advantage on the Paterberg and increased it to the finish line. While Van der Poel, who in five participations has always been in the top four, had no choice but to conform and capitulate. Behind them, former world champion Pedersen left Van Aert without a podium, whose Jumbo faltered and was unable to repeat the victories of the last ten days.
Pogacar entered with the black Colnago completely brown from dust, dirty. He raised his hands to his head and raised his finger to the sky. “It is a day I will not forget. Going alone in Kwaremont was the only way to reach the finish line”, he explained about his tenth victory of the season… in April.
If anyone thought that losing the 2022 Tour would change their voracity or their way of running, they don't know you. "If I retired today I would already be proud of my career", corroborates the Slovenian, who already has four monuments, three of them different. He has Milan-Sanremo and Paris Roubaix left to complete the plenary. “Sanremo is the most difficult. This year I was in great shape and I was close. I will not give up. For Roubaix I need to gain a few kilos. I don't rule it out one day." And when Pogacar says it, it sounds like little less than a threat to classicists.
