The Belgian Remco Evenepoel won his second Liège-Bastogne-Liège on Sunday after a race marked by the abandonment after a fall of the Slovenian favorite Tadej Pogacar, victim of a double fracture in the left wrist. At 23, the Soudal-Quick Step rider becomes the first rider to retain his title in Liège since Michele Bartoli in 1998.
Remco Evenepoel, the world champion, won alone after having, like last year, taken off on the Côte de la Redoute. At 23, the Soudal-Quick Step rider becomes the first rider to retain his title in Liège since Michele Bartoli in 1998. He won 1 min 06 sec ahead of Briton Tom Pidcock and Colombian Santiago Buitrago . ” It’s wonderful to do two out of two. Winning this beautiful race with this beautiful jersey, it’s magic “, he said after having been able to savor his success for a long time on the Quai des Ardennes by haranguing the public. But the long-awaited duel with Pogacar was cut short when the Slovenian, who was aiming for the hat-trick in the Ardennes classics, crashed after just 85 km of racing before giving up.
Pogacar operated on this Sunday
Taken to the hospital, the Slovenian suffered in particular from a scaphoid fracture in his left wrist and will be operated on on Sunday, just over two months from the Tour de France which he hopes to regain. ” I heard a horrible noise. I send him all my support and strength. It’s unfortunate and a pity that he couldn’t finish the race. I’ve been through this too in the past, hope he’s ok “said Evenepoel.
Unlike his rival, the Flemish had not yet competed in a one-day race this season. He had just returned from a three-week training camp on the slopes of the Teide volcano in Tenerife to prepare for the Giro (May 6-28), his main objective for this first part of the season.
#LBL | 🎙 “I send him all my support and all my strength!”
Remco Evenepoel, the winner of the day, had a word for his rival Tadej Pogacar on arrival. The Slovenian fell heavily today and couldn’t defend his chances. pic.twitter.com/GSlKEKYE7y
— francetvsport (@francetvsport) April 23, 2023
This did not prevent him from flying over the 109th edition of the “Doyenne” to bring, like last year, a little balm to the heart of his Soudal-Quick Step team, in check on the classics until then. The Belgian formation led the peloton for almost the entire race, like Julian Alaphilippe who sacrificed himself for his leader before giving up about sixty kilometers from the finish.
Take-off 30 km from the finish
Evenepoel took matters into his own hands at the top of the Côte de la Redoute, about thirty kilometers from the goal, by placing an attack that only Tom Pidcock was able to follow briefly. The Briton quickly paid for his effort: victim of a craving, he suddenly stopped pedaling.
In an exercise against the clock which he loves, Evenepoel, molded in a white jumpsuit, quickly dug, in the rain, an advantage of more than a minute over his first pursuers.
The winner of the Vuelta 2022 confirmed his lead in the last difficulty of the day, La Roche-aux-Faucons, to earn the right to celebrate his new achievement even before the red flame.
(With AFP)