Latest news with #FlècheWallonne
Japan Today
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Japan Today
Cycling star Pogačar wins Liège–Bastogne–Liège for third time; Kim Le Court takes women's race
Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar of the UAE Team Emirates URG team crosses the finish line to win the Belgian cycling classic and UCI World Tour race Liege Bastogne Liege, in Liege, Belgium, Sunday, April 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert) cycling By JEROME PUGMIRE Cycling star Tadej Pogačar launched one of his trademark uphill attacks to win the Liège–Bastogne–Liège classic race for the third time on Sunday. The defending champion made his move some 35 kilometers (22 miles) from the end of the undulating 252-kilometer (156-mile) trek to open up a gap of 10 seconds at the top, and then kept increasing it all the way to the line. It was his third victory overall at the spring classic race, which is also one of the five 'monuments' in one-day cycling along with Paris-Roubaix on the cobbles, the Tour of Lombardy, Milan-San Remo and the Tour of Flanders. Pogačar now has nine 'monument' victories. He was so far ahead Sunday that he even had time to turn and smile at the roadside camera filming him, then touched hands with fans near the finish before raising his arms in the air with victory assured. He won in just over six hours and finished 1 minute, 3 seconds ahead of Italian Giulio Ciccone in second and Irishman Ben Healy in third. They contested a sprint to the line. In decent racing conditions, Pogačar's UAE Team Emirates teammates increased the speed at the front of the main pack and the peloton caught a small group of front-runners with 60 kilometers to go, and with the main favorites still in contention. But when Pogačar surged ahead on the Côte de La Redoute climb, no rider could follow him. It was a similar story on Wednesday, when Pogačar launched a trademark uphill attack to win the Flèche Wallonne classic for the second time. The 26-year-old Slovenian will aim to win the showcase Tour de France for the fourth time later this year. It was a disappointing race for two-time champion Remco Evenepoel as the Belgian rider was dropped by Pogačar up the Redoute climb. The two-time Olympic champion could not gain any time back and instead dropped down to finish in 59th place, 3:11 behind Pogačar. Mauritian rider Kim Le Court won the women's race for the first time as four riders contested a sprint finish. The 2023 champion Demi Vollering attacked first but Le Court countered her and then held off Dutchwoman Puck Pieterse, who won the Flèche Wallonne classic on Wednesday. Pieterse finished second ahead of countrywoman Vollering and French rider Cédrine Kerbaol in fourth. The four riders completed the 152.9-kilometer (94.8-mile) route in 4 hours, 15 minutes, 42 seconds. It was the first classics win for the 29-year-old Le Court. Kerbaol broke ahead near the end and led by 14 seconds with 11 kilometers left and threatened to extend her advantage, but Pieterse went after her. World road race champion Lotte Kopecky of Belgium could not follow and cracked in the final climb up Roche-aux-Faucons. But Pieterse, Vollering and Le Court caught Kerbaol with a few kilometers remaining to make it a four-way sprint finish. Kopecky rolled in fifth, 24 seconds behind. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
The Guardian
27-04-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Tadej Pogacar and Mauritius' Kim Le Court claim Liège-Bastogne-Liège glory
Tadej Pogacar launched one of his trademark uphill attacks to win the Liège–Bastogne–Liège classic race for the third time on Sunday. The defending champion made his move some 35 kilometers (22 miles) from the end of the undulating 252km (156 mile) trek to open up a gap of 10 seconds at the top, and then kept increasing it all the way to the line. It was his third victory overall at the spring classic race, which is also one of the five 'monuments' in one-day cycling along with Paris-Roubaix on the cobbles, the Tour of Lombardy, Milan-San Remo and the Tour of Flanders. Pogacar now has nine 'monument' victories. The Slovenian was so far ahead Sunday that he even had time to turn and smile at the roadside camera filming him, then touched hands with fans near the finish before raising his arms in the air with victory assured. Pogacar won in just over six hours and finished one minute, three seconds ahead of Italian Giulio Ciccone in second and Irishman Ben Healy in third. Ciccone and Healy contested a sprint to the line for second place. In decent racing conditions, Pogacar's UAE Team-Emirates teammates increased the speed at the front of the main pack and the peloton caught a small group of front-runners with 60 kilometers to go, and with the main favourites still in contention. But when Pogačar surged ahead on the Côte de La Redoute climb, no rider could follow him. It was a similar story to Wednesday, when Pogacar launched a trademark uphill attack to win the Flèche Wallonne classic for the second time. It was a disappointing race for the two-time champion, Remco Evenepoel, as the Belgian rider was dropped by Pogacar up the Redoute climb. Evenepoel could not gain any time back and instead dropped down to finish in 59th place, 3min 11sec behind Pogačar. The Mauritian rider Kim Le Court won the women's race for the first time as four riders contested a sprint finish. The 2023 champion, Demi Vollering, attacked first but Le Court countered her and then held off Dutch rider Puck Pieterse, who won the Flèche Wallonne classic on Wednesday. Pieterse finished second ahead of compatriot Vollering and French rider Cédrine Kerbaol in fourth. The four riders completed the 152.9km (94.8 mile) route in four hours, 15 minutes and 42 seconds. It was the first classics win for the 29-year-old Le Court. Kerbaol broke ahead near the end and led by 14 seconds with 11 kilometers left and threatened to extend her advantage, but Pieterse went after her. The world road race champion, Lotte Kopecky of Belgium, could not follow and cracked in the final climb up Roche-aux-Faucons. But Pieterse, Vollering and Le Court caught Kerbaol with a few kilometers remaining to make it a four-way sprint finish. Kopecky rolled in fifth, 24 seconds behind.
Toronto Star
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Star
Cycling star Pogačar wins Liège–Bastogne–Liège for third time. Kim Le Court takes women's race
Cycling star Tadej Pogačar launched one of his trademark uphill attacks to win the Liège–Bastogne–Liège classic race for the third time on Sunday. The defending champion made his move some 35 kilometers (22 miles) from the end of the undulating 252-kilometer (156-mile) trek to open up a gap of 10 seconds at the top, and then kept increasing it all the way to the line. It was his third victory overall at the spring classic race, which is also one of the five 'monuments' in one-day cycling along with Paris-Roubaix on the cobbles, the Tour of Lombardy, Milan-San Remo and the Tour of Flanders. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Pogačar now has nine 'monument' victories. He was so far ahead Sunday that he even had time to turn and smile at the roadside camera filming him, then touched hands with fans near the finish before raising his arms in the air with victory assured. He won in just over six hours and finished 1 minute, 3 seconds ahead of Italian Giulio Ciccone in second and Irishman Ben Healy in third. They contested a sprint to the line. In decent racing conditions, Pogačar's UAE Team Emirates teammates increased the speed at the front of the main pack and the peloton caught a small group of front-runners with 60 kilometers to go, and with the main favorites still in contention. But when Pogačar surged ahead on the Côte de La Redoute climb, no rider could follow him. It was a similar story on Wednesday, when Pogačar launched a trademark uphill attack to win the Flèche Wallonne classic for the second time. The 26-year-old Slovenian will aim to win the showcase Tour de France for the fourth time later this year. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW It was a disappointing race for two-time champion Remco Evenepoel as the Belgian rider was dropped by Pogačar up the Redoute climb. The two-time Olympic champion could not gain any time back and instead dropped down to finish in 59th place, 3:11 behind Pogačar. Le Court stuns race favorites Mauritian rider Kim Le Court won the women's race for the first time as four riders contested a sprint finish. The 2023 champion Demi Vollering attacked first but Le Court countered her and then held off Dutchwoman Puck Pieterse, who won the Flèche Wallonne classic on Wednesday. Pieterse finished second ahead of countrywoman Vollering and French rider Cédrine Kerbaol in fourth. The four riders completed the 152.9-kilometer (94.8-mile) route in 4 hours, 15 minutes, 42 seconds. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW It was the first classics win for the 29-year-old Le Court. Kerbaol broke ahead near the end and led by 14 seconds with 11 kilometers left and threatened to extend her advantage, but Pieterse went after her. World road race champion Lotte Kopecky of Belgium could not follow and cracked in the final climb up Roche-aux-Faucons. But Pieterse, Vollering and Le Court caught Kerbaol with a few kilometers remaining to make it a four-way sprint finish. Kopecky rolled in fifth, 24 seconds behind. ___ AP sports: Read more cycling news at
Khaleej Times
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
UAE Team Emirates rider Tadej Pogacar back on top with big win
With the look of a man keen to stand on the top step of the podium again, Tadej Pogacar decimated his opposition to win La Flèche Wallonne on Wednesday afternoon, with the Slovenian taking his second title in three years. The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider gained a note of retribution for Sunday's runner-up spot at the Amstel Gold Race, by attacking with 500m to go of the Mur de Huy and crossing the finish line some 10 seconds ahead of the next-best rider. 'It is a really great feeling to win again here on this tough final. It is a beautiful climb, but as a cyclist you don't like it so much. Also today the weather was not the best, so it was a really tough race and to pull it off with the win means a lot," Pogacar said. Making his attack whilst seated in his saddle, the world champion powered away from the rest of the peloton and would not be seen again before the finish. It was an attack made on the corner named in honour of the two-time champion Claude Criquielion, and just like the great Belgian, Pogačar emerged victorious at Flèche Wallonne sporting the rainbow bands as world champion. He becomes the first to do so since Julian Alaphilippe in 2021 and with Liège-Bastogne-Liège on the horizon this coming Sunday, the Slovenian looks in great condition to fight for a third title at La Doyenne. With his victory in the midweek showdown, Pogačar claimed his third win in just six outings in the spring Classics, none of which have seen the 26-year-old finish off the podium. 'It was tough conditions on the race and one of the hardest final kilometres in cycling. It was a bit cold and tough conditions in general. I am really really happy that I could win today because the team came here to work for this goal, and I am really happy that I could deliver for them," he said.
Fox Sports
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Pogačar surges to victory at Flèche Wallonne with trademark attack. Pieterse wins women's race
Associated Press HUY, Belgium (AP) — Cycling star Tadej Pogačar launched a trademark attack on a steep climb to win the Flèche Wallonne classic for the second time in his career on Wednesday. The three-time Tour de France champion won the Belgian race in 2023 and showed his outstanding climbing ability when he surged ahead on the final ascent up the Mur de Huy. None of his rivals could keep up and he crossed the line alone in 4 hours, 50 minutes, 15 seconds. Frenchman Kévin Vauquelin was 10 seconds behind Pogačar in second place with British rider Tom Pidcock 12 seconds back in third. Last year, Stephen Williams became the first British winner of the race after battling snowy conditions. This time, the riders dealt with driving rain and wet roads along the 205.1-kilometer (127-mile) race that culminated in a short and sharp climb up Huy, which has an average gradient of 9.6% and sections as steep as 19%. A trio of Norwegian riders rode out in front but the chasing pack caught them seven kilometers from the end as they reached the bottom of the Huy ascent. Two-time Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel was alongside Pogačar but could not respond to his attack about halfway up. There is more racing in the Ardennes this weekend at Liege-Bastogne-Liege. It is one of the 'monuments' of cycling — the five most prestigious one-day races — along with the Tour of Flanders, Milan-San Remo, Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Lombardy. Last Sunday, Danish rider Mattias Skjelmose beat Pogačar and Evenepoel in a sprint finish to win the Amstel Gold race. Skjelmose crashed on a downhill section some 40 kilometers from the end of Wednesday's race and had to abandon. Later Wednesday, with the roads drying out, Dutchwoman Puck Pieterse won the 140.7-kilometer (87.2-mile) women's race with a late move on the Huy climb to beat countrywoman Demi Vollering by two seconds. Pieterse clocked 3:53.25 and laid down on her back after winning as she caught her breath, while Vollering sat next to her and congratulated her. Vollering won the race in 2023 and finished runner-up last year to Polish rider Kasia Niewiadoma, who also beat her to win the Tour de France. Italian rider Elisa Longo Borghini was third, six seconds behind Pieterse. ___ AP sports: recommended in this topic
