The Tour de France champion beat the world champion in a sprint finish
A group of five had gone clear on the final climb of the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) led out in the finishing straight when Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck–Quick-Step) went past him with Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) on the world champ’s wheel. Then the Slovenian exploded from behind and claimed his first-ever Monument victory. David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) completed the podium while Valverde had to settle for fourth. Michael Woods (Israel Start-Up Nation), who made the move on the last climb, finished fifth.
“I’m without words, I really love this race and to win here like this against those names is incredible,” Pogačar said. “I knew Alaphilippe was going longer and I stayed behind him, I was just lucky in the end, it’s just unbelievable.”
Now it’s finally time for Pogačar to take a few days off before training for the big one. His plans?
“Rest, take some time with the family, and then start to prepare for the Tour de France,” he said.
