The reigning Tour de France champion showed his class and ice-cold nerves in the sprint finish after a hard race to just beat Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-QuickStep) in the sprint finish to win the first monument of his career. I m without words, said Pogačar. I really love this race and to win here like this against these names is unbelievable. The last sprint, I knew Alaphilippe was going longer, I stayed and I was lucky that it was a good wind for me. I was coming from behind and coming with speed. it s unbelievable. I m living the cycling dream.
Pogačar and UAE Team Emirates were uncertain starters for the race after being pulled from Fleche Wallonne after two members of the team returned positive COVID tests, which the team said were false positives. They were allowed to compete in Liege-Bastogne-Liege and the Tour de France champion made the most of his opportunity to take the victory.
Already have an account?
Tom Pidcock outsprinted Wout van Aert to win the 2021 Brabantse Pijl. Photo: DAVID STOCKMAN/Belga/AFP via Getty Images
Matteo Trentin attacked the front group of 16 inside 30km to go on the finishing circuit, and after staying away, solo, for nearly 15km was joined by Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) and Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers).
“I know that sprinting at the end of races like that is not like sprinting for a town sign I always go into a sprint with confidence,” said the British cyclocross racer. “I waited and waited and when Wout went, I kind of got a little boxed in and then rushed and came past him.”
Davide Ballerini remporte le Circuit Het Nieuwsblad au sprint sudinfo.be - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from sudinfo.be Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.