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Pogacar Secures Third Consecutive Liege‑Bastogne‑Liege Victory

BBC Sport •
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Four-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar clinched his third straight Liege‑Bastogne‑Liege win, edging out newcomer Paul Seixas in a dramatic finish. The triumph marks his fourth victory in five races this season, three of which are Monuments, underscoring his dominance in the sport's most coveted one‑day events. The race unfolded in the Ardennes under typical spring rain, forcing riders to navigate slick cobbles and sharp gradients.

Seixas, competing in his first Liege and only his second Monument, stayed with the Slovenian for nearly 20km on the iconic Cote de la Redoute before Pogacar launched his decisive move. Pogacar's teammate helped position him before the final attack, while Seixas' aggressive pacing forced the peloton to stretch thin. The young Portuguese rider held his own on the subsequent Cote de la Roche‑aux‑Faucons, but Pogacar accelerated 600m from the summit to drop him permanently.

With the win Pogacar sits one victory shy of Belgian legend Eddy Merckx's record of five Liege titles. Fans in Wallonia celebrated the spectacle, and commentators noted that Pogacar's consistency across varied terrain could redefine expectations for future champions. His ability to out‑sprint rivals after grueling climbs reaffirms his status as the era's pre‑eminent classics specialist.