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The run of successes of Tadej Pogačar continued also in Fleche Wallone, where on the iconic final hill of the Mur de Huy (1,3 km at 9,5%) the UAE Team Emirates’ captain conquered his 12th seasonal success.
The Slovenian rider managed perfectly the situation in the final kilometre, after having received an outstanding assistance from the Emirati team during the race. UAE Team Emirates set the pace of the peloton in the heat of the moment in the competition and neutralized a three rider breakaway that, in the final part of the race, had a maximum advantage of 40”.
Pogačar was led into the front position in the approach of the Mur and there he controlled his opponents, before speeding up in the final 200 meters and obtaining some meters of advantage that allowed him to cross the finish line with hands up, preceding Mattias Skjelmose (Trek-Segafredo) and Mikel Landa (Bahrain-Victorious).
For UAE Team Emirates, the count of victory in 2023 is up to 20.
Pogačar : “I left it all on the final climb, it’s so hard but it’s a spectacular finish.
The work of the team made the difference, it gives me a lot of morale when my teammates do such an amazing job and today their work gave me an extra motivation.
There were moments in which the race was nervous, I also almost crashed, but the team did a very good job, keeping me in the front.
We were aware that we would have needed to pull the peloton from the beginning, it was all on us to make the race demanding in the end and it was as planned.
You never get bored of crossing the line first. I enjoyed that today and I am really grateful I am living this moment now with such great shape: I am trying to exploit it as much as I can.
Liege-Bastogne-Liege will be a different race, with longer climbs; I have a good form, but there will be opponents such as Remco Evenepoel and other riders coming fresher and so it will be one of the most competitive race of the season”.
Results:
1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) 4h27’53”
2. Mattias Skjelmose (Trek-Segafredo) s.t.
3. Mikel Landa (Bahrain-Victorious) s.t.
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