Cycling Champion Tadej Pogačar Sprints to 2025 Fleche Wallonne Victory
Success at Huy's Barrier: Pogacar Claims Fleche Wallonne Victory - Triumph at the Huy Barricade: Pogacar Secures Flèche Wallonne Victory
Get ready to pedal some praise, folks! Tadej Pogačar, the world's cycling sensation, has once again proven his mettle, grasping victory in the classic Fleche Wallonne in a magnificent display of power. The Slovenian superstar outmuscled the competition on the final ascent, the daunting 19% gradient Wall of Huy, leaving Frenchman Kevin Vauquelin and Briton Thomas Pidcock in his dust. After 205.1 grueling kilometers, German riders failed to make a significant impact on the outcome.
In the women's race, Liane Lippert demonstrated her might, claiming fifth place. The Dutch cyclocross sensation, Puck Pieterse, emerged victorious in her first major classic, the Fleche Wallonne. Demi Vollering of the Netherlands and the Italian champion Elisa Longo Borghini rounded out the podium in second and third, respectively.
The race for both men and women was, as expected, decided on the Huy climb. However, Pogačar took the offensive earlier than his competitors' usual strategy, striking at the steepest point, halfway up the 1.3-kilometer hill. None of his rivals could keep up with his relentless pace.
Favorite for Liège
At the Amstel Gold Race, Pogačar had to settle for second place behind an unexpected winner, Mattias Skjelmose. This setback dashed his hopes of a unique triple victory with wins at Fleche and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Skjelmose, however, crashed out today, 40 kilometers from the finish, on a slippery road.
A week earlier, at Paris-Roubaix, Pogačar had to settle for second place, an uncommon result for him. He will start as the top contender in Liège on Sunday. He won the oldest of the five cycling monuments in 2021 and 2024.
- Tadej Pogačar
- Cycling
- Liège
- Women
Insights: Pogačar’s 2023 Fleche Wallonne victory, not detailed in the provided results, saw him ascend the Mur de Huy. His 2025 victory, however, was a testament to his dominance, with a 9-second win over Kévin Vauquelin and Tom Pidcock. For the upcoming 2025 Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Pogačar is heavily favored, given his impressive form, workload management by UAE Team Emirates-XRG, and unmatched climbing power, crucial for Liège’s steep finishes like La Redoute and Roche-aux-Faucons. His consistency (73 WorldTour wins as of 2025) underscores his ability to peak for major one-day races.
- Tadej Pogačar, in his dominance, secured the 2025 Fleche Wallonne victory, showcasing his remarkable cycling prowess.
- His victory was marked by a 9-second margin over Kévin Vauquelin and Tom Pidcock, demonstrating his impressive form and climbing power.
- As the favorite for the upcoming Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Pogačar, with his consistent performance and effective workload management by UAE Team Emirates-XRG, aims to add another cycling monument title to his list.
- In the women's race, while the specific results were not detailed in the text, it is evident that the competition is equally fierce, with emerging talent such as Puck Pieterse claiming her first major classic victory.
