Pogacar Defends Liège-Bastogne-Liège Crown, Beats French Teen Seixas
Pogacar Holds Off Rising French Talent to Win Third Straight Liège‑Bastogne‑Liège
World champion Tadej Pogacar surged ahead of 19‑year‑old French debutant Paul Seixas on the final climb, securing his third consecutive Liège‑Bastogne‑Liège title and his fourth overall victory in the monument.
Race Dynamics: How Pogacar Outpaced Seixas on the Final Climbs
Pogacar stuck to his proven strategy, launching an attack on the Côte de la Redoute and then accelerating on the Côte de la Roche‑aux‑Faucons, where he broke away with less than 14 km to go. Seixas stayed on Pogacar’s wheel for nearly 20 km before being dropped, finishing 45 seconds behind.
Numbers on the Road: Time, Distance, and Margin of Victory
- Race distance: 259.5 km
- Winning time: 5 h 50 m 28 s
- Victory margin: 45 seconds over Seixas
- Monument tally: 13 career monument wins
- 2026 season titles: Liège‑Bastogne‑Liège, Tour of Flanders, Milan‑San Remo
Implications for Cycling’s Monument Landscape and Pogacar’s Legacy
The triumph puts Pogacar one Liège‑Bastogne‑Liège win away from equalling Belgian great Eddy Merckx’s record of five victories. It also underscores his dominance across the three spring classics, while French hopes for a first national win since 1980 were dashed as Seixas finished second.
What Lies Ahead: Pogacar’s Quest for the Elusive Eddy Merckx Record
With the Tour de France looming later in the summer, Pogacar will aim to add another monument and potentially close the gap with Merckx’s legacy. Analysts expect his team to focus on preserving form for the Grand Tours while still targeting the remaining spring classics.