As it happened: French super talent scares World Champion but Slovenian emerges to win Liège-Bastogne-Liège

The 2024 Liège-Bastogne-Liège saw Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) dominate the Ardennes Classic, securing his second victory in the monument. After an early solo move from Louis Vervaeke (Soudal Quick-Step) was reeled in, Pogačar launched a decisive attack on La Redoute, leaving the peloton in his wake. He rode the final 35km alone, finishing 1:39 ahead of Romain Bardet (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL), with Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) taking third at 2:02.

This victory marks Pogačar's sixth Monument title and his first since a wrist fracture derailed his 2023 season, denying him a shot at a second Liège win. His performance today, following a dominant Strade Bianche and a stage-winning Giro d'Italia warm-up, firmly re-establishes him as the sport's preeminent one-day racer. The absence of rivals like Vingegaard and Evenepoel certainly cleared the path, but his sheer power on La Redoute was undeniable, a stark reminder of his capabilities.

Pogačar's solo masterclass confirms what many already suspected: when he's healthy and motivated, the rest are simply racing for second. The 'French super talent' may have offered a momentary scare in the headline, but the Slovenian's victory was never truly in doubt.