Tadej Pogacar powered to his third Tour of Flanders victory on Sunday, equaling the all-time record for wins in cycling's most prestigious one-day Belgian classic. The Slovenian champion broke away solo with 18 kilometers remaining to cross the finish line in Oudenaarde with a commanding 40-second margin over Mathieu van der Poel.
The victory marks Pogacar's 12th Monument triumph, surpassing Belgian legend Roger De Vlaeminck to claim sole possession of second place in cycling's most elite category. Only Eddy Merckx stands ahead with 19 Monument victories.
Pogacar joins an exclusive group of eight riders who have won the Tour of Flanders three times, including van der Poel, Tom Boonen, and Fabian Cancellara. His dominant performance followed the same tactical blueprint as his 2023 and 2025 victories — a devastating solo attack in the final climbs that left rivals unable to respond.
Foi uma corrida louca. Não sei o que dizer, foi super difícil desde não sei que quilómetro. Foi um jogo de paciência
Tadej Pogacar — Eurosport
The decisive moment came on the third and final ascent of the Oude Kwaremont, where Pogacar accelerated away from the select group of favorites. Van der Poel managed to limit the gap to 15 seconds at the summit of the Paterberg, the day's final climb, but could not sustain the pace in the flat run-in to the finish.
French outlets frame Pogacar's dominance through the lens of cycling's historical hierarchy, emphasizing his pursuit of Eddy Merckx's Monument record. They present the achievement as part of cycling's grand narrative while maintaining analytical distance from the Belgian cultural significance of the race.