Aggressive strategy rewards Tadej Pogacar at the Tour of Flanders: "I could retire after today and I would be very proud of my career"

Tadej Pogacar took an extraordinary victory in the Tour of Flanders today after beating Mathieu van der Poel in an explosive finish. The Slovenian was more than satisfied after the win, one that marks his career and completes the pursuit for success on the cobbles.

"It was an incredible job by the team today, a day I will never forget," the Slovenian said in the flash interview. On the strategy to follow, it was clear to him that on the last climb of the Oude Kwaremont he had to leave van der Poel and van Aert to have a chance to win. He attacked the second way up breaking up the race.

On how he tackled the climb up the Oude Kwaremont, he had this to say: "We were coming with all the speed on the cobbles, really suffering, so on the entry into the climb it's all about giving it all the power to the top and it's very long to the top, so it's my favorite."

The following kilometers he was caught by his direct rivals, but another move on the Koppenberg saw him racing only with van der Poel and van Aert alongside. At the Kruisberg the Belgian cracked and as the attacking duo reached the leading group, victory began a very real vision. It was on the Oude Kwaremont on the final occasion that Pogacar launched the winning move, catching up and dropping Mads Pedersen, the same way he has dropped everyone else who was racing alonsgside.

"I knew that to go I just had to go on the last climb on the Oude Kwaremont, I gave everything, then I almost did crack on the Paterberg, I knew it was going to be hard, but it was the only option for me," he explained. What followed was a brutal run-up to the line, one where he suffered immensely as he rode into a headwind, but Mathieu van der Poel was not able to close the gap, as was the case with the survivors of the chasing group.

He held his lead and arrived at the finish alone. After taking on the objective of conquering the Tour of Flanders last year and coming very close, 2023 was his year. On being one of only 3 riders in history to win Flanders and the Tour de France he commented, "I could retire after today and I would be very proud of my career, I can be very happy and proud."

Third monument after Liège and Lombardy, 2 remain, although Pogacar does not see them easy: "We saw that in Sanremo is the most difficult, this year I have been in one of my best forms of my life, but we will not give up, we leave it in reserve, I think I have to gain some kilos for Roubaix and gain strength in my hands," he concluded.