"I'm ready for the Tour of Flanders" - Tadej Pogacar promises more fireworks after terrific performance at E3 Saxo Classic

Tadej Pogacar put on another brutal show today at the E3 Saxo Classic, but he couldn't take the win. In the hardest sections he put Wout van Aert, the final winner, on the ropes, but he couldn't do enough to dislodge his two biggest classics rivals.

In any case, and after the downturn of defeat after the finish, the UAE Team Emirates rider was satisfied with his performance: "It was a great race, it's an honor for me to be on the podium with these two great riders and now I'm looking forward to next Sunday". Pogacar managed to bring back the duo after their attack on the Taaienberg, and then launched his own attacks at the Paterberg and Oude Kwaremont.

It looked clear that it was a very hard for him to beat van der Poel and van Aert in such a sprint. He tried attack the final kilometers, but unsuccessfully: "I've tried everything, but you see how fast they are at the end after 200 kilometers, it's crazy, I can't do anything about it. I'm a bit disappointed, of course, but what can I expect."

He was asked by Eurosport about the circumstance that he tries with attacks again and again and doesn't succeed. His answer could not have been clearer and could not define him better: "We will keep trying, I promise you".

"It was the third classic of this type in my career and I think I always improve, I think I'm ready for the Tour of Flanders," Pogacar concluded.