Nearly 9W/kg: Tadej Pogacar and Paul Seixas deliver "greatest ever four-minute effort" on La Redoute at Liège-Bastogne-Liège

The decisive move at Liège-Bastogne-Liège was built on numbers rarely seen in Monument racing. On La Redoute, Tadej Pogacar and Paul Seixas produced an effort estimated at close to 9 watts per kilogram, covering the climb in around 3 minutes 45 seconds and immediately splitting the race.

Pogacar attacked as expected, but the response was not. Seixas was the only rider able to follow, holding the wheel all the way to the summit as the rest of the field broke apart behind them.

The pair quickly established a gap over the climb and into the following section. While the power figures are modelled rather than directly measured, they underline the intensity of the move. In that context, analysis from Domestique described it as a “greatest ever four-minute effort”.

The significance of that moment became clearer as the race unfolded. An early breakaway of more than 50 riders, including Remco Evenepoel, had forced UAE Team Emirates - XRG into a long chase and altered the rhythm of the day.

Even so, once the race reached La Redoute, the familiar pattern returned. Pogacar’s acceleration reduced the race to a select group, and from there to just two riders. Seixas was not dropped in that transition. He stayed with the move that mattered, turning the Monument into a two-rider contest heading towards the final climbs.

From La Redoute, Pogacar and Seixas worked together to extend their advantage on the approach to Roche-aux-Faucons, with Seixas contributing to the pace on the front.

The race was decided on the final climb. Pogacar attacked on the steepest section and created the decisive gap, with Seixas unable to match the second acceleration. The difference stretched to around 25 seconds by the summit.

Pogacar continued to extend his advantage on the run-in to the finish to secure victory, while Seixas held on for second after a ride that had already defined the race.

Further analysis of Roche-aux-Faucons points to another effort above 8 watts per kilogram, reinforcing the level required to decide the race.

Seixas did not just follow a race-winning move. He matched Pogacar on La Redoute at record pace and remained part of the decisive move until the final climb, where the difference was finally made.

That combination of result and underlying performance is what has driven the reaction to Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2026.