"I was just frustrated with myself" after Flandres finish, says Tadej Pogacar

Although it was his debut, Tadej Pogacar came into the Tour des Flandres as a main favourite for that race, and confirmed that status by attacking the race several times and appearing to be the strongest on the explosive bergs the race had to offer.

Although he's finished fourth, just outside the podium, it was not without having marked the race significantly: “It was a wonderful experience, a wonderful race. The team was perfect in supporting me and all of this contributed to ensuring that I was able to remain alone with Van der Poel leading the race, in an incredible atmosphere. Especially on the Oude Kwaremont, a climb that I really like, I had goosebumps."

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He made the first decisive move in the Koppenberg first where he took Mathieu van der Poel and Valentin Madouas with him, and later put in a dig at the Oude Kwaremont which saw him in a winning position alongside Mathieu van der Poel.

"In the moments immediately following the race, I was not happy, because I was not able to make the sprint as I was closed, but I know well that in cycling this can happen: sometimes you have a clear path, other times you do not find the necessary space. I wasn’t mad at anyone, I was just frustrated with myself," he said. After a lull in the pace in the final kilometer, he was slightly blocked in the final sprint which saw van Baarle and Madouas come across to the front, and ended up outside the podium unexpectedly.

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He pointed out what his plan was for the finale: "The idea of ​​attacking on the Kwaremont was born from yesterday’s reconnaissance, when we noticed that there was a favorable wind: it is one of the hardest and longest walls and therefore it was a good point for me to give my all. Then I also tried to stretch on the last pass on Paterberg but, despite giving my best, I was unable to pull away from Mathieu: he was really strong today," he said.

Pogacar will now, if his plan remains the same, rest up and make his final preparations for what was expected to be his biggest goal of the spring which will be the Liège-Bastogne-Liège, after Fleche Wallone. As to whether he'll have another go at De Ronde: "Will I be back to race the Tour of Flanders? Simple answer, yes".

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So close. But what a ride @TamauPogi in his first @RondeVlaanderen 😍. #UAETeamEmirates #WeAreUAE #RVV22

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