"They were really a level higher than us" - 6th placed Stefan Küng unable to follow Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel at the Tour of Flanders

Battling to an impressive 6th placed finish at the Tour of Flanders, Groupama-FDJ's Stefan Küng was content he did the best he could, admitting Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel were on another level.

“It was a really tough day. Only after a hundred kilometers did a flight leave," Küng explained post race. "Then I tried to anticipate and we formed a good group up front. We were all about the same level."

Sadly for Küng however, once Pogacar had decided to make his race winning move the recent Volta ao Algarve stage winner just couldn't compete. "It was difficult to keep going. No one could really make an extra effort. Then I couldn't follow Pogacar and Van der Poel."

"They were really a level higher than us. We were really done," Küng concludes.