VIDEO | How Paul Seixas followed Tadej Pogacar on La Redoute; And how he cracked on Roche-aux-Faucons

The 2026 edition of Liège-Bastogne-Liège has ended and has left cycling fans with a new rivalry that is set to headline the 2026 season, and perhaps a lot more in the future. Here, we have seen Tadej Pogacar and Paul Seixas go head-to-head; with different outcomes on two different climbs.

It was a chaotic race with Remco Evenepoel part of an early breakaway that led the race throughout around two thirds of it. This forced all riders to go harder than expected on the day, as there was no possibility to allow for a large gap under such circumstances.

The pace was high all throughout and the catch was made with just over 80 kilometers to go, leading UAE Team Emirates - XRG to follow through with their initial plan. The team was used ahead of the Côte de la Redoute, where Benoît Cosnefroy was tasked with leading out the World Champion.

With 35 kilometers to go Tadej Pogacar attacked, with eye-watering speeds up the 10%+ gradients. But he was followed by Paul Seixas, who was widely touted to have the potential to do so.

This opened up an unexpected race situation where Pogacar was indeed rivalled; but as happened at the Tour of Flanders, he received the collaboration from Seixas and then benefitted from the endurance aspect of the race.

Whilst he wasn't able to drop Seixas on the Côte de la Redoute, he was able to do so at the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons. It was an attack that was just as intense, however this time around Seixas cracked halfway up the climb, unable to sustain such a high output for the second time.

Pogacar and UAE's tactics worked to perfection whilst Seixas was unable to defend himself in what was the decisive climb of the race.