The argument revolves around Pogacar's ride in the final kilometers of the race, where he lost some seconds to second placed rider Ben Healy. The reasons for that only
UAE Team Emirates know, but notes have been taken on a possible difficulty. His race, despite being a dominant win, caught the attention more due to the brief moments of drafting he got from a race organization car, which has sparked a lot of criticism and debate over how that could take place in such way.
"What I say now does not detract from Tadej Pogacar's merit. But he got help from his support vehicle, where others may not get it," Karl Vannieuwkerke argued. "And in the final, when Ben Healy came closer, suddenly there was the car of race director Leo van Vliet with Walter Planckaert at the wheel. They helped him in a difficult moment."
Pogacar took the victory after a 28-kilometer solo attack, with 38 seconds of advantage over the Irishman. At Flèche Wallone he's struggled to perform in the past but will take to the start as the man to beat at the Mur de Huy, but eyes already lay on Liège-Bastogne-Liège which takes place this Sunday.
"Maybe we'll get a duel. It is so important because everything started for Evenepoel last year in Liège. The new Evenepoel has risen and it has hardly gone wrong since," De Cauwer continued. "We expect that great battle between them. Pogacar is the standard, Evenepoel is coming. It is the last classic of the first, the first of Evenepoel."
In the possible scenario that the two would sprint it out for a win at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, De Cauwer gave his opinion on who would win it: "Based on the sprint speed in those previous sprints in Liège against Roglic and Alaphilippe, among others, I would say Pogacar."