"When he attacks, not many people will be able to respond" - Philippe Gilbert backs Tadej Pogacar for Liege-Bastogne-Liege success

In the opinion of many, this Sunday's Liege-Bastogne-Liege will come down to a battle between Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel. In the opinion of Classics legend Philippe Gilbert, it's clearly advantage Pogacar.

A winner back in 2011, Gilbert knows exactly what it takes to succeed at Liege-Bastogne-Liege and the Belgian has even thought up a clear plan of action for UAE Team Emirates. "If I were Pogacar, with such a strong team and his qualities As a climber, he should set a very strong pace in the last seven or eight climbs, where the elimination will be natural," Gilbert explains. "When he attacks, not many people will be able to respond."

As mentioned, if Pogacar is to be beaten, world champion Mathieu van der Poel is backed by many to be the one to do so. Gilbert however, isn't sure the Alpecin-Deceuninck leader has the right physique to live with Pogacar on the climbs. "I have the impression that he has gained weight in the last two years. He has very muscular shoulders and upper body. It is clear that this is not the profile of a climber, that is for sure," Gilbert analyses. "On paper, everything would have to be 100 % aligned so he could win Liege."

"I would say that he is not capable, since he comes from making great efforts in races with a lot of media pressure," Gilbert continues. "It's not like he won a five-man sprint, sharing the effort with other riders. In both Flanders and Roubaix, he used a lot of force. If after so much effort he had rested in Amstel to focus on Liege, he would have had a chance."