As it happened: French super talent scares World Champion but Slovenian emerges to win Liège-Bastogne-Liège

Hello, Bonjour and welcome to the Cyclingnews live coverage of the 2026 men's Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

We will have full coverage of the race and all the best post-race reaction and photographs.

Check back all day to understands what happens in the final Classic of the spring.

The riders are currently signing on in the centre of Liege before the start. The sun is out, everyone is ready to race hard in what should be a spectacular race.

This is the 112th edition of Liège-Bastogne-Liège, making it the oldest Classic on the calendar.

It is affectionally known as La Doyenne- The Old Lady of cycling, indicating it is the longest standing race in pro cycling.

Liège-Bastogne-Liège closes out the Ardennes Classics week with a tough race over 250km, 10 classified climbs and many, many others in the rolling hills of south-eastern Belgium.

The climbs of the Saint-Roch, Wanne, Stockeu, La Redoute, and Roche-aux-Faucons are among those which pepper the route, making the race the toughest of Ardennes week and perhaps the whole season.

Kévin Vauquelin of Ineos has just signed on, with the race organisers playing a happy boirhtdat tune for his 25th birthday. The French rider faces a birthday of suffering but could be a contender today.

The best WorldTour teams and several wild card teams are in the peloton but the expected narrative is all about a three-rider clash: Tadej Pogačar versus Remco Evenepoel versus Paul Siexas.

Tom Pidcock represents the outsiders, who could take advantage of the three favourites watch each other too much.

Ben O'Conor signs on with his Jayco AlUla teammates. The Australia ids one of several riders to travel to Belgium after riding the Tour of the Alps during the week.

Tom Pidcock, Egan Bernal also face a last hard day out of a long, hard week.

To understand the big favourites and the outsiders, read our analysis of the contenders.

The big four and the rest – Analysing the contenders at the men's Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

Tom Pidcock signs on as leader of Pinarello-Q36.5. He has played down his chances after his crash and knee injury but impressed at the Tour of the Alps.

If he isn't able to take on the big three, he is still likely to perform and score a haul of UCI points for his team, which is also important.

Visma are the next team to sign on. They lost Matteo Jorgenson after his crash at last week's Amstel Gold Race but still have a solid team. Ben Tullett was strong at La Fleche Wallonne and could be part of the race today.

Get ready to hear the crowd cheer. Paul Seixas and his Decathlon CMA CGM are about to sign on.

The race announcer lists Paul Seixas' results and he waves to the crowd with a smile. He is only 19 but has a poise and maturity beyond his years.

"It's emotional to start my first Liege-Bastogne-Liege and I hope to do well and if I can, to be up there," Seixas said.

"It's true I won the Junior Liege-Bastogne-Liege, so I've done it once, but that race ended on La Redoute climb, so its a different race.

"We'll see how it goes. If I can stay with Pogacar, it will already be a success."

Remco Evenepoel is next to sign on with his Red Bull teammates. He is, of course, a two-time winner, in 2022 and 2023.

"The legs and a strong team will make the difference today," he said when asked how he can win Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

"We'll give the maximum to try to win. The final is so long and so hard, that whoever wins is the strongest in the race."

Evenepoel spoke about the race and his rivals on Friday after his final recon ride on the route.

'We shouldn't be surprised if he struggles in the final hour' – Remco Evenepoel rates Paul Seixas' chances for Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

Tadej Pogačar and his UAE team are the last to sign on. The Slovenian races in the rainbow jersey as world champion and with race number 1 as the 2025 winner.

"It will come down to who is less tired, who has the strongest team around him. We'll see in a few hours...." he said on the sign-on podium.

The riders are now on the start line, with Evenepoel, Belgian national champion Tim Wellens, Tadej Pogačar on the front of the grid.

One minute to the start!

The riders face 259.5km of racing today, with a short ride out of the city centre before the flag drops.

3-2-1 C'est Parti! They're off!

The riders roll out of the start area. The 2026 Liege-Bastohne-Liege is underway.

All eyes are on this man today.

The riders face a 96km ride south to Bastogne and then return north to Liege by a longer, hillier route.

This is the official race map.

173 riders in the race today. James Shaw (EF Education-EasyPost) and Alexandre Delettre (TotalEnergies) didnot sign on and so didn't start.

When the race directors flag is dropped there are attacks! There's also an early crash, involving Ion Izagirre (Cofidis).

The crash has split the peloton.

The crash has raised the tension in the early kilometres, with 60 riders off the front and the others chasing at 20 seconds. It's going to be a long, hard day for every rider.

The front group is pushing on, the gap is up to 35 seconds.

Big-name riders in the front group include Remco Evenepoel and Egan Bernal.

Tadej Pogačar was at the back of the peloton for the roll out and so might be in the second group. That could explain the split and the growing gap.

Race on!

UAE have Tim Wellens and Vegard Stake Laengen in the front group but they have been told to sit on as the peloton tries to close the gap.

With Liege in the valley, the climb up to Beaufays has sparked the intense start to the day.

There are also attacks off the front to try to join the early breakaway. There is no such thing as an easy start to a modern-day Monument.

This is the view from the race director's car sat behind the peloton, captured by Radio Tour announcer Seb Piquet.

Tadej Pogačar is sat near the back.

240km to go

The Tadej Pogačar peloton is still 30 seconds down on the Evenepoel split. Other riders are even further behind.

The peloton is still split, with Tadej Pogačar in group 2 and his UAE leading the chase as the attacks come off the front of group 1.

The average speed so far is 48.967 km/h! It will be fascinsting to see if this early action leaves the UAE team tired and lacking riders later in the race.

230km to go

The gap is up to 50 seconds, this is surely now a problem UAE and other teams in the second peloton.

There are 48 riders in the front group and their lead on the Pogacar peloton is up to 1:50!

This is the front group. We can see that some teams are working hard to make it difficult for the chasing Pogacar peloton.

These are the 54 riders in the front group. There are some interesting names in there, including Evenepoel and Bernal but can they stay away?

Domen Novak (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Remco Evenepoel, Nico Denz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Julien Bernard, Jacopo Mosca, Carlos Verona (Lidl-Trek), Menno Huising (Visma-Lease a Bike), Alan Hatherly, Asbjorn Hellemose (Jayco-AlUla), Sjoerd Bax, Xandro Meurisse (Pinarello-Q36.5), Michael Leonard, Jardi Van der Lee (EF Education-EasyPost), Sam Maisonobe, Paul Ourselin (Cofidis), Pau Miquel (Bahrain Victorious), Ewen Costiou, Guillaume Martin-Guyonnet, Enzo Paleni (Groupama-FDJ) Egan Bernal, Laurens de Plus (Ineos Grenadiers), Nicola Conci, Diego Ulissi (XDS-Astana), Magnus Cort, Alexander Kamp, Andreas Leknessund (Uno-X), Davide Formolo, Pavel Novak (Movistar Team), Roland Thalmann, Fabian Weiss (Tudor Pro Cycling), Pascal Eenkhoorn, Louis Vervaeke, Dylan Van Baarle (Soudal-Quick Step), Marco Frigo, Krists Neilands (NSN), Jakub Otruba (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Baptiste Veistroffer (Lotto-Intermarché), Frank Van der Broek, Matthew Dinham, Gijs Leemreize, Bjorn Koerdt (Picnic-PostNL), Aaron Dockx, Gal Glivar, Hugo Houle (Alpecin-Premier Tech), Thibaut Guernalec, Alan Jousseaume, Mathis Le Berre (TotalEnergies), Iñigo Elosegui, César Pérez, Diego Uriarte (Equipo Kern Pharma), Jesús Herrada , Clément Alleno, Josh Burnett, Jambaljamts Sainbayar (Burgos Burpellet BH).

With 173 starters, that means there are 199 rider in the peloton.

Does it make sense for the 54 to ride or will they eventually be caught? It will perhaps be up to UAE and Decathlon to lead the chase in the main peloton.

Whatever happens, we have rarely seen such a big group go clear in Liege-Basotgne-Liege. This could be a special, historic day of racing.

It is full gas racing so far.

The race is still heading south towards Bastogne and the gap is still growing. The Evenepoel group leads the Pogačar-Seixas peloton by 2:40.

UAE have perhaps refused to do all the chasing but other teams are perhaps refusing to help them, hence the rise in the gap.

Racing is about watts, power and talent but is always about tactics too.

UAE have called back Domen Novak from the front group, as the gap reaches 3:20.

The only other team without a rider up front is Decathlon-CMA CGM and so, in theory, they will also have to help with the chase.

It's going to be a fascinating race.

205km to go

The attacking start has made for a fast race, with attacks coming off the front of the Evenepoel group.

Sjoerd Bax (Pinarello-Q36.5), Andreas Leknessund (Uno-X), Matthew Dinham (Picnic-PostNL), Mathis Le Berre (TotalEnergies) and Diego Uriarte (Equipo Kern Pharma) got away but the group soon chased them down.

That has kept the speed high and so means the gap to the Pogacar group is still rising.

The gap between the Evenepoel attack and the Pogacar peloton is up to 3:40! UAE appear to have made a tactical decision not to chase too hard.

The first hour of racing was covered at 45.3 km/h average!

We'd love to be inside the UAE team car right now to understand what tactical strategy they are trying to follow.

Remco was smiling before the start. We can only wonder what he is thinking now.

He has teammate Nico Denz with him in the attack, and he is working hard to ensure the attacks stays united and stays away.

After 50km of fast racing, the gap is up to 3:40 and seems to be still rising.

Evenepoel is in the 50-rider attack but is not working on the front, letting the move take him clear of his big rivals.

195km to go

The gap between the two groups appears to have stabilised, as Decathlon put Stan Dewulf on the front of the peloton to help UAE with the chase.

The 50 attackers are enjoying a tailwind as they continue to ride south to Bastogne. They will soon face a headwind and cross headwind when they turn north. They will have some protection in the Ardennes forests but the climbs are often exposed.

180km to go

It is fascinating to look at the riders and team numbers in the attack to understand if and how long they can hold off the chase of the UAE-Decathlon peloton and what it might mean later in the race.

Evenepoel has Nico Denz, who will surely ride for him. Alan Hatherly has Jayco teammate Asbjørn Hellemose, while Picnic have 5 riders.

Egan Bernal can count on support from Laurens De Plus, while other storong riders in the move include Dario Frigo (NSN) and Diego Ulissi (XDS).

Every team has two, three or even four riders, so will surely ride to make sure the attack goes as far as possible.

With so many team represented in the attack, it means only UAE and Decathlon will ride in the peloton.

It will be a pursuit match all the way to Liege, with Evenepoel and Bernal having a 3:30 advantage on Pogacar, Seixas.

That is the state of play.

As the attackers hit the first categorised of the race, the Côte de Saint-Roch after 83km, the gap to the Pogacar peloton is still 3:35.

Kamp, Leknessund and Sainbayar again try to escape from the front group but are chased down.

The attacks mean the gap to the peloton at the top of the Côte de Saint-Roch is up to 4:00.

Two hours of racing done and two hours of racing at 45km/h!

Sjoerd Bax faces says it all.

165km to go

The riders have already covered 1500 metres of elevation gain since the start of the race from a total of 4395 for the whole race.

As the riders reach Bastogne after 96km, we get a better understanding of who is doing the work on the front of the attack, to keep the Pogacar peloton at over 3:00.

We can see Red Bull’s Nico Denz and Ineos’ Laurens de Plus, teammates of Remco Evenepoel and Egan Bernal doing the work. Soudal’s Pascal Eenkhoorn is also contributing to the work.

Behind UAE and Decathlon are forced to use up teammates to make the chase.

150km to go

The work by UAE and Decathlon is having an effect, with the gap falling to 2:30.

There's an update on exactly who is in the attack. UAE have left Domen Novak in the attack.

That means they are one rider down for the chase. Indeed, we can see three UAE riders on the front, with Ineos lined out behind them, to at least physchologically disrupt the chase.

The attackers arguably have more riders willing to work and drive the move along.

We can see Kamp from Uno-X, Dylan van Baarle from Soudal, Laurens de Plus for Egan Bernal and of course Denz riding for Evenepoel.

The gap is still 2:30.

Behind Rune Herregodts and Vegard Stake Laengen are leading the chase for UAE, with Stan Dewolf riding for Decathlon.

That's three chasers against far more attackers.

A sign that the race is on and the chase is underway: the peloton is lined out.

This 50-rider attack was not expected but the final climbs are still expected to shape the race.

to understands the race and the many climbs, check out our race guide.

Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2026 - the ultimate guide to La Doyenne

135km to go

The riders will soon descend to the Côte de Stockeu climb, the site of the Eddy Merckx monument.

It is part of a long ride upwards before the start of the true final of the race with the Côte de Wanne, with 88km to race.

Nico Denz is doing big licks on the front of the attack. He is helping to keep the gap at 2:40.

Evenepoel made some predictions about Liege-Bastogne-Liege but he surely never expected to be up the road in a 50-rider break.

'We shouldn't be surprised if he struggles in the final hour' – Remco Evenepoel rates Paul Seixas' chances for Liège-Bastogne-Liège

The race hits the Col de Haussire climb, that remembers local legend Claudy Criquielion with a monument. It is 3.9km long at 6.8% and so is hurting riders who have done a lot fo work.

In the peloton Rune Herregodts cracks and Vegard Stake Laengen is also tired. That means Tim Wellens has to step-up, move up and start working early for UAE and Pogacar.

Up front Nico Denz is also suffering after all his hard work on the front.

The Col de Haussire is causing some riders to be spat out of the attack.

The gap has also fallen to 2:10, as De Plus sets the pace with Evenepoel on his wheel.

125km to go

The aggressive racing and high tempo is hurting everyone, with the likes of Jan Tratnink struggling out the back of the peloton.

At the summit of the Col de Haussire, the reduced Evenepoel group leads the Pogacar peloton by 2:00.

Evenepoel drops back to his team car for bidons and a tactical talk. He will hope Nico Denz gets back on and so can help drive the attack, at least until the climbs start in earnest in 30km or so.

For now, Evenepoel is playing it cool, sitting on the wheels and letting his tactical advantage take its course.

120km to go

Tim Wellens is still doing a huge turn on the front of the reduced peloton. The gap is still 2:10 but there has been significant attrition.

The riders pass through a feed zone and so the pace in the attack eases, as riders also attack each other.

Some riders are starting play tactical games and so the gap to the Pogacar peloton falls to 1:40.

It's perhaps advantage Pogacar now.

Interestingly, the work by Wellens has reduced the peloton to just 50 riders or so.

This is a tactical team game, with the real impact only visible later, when the team leaders will be without team support.

Today is one photograph.

Tom Pidcock needs mechanical help and is forced to chase back to the peloton.

110km to go

The riders are heading east now, the Côte de Wanne comes in 22km and will be decisive for the race.

Tim Wellens is still leading the chase and he will be grateful to have help from a Decathlon rider.

The gap is down to 1:25.

Up front there are 40 riders left in the break.

100km to go

As the race hits a symbolic point, the break is losing time due to riders not doing their turns in the double line and the group splitting.

Van Baarle, Eenkhoorn, Neilands, Veistroffer and Costiou attacked the attack and that caused the others to lose pace and so help the peloton reduce the gap.

The Pogacar peloton could soon catch the Evenepoel group.

95km to go

Caught! The Evenepoel-Bernal group has been caught by the Pogacar group.

That's a huge relief for Pogacar but at what price for his team? Pogacar is still strong but he may soon be alone for the finale.

It will also be interesting to see what imnpact being in the attack has on Evenepoel? How much did it cost him?

We'll find out in the next two hours and the final 90km of racing.

The five attacker hit the Côte de Wanne, with a 40 second lead on the peloton.

Pavel Sivakov leads for Tadej Pogacar.

UAE also have Benoît Cosnefroy and Domen Novak as Wellens is dropped.

Pidcock's problems means he never caught the peloton and is now chasing at 1:20.

UAE are flexing their muscles on the climb, squeezing the break's lead and frightening their rivals. like a snake.

We can only expect Pogacar to attack hard on the Côte de la Redoute, if not earlier.

82km to go

Next up is the Côte de Stockeu climb, that remember's Eddy Merckx's success in the race.

At the same time, UAE and the peloton catch the five attackers.

After a crazy four hoiurs, it's gruppo compatto. So what happens now?

There are now seven categorised and leg-hurting climbs in the next 80km.

UAE are leading the peloton, with Pogacar sitting on their wheels.

We can see Paul Seixas just behind, looking good and ready for the finale. It is 46 years since a Frenchman last won Liege-Bastogne-Liege, when Bernard Hinault won in the snow.

The race close-up.

There are cobbles and huge crowds as the rider near the Côte de la Haute-Levée. It is 2.2km at an average of 7.5%. It will hurt.

With fewer teammates than expected, due to the attacks and the chase, UAE are riding at a steady pace, protecting Pogacar.

Evenepoel is ticked behind Pogacar, with Red Bull teammates Jai Hindley and Dani Martinez. Paul Seixas is not far behind them.

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The UAE riders grab musettes at a feed zone to take a bidon and gels.

It's the right time to feed as the Col du Rosier soon begins. It is 4.5km long and climbs at 5.9%.

A tight right turn onto the Col du Rosier confirms that positioning is vital in Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

This is the quiet before the storm. We're nervously waiting to see where Tadej Pogacar attacks and if Paul Seixas and Remco Evenepoel can go with him or even chase him down.

63km to go

UAE are riding on the front for Tadej Pogačar, with Pavel Sivakov, Domen Novak and Benoît Cosnefroy doing the grunt work.

It's fascinating to see Evenepole and Red Bull and then Seixas and Decathlon sat in the places behind UAE.

That show the natural hierarchy in the race and the sport.

Pogacar has a black arm band on his left arm, to remember former teammate Cristian Camilo Muñoz who tragically died last week.

Cristian Camilo Muñoz dies following infection to knee injury suffered in Tour de Jura fall

58km to go

Pavel Sivakov is doing a huge ride on the front.

He gave an exclusive interview to Cyclingnews during the winter .

'It's all part of my career path' – Pavel Sivakov's difficult journey from a super talent to super domestique

This year the race route includes the Col du Maquisard (2.4km at 5.7%) and the Côte de Desnié (1.6 km at 8.1%) before the Côte de la Redoute.

It should make for a harder, more selective race. They were combined to help increase safety before the fast approach and descent to the Côte de la Redoute.

50km to go

The pace is steady on the Col du Maquisard as UAE continue to squeeze their rivals and wait for the best moment for Pogacar to attack.

They know there is a head wind on some parts of the course.

The race seems steady but behind Pogacar there is a fight for the best wheels. This is hurting.

These are the final climbs of the race:

Côte de Desnié (1.6 km at 8.1%)

Côte de la Redoute (1.6 km at 9.4%)

Côte des Forges (1.3 km at 7.8%)

Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons (1.3 km at 11%).

Surely someone will try to anticipate Pogacar on the Côte de Desnié, in the (slim?) hope of staying with him over the Redoute.

However the pace set by UAE hurts everyone and dissuades everyone.

Sivakov did a final turn, a final squeeze, spitting riders out of the back of the peloton.

Domen Novak is now on the front, doing the heavy lifting.

Pogacar also has Benoît Cosnefroy there to help, if needed.

EF Move up to the front and even take over from UAE. Decathlon have won the battle to sit behind Pogacar but where is Remco?

Red Bull seem to be spread across the peloton.

42km to go

Everyone in Belgium is perhaps asking where is Remco?

If he wants to respond to the big attacks on the Redoute, he needs to be up front.

If he needs to close a gap and chase Pogacar, he has little chance of success.

After the Côte de Desnié, its a fast descent to the foot of the Côte de la Redoute.

It's going to be a fast, tense, 7km of racing.

Visma move up to the front on the right of the rad as Remco moves up through the middle of the peloton.

Belgium can let out a sigh of relief. Remco looks ready.

The speed is so high that riders are almost spinning out.

This is what the riders face.

Here we go!

it's time for the Côte de la Redoute!

The riders swing right, left and right and the climb is about to start.

Benoît Cosnefroy leads Pogacar just behind some Bahrain riders.

Benoît Cosnefroy takes over and goes all in for Pogacar.

They swing under the motorway bridge and the real climb between the fields begin.

Boom!

Evenepoel has blown!

He can't follow the surge. He has paid the price for going in ghe early attack.

Boom ! Boom! Pogacar attacks!

And Paul Seixas is on his wheel. He's holding his wheel as everyone is blown away.

500m to the top, Pog surges again but Seixas is still there.

They near the top and the gap to the others is huge!

Everyone else seems to have accepted defeat.

Pogacar surges again but Seixas matches him, pedal stroke to pedal stroke. They look equal.

Now it's up to Pogacar to try and rop his terrible young rival.

Seixas takes a turn and then swings off, looking at Pogacar. This is a real challenge.

Behind Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) is chasing alone but is 25 seconds behind.

Evenepoel and other chasers are at 35 seconds.

30km to go

Skjelmose eases up and so he is caught by the Evenepoel chase group. They are 40 seconds back and so surely racing for the final podium spot.

This is the Pogacar-Seixas show.

Tadej Pogačar and Paul Seixas are taking turns to drive on together.

We can only wonder what Pogacar is thinking at the moment. Seixas will have poked his pride and so we can expect attacks to show who is the king of the peloton.

25km to go

The chasers are attacking each other, fighting for the podium and precious UCI ranking points.

Up front, Tadej Pogačar and Paul Seixas are fighting for so much more.

This is the Tadej Pogačar and Paul Seixas attack on the Redoute.

The riders climb the Côte des Forges (1.3 km at 7.8%).

For now Paul Seixas can hold Pogacar's wheel. We will surely see an attack on the steeper Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons, the final climb of the race.

20km to go

The groups behind are chasing each other but losing time to Tadej Pogačar and Paul Seixas.

The gap is now a minute.

Pogačar takes a drink sand sprays water on his shoulders. Meanwhile Siexas does his turn and pushes on.

He seems in the zone, in control and not scared of riding with Pogacar.

Wow.

Tadej Pogačar and Paul Seixas take turns on a fast descent through the trees.

The French teenager is taking slightly shorter turns but looks as he sits in the slipstream. and dives through the corners.

Here we go!

It's time for the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons climb.

It's 1.3 km at 11%. Something will surely happen, right?

On the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons, Pogacar surges but Seixas responds.

Pogacar looks back but Seixas hides his pain.

We spoke too soon!

500m from the top, Seixas lost the wheel!

Pogacar surged sat in the saddle and Seixas just no longer had it. He seemed strong but lost contact.

He is now fighting to limit his losses.

12km to go

Pogacar reaches the summit of the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons and has a 22 second gap.

Meanwhile Skjelmose attacks from the chase group but he is 2:00 down on Pogacar.

Seixas is riding for second place. He has not blown and will hope to recover on the descent to Liege.

He is not the winner today, the Pogacar reign continues but Seixas again showed his talents and huge potential.

Allez Polo!

10km to go

Pogacar can enjoy the descent to the finish in Liege. He and UAE have earned their victory today.

However we have witnessed something special today, we have witnessed the future and a shift of the Tectonic plates of the sport.

Pro cycling will not be the same after today.

It is still the Pogacar era but the Seixas era is underway too.

This was the moment.

Skjelmose leads the other chasers by just 10 seconds.

5km to go

Tadej Pogačar pushes on alone. He can taste victory now.

This will be his fourth Liege-Bastogne-Liege victory, equalling Moreno Argentin and Alejandro Valverde.

Tadej Pogačar is in the streets of Liege.

Last kilometre!

Pogacar can ease up, with Seixas at 1:00.

Pogacar gives a thumbs up and eases up to celebrate.

He rolls to the finish, enjoys the moment and points to the sky to remember Cristian Camilo Muñoz.

Chapeau sir!

Paul Seixas finishes second. He is the young prince of the sport and heir to Pogacar's crown.

It's a sprint for third place.

Remco Evenepoel shows his pride by winning a long, long sprint.

What a podium!

This is the first shot of Tadej Pogacar's victory.

This is the moment that Tadej Pogacar pointed to the sky and dedicated the win to his former teammate Cristian Camilo Munoz.

It took some time but Pogacar eventually got away from Seixas to win.

This was the moment that Pogacar dropped Seixas to win again.

Tadej Pogacar spoke about another Monument victory, his 13th, and how he finally cracked Seixas.

"It means a lot to win one of the biggest races of the year again," he said in the post-race flash interview.

"I don't do many races; I don't have a lot of opportunities to win, because I don't race a lot, so it's a lot of pressure for me to deliver on days like today, and I'm really happy that we succeeded. I couldn't be prouder of the team."

Pogacar and Seixas hugged in mutual respect after the finish.

"On La Redoute I was really going deep, and I could see that Seixas was a little bit on the elastic, but over the top he came next to me and I was like 'OK, really impressed', and then he was also pulling quite strong all the way," said Pogačar with respect.

"He worked and we opened up a big gap, which was good for us, and then I was maybe, in the back of my head, preparing already to do a sprint, because he was so strong.

"But I then tried on Roche-aux-Faucons with my pace. I know the climb super well, and it suits me well, and luckily, he dropped, but I was prepared to go head-to-head in a sprint with him."

On the podium the Slovenian national anthem rings out to hail Pogacar's latest victory.

Pogacar has now won 13 monuments and two world titles. The only monument missing from his palmares remains Paris-Roubaix.

Looking at today's results we can see that Emiel Verstrynge (Alpecin) was an impressive fourth, again proving he is far more than a cyclocross rider.

The women's Liège-Bastogne-Liège is still in action. Follow our live coverage here.

Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes LIVE: The peloton is all together heading towards the final 50km

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It was a breathtaking edition of Liege-Bastogne-Liege. To understand what happened and why, look back through our full live coverage or read our full report.

Liège-Bastogne-Liège: Tadej Pogačar drops worthy challenger Paul Seixas with searing attack on Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons to claim fourth La Doyenne victory

This was the moment of respect between King Tadej Pogacar and the young prince Paul Seixas.

This is Seixas on the final podium. In the next few days we will find out if he will ride the Tour de France.

After his results so far this year, we can noyl hope he does, to set-up a great battle with Pogacar, Evenepoel, Vingegaard and anyone else.

We wrap-up our full live coverage of the 2026 Liege-Bastogne-Liege with a final shot of the podium.

And what a podium after a special race.

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