LIEGE (Belgium) – Where to start? A big question mark for this Liège, the third team dominated by Tadej Pogačar. The champion of the UAE Team Emirates he put everyone in line on the Redoute "as per schedule". He left with 35 kilometers to go.
If it were not for the good performance of the Italians, the Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2025 would be condensed into a few sentences. But as we anticipated yesterday, there is an Italy that does not give up: second Giulio Ciccone, fourth Simone Velasco and sixth Andrea Bagioli.
(Almost) everything easy
It's true, everything seemed simple. But "in reality it's not that easy," as he explained to us. Andrei Hauptman, sports director of UAE - also atAmstel Gold Race It all seemed easy, but we saw how it went. Things change quickly in cycling. That day, Remco was in a great mood, and we had a headwind that picked up stronger than expected. Fortunately, that wasn't the case today."
Meanwhile in the clan of the UAE, as in other teams, There's a general stampede. Liège closes its northern campaign, and it's time for the staff to go home, too. The mechanics are working, the masseurs are opening their coolers with water bottles and rushing to the fans. The vehicles are being loaded. Some are fleeing to the airport...
Hauptman again: "Did you get the feeling that on the Redoute he checked before opening the throttle fully? Yes, that's true. He wanted to see who was with him and at that point he would decide what to do: whether to continue straight or wait for someone. At the bottom of the hill, he decided to go. However, as I repeat, traveling so many kilometers alone is never easy. I want to congratulate the team because the boys were exceptional.Everyone did their job perfectly. They had to go into action at the 150-kilometer mark, and they checked every meter of the route."
As Hauptman said, at the bottom of the Redoute descent, Tadej decides to go. He opens up his lead, settles into his cruising speed—which is obviously very different from the others'—and brings the lead to a minute, a minute and 15 seconds. Then he stabilizes and even finds time to speak on the radio. "What was he asking me on the radio? He told me that the guys behind had to stay calm and think about the sprint», concludes Hauptman.
And Remco?
What was missing this day was the long-awaited duel with Remco Evenepoel. Once again, the close-quarters battle broke down. Remco foundered on the Redoute. He tried to hold on, having rejoined the right group at the foot of the Roche-aux-Faucons, but then he could do nothing but bow his head and honor his Doyenne to the fullest. And to think that on the Stockeu, he was pedaling with his mouth shut...
The feeling, not only ours, is that the double Olympic champion is experiencing a “rebound” phase after returning from his accident. There are two considerations to make.
The first is physical: it's natural that as soon as you get back you'll feel good, "light" and lively, especially if you have one of the super engines of this cycling. But then the endurance, recovery and race pace of four races in ten days make themselves felt.
The second reason, perhaps more incisive than the first, it's mental. We observed Remco in recent days and he was certainly less carefree than Pogacar. Without Van Aert, he's Belgium's beacon. His double Olympic title has launched him into another dimension., with pressures that perhaps he feels a little. Brabant Arrow No one asked him anything: it was just his return after five months. But after that performance, his approach to racing immediately changed. In any case, he returned. Now he can really start working for the Tour. To begin: pay attention to this term.
Liège, but also Roubaix
Pogacar finally arrives at the press conference. He's calm, as if nothing had happened. He repeats over and over: "I'm happy." And how could you not be?
“I’m happy for the team,” Tadej says, “for this victory. You know how much I love Liège, for how the race went. I couldn't imagine a better spring.».
And then he intervenes on the race: «I have often seen the Soudal-Quick Step of Remco in front, then at the beginning of the Redoute I didn't see them anymore. I imagined something had happened (maybe that's why he turned around so often, ed.). I didn't realize he didn't have legs. After a while I left, but I wanted to see if anyone could follow me. Then you know, when I have the legs and there is the possibility, I always want to win."
The rest is history. What's striking, however, is his response when a journalist asks him what his fondest memory is from this Classics campaign.
«Of course victories are always beautiful, but if I close my eyes, the memory of this spring of mine of classics is the Paris-Roubaix. I didn't think I was capable of doing certain things in that race. It was something special." Mauro Gianetti he won't be very happy about it!
Meanwhile, however, in the bus of UAE Team Emirates is celebrating. That bus that, as soon as Pogacar crossed the finish line, started honking its horn, making an incredible echo throughout the arrival avenue. It's the genius of Federico Borselli, The driver, who had also parked the beast right after the finish line, far behind everyone else. He already knew everything!
