Pogačar Wins Fourth Liège-Bastogne-Liège Title

Tadej Pogačar claimed his fourth Liege-Bastogne-Liege title on Sunday, powering solo to victory in the 260-kilometer Ardennes classic through Belgium after outdueling 19-year-old French debutant Paul Seixas on the final climb. The Slovenian, riding for UAE Team Emirates, crossed the line in Liege in five hours, 50 minutes and nine seconds, 45 seconds ahead of Seixas of Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, who held on for second place.

The race unfolded as a tactical showdown in the season's final Monument, one of cycling's five premier one-day events. An early crash split the peloton shortly after the start in Bastogne, allowing a 52-rider breakaway group that included Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel of Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe to build a lead of up to three minutes and 40 seconds. Teams led by UAE Team Emirates and Decathlon worked relentlessly over the next 140 kilometers to reel in the escapees, finally closing the gap just before the Cote de Stockeu with 82 kilometers remaining. The effort marked the fastest edition of the 112-year-old race, with the first two hours averaging 45.3 kilometers per hour.

Pogačar ignited the decisive phase on the Cote de la Redoute, a 1.6-kilometer wall...