Mighty Pogacar Equals Record With Third Flanders Win

Defending champion Tadej Pogacar won a record-equalling 3rd Tour of Flanders successful imperious manner aft dropping Mathieu van der Poel 18km from nan finish.

The 27-year-old has now won some Monument races this season, having triumphed astatine Milan-San Remo successful March.

Sunday's triumph draws Pogacar level pinch Van der Poel and six different cyclists connected 3 wins astatine nan Belgian event, having besides won successful 2023.

He now has 12 victories successful Monuments - nan 5 astir prestigious one-day events successful men's roadworthy cycling - putting him clear successful 2nd successful nan all-time database down only 19-time victor Eddy Merckx.

Double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel held disconnected chap Belgian Wout van Aert for 3rd successful nan 278km race, which features punchy climbs and a number of cobbled sections.

With 57km near to title Pogacar, Van der Poel and Evenepoel dropped nan remainder of nan section pinch an acceleration connected nan 2nd of 3 ascents up nan Oude Kwaremont.

Evenepoel was near down connected nan adjacent climb, nan Paterberg, and steadily drifted distant from nan starring pair, who person won six of nan past 7 stagings of this event.

Pogacar and Van der Poel rode together for astir 40km earlier nan erstwhile put successful a race-winning push connected nan last thrust up nan Oude Kwaremont.

Having crested nan climb pinch a six-second advantage, nan Slovenian world champion pulled distant to contradict his Dutch rival a grounds 4th triumph successful nan event.