European press salutes Pogačar-Seixas duel, but Belgian newspapers turn on Evenepoel

The Dutch, Belgian, French and Italian press all went to town on Monday after Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Tadej Pogačar and Paul Seixas earned glowing reviews after a magnificent battle on La Redoute. Remco Evenepoel — despite his bold early move — was met with criticism and question marks.

In the Netherlands, De Telegraaf saw a Pogačar pushed deeper than ever to claim his fourth Liège title. "Tadej Pogačar was tested and challenged by his anointed successor as ruler of cycling," the paper wrote. "It was an unusual sight for the world champion: someone still on his wheel after he had attacked on this kind of terrain."

Algemeen Dagblad finally saw someone who could trouble Pogačar. "Tadej Pogačar is starting to feel the heat under his throne," ran their telling headline. "The much-discussed wonderkid Paul Seixas (19) did something nobody else has managed to do in this Monument in recent years: seriously challenge Pogačar."

In L'Équipe, the talk was of "Les Redoutables." "Now it's Tadej Pogačar, Paul Seixas and the rest of the world. Together they set a new climb record, while the peloton seemed light years behind them, exhausted after hours of racing at a murderous tempo." And of course the question came: "Is Seixas now heading to the Tour de France?" The paper expects the green light in May.

And La Gazzetta dello Sport? The Italian paper revelled in it too. "He outpaced almost everyone — except Paul Seixas, who pushed further than anyone else has against the perfect cycling athlete. Today confirmed that a 19-year-old can challenge him, now and in the future."

The Belgian papers also gave plenty of room to Pogačar and Seixas — but it was the critical note towards Evenepoel that stood out. Wim Vos, head cycling writer at Het Nieuwsblad, brought the wrecking ball: "Don't be fooled by that third place at the finish. After this Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the question is unavoidable: hasn't Evenepoel taken a step backwards rather than forwards at Red Bull?"

Vos calls it "damning" that Evenepoel had to be dropped almost immediately on La Redoute — and not even by Pogačar himself, but by one of his domestiques. "You'd almost hope he wakes up genuinely ill tomorrow. Then at least there's a clear explanation. If not, they may have to start scratching their heads at Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe."

Despite a few "bright spots", Vos argues, the bigger picture is troubling. "This was meant to be the year Evenepoel started to close the gap on Pogačar — in one-day races and in stage races. The gap was supposed to shrink. But after four months in German employment, the opposite seems to be the case. This Evenepoel is increasingly unable to match Pogačar."

Knack reached a similar conclusion. "Remco Evenepoel has to choose, after the lesson on La Redoute, who he wants to be," wrote Jonas Creteur, who still believes Evenepoel deserves leadership at the Tour de France. But if that fails, hard thinking will be required. "Evenepoel was left with questions about his future as a Tour de France contender. Self-awareness is more urgent for him than ever."