Superb duel between Pogačar and Seixas, but the world champion proves too strong, wins Liège-Bastogne-Liège
CyclingSunday, 26 April 2026 at 16:18
Tadej Pogačar won Liège-Bastogne-Liège for the fourth time on Sunday afternoon. The world champion attacked as expected on the Côte de la Redoute, but found the tenacious Paul Seixas glued to his wheel. The young Frenchman eventually cracked under the pressure, but still finished a worthy second. Remco Evenepoel, who had raced from kilometre zero, took third.
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La Doyenne was first held in 1892 — making it one of the oldest races on the calendar. The Belgian Léon Houa won that first edition, and the two that followed. Once a race that Belgium could call its own, with Eddy Merckx's five wins among the highlights, it now carries winners of many nationalities on its roll of honour.
And what names they are. Liège-Bastogne-Liège never lies. Alejandro Valverde, Primož Roglič, Paolo Bettini and Philippe Gilbert have all won in this century. But there is also room for surprise — more so than in other Monuments. Think of Maxim Iglinskiy, or Bob Jungels. And, of course, Wout Poels' popular 2016 win.
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Pogačar won in Liège in 2025 — and the year before that, and back in 2021. With that record, the Slovenian was the obvious favourite. But Remco Evenepoel, himself a two-time winner of La Doyenne, was on the start line. And then there was Seixas, in stunning form. Would it be a two-way fight? Or could the French teenager intervene?
Continue reading below the video!
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A fight from the start — Pogačar dropped
The flag dropped early, but there was nothing gentle about the opening. Normally, the race begins with a battle for the early breakaway. Instead, the peloton split after just a handful of kilometres — and Pogačar was on the wrong side. The world champion found himself behind the split, while Evenepoel stayed sharp. Also in the front group: Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers), in a move of around 50 riders.
Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe and INEOS Grenadiers drove a ferocious pace in the hills. Pogačar found himself facing a gap that quickly reached a minute, then a minute and a half, then almost three. Less than 50 kilometres in, the race was completely upended.
Evenepoel only had Nico Denz with him as a teammate, but the world champion had most of his squad intact — minus Domen Novak, who was in the front group. And Seixas was also in the second group, so Decathlon CMA CGM had to help with the chase too. The gap kept growing — with key domestiques were burning matches far earlier than planned.
Read on below the video!
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Evenepoel's lead begins to shrink
After 100 kilometres, the front group arrived in Bastogne. The race would be decided in the finale, but the return journey had begun; the peloton had found its rhythm and cut the gap to 2:30. At the halfway mark, things were changing on all sides, with riders being shed in both groups.
Denz dropped back from Evenepoel, leaving the Belgian alone in the front. But Pogačar had also lost riders — Rune Herregodts had emptied himself, and Vegard Stake Laengen was also gone. With 125 kilometres to go, the burden fell to Tim Wellens, who began to pull the gap back down to around two minutes.
With Denz's return, the front group reorganised slightly. But the gap was down to a minute and a half, and falling fast. While a small group of escapees managed to stay clear, the front group containing Evenepoel was brought back together with Pogačar's group with 95 kilometres to go. Tom Pidcock was already losing time after a mechanical problem.
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Read on below the video!
Reunited peloton enters the finale
The small remaining breakaway, which included Pascal Eenkhoorn (Soudal Quick-Step) and Gijs Leemreize (Picnic PostNL)m held on a little longer, but not long enoughh. With 80 kilometres to go, order was restored. UAE Team Emirates-XRG took control at the front in their customary fashion. A well-timed attack by Maximilian Schachmann (Soudal Quick-Step) showed that nothing was getting away.
The race was waiting for its true judge — the Côte de la Redoute. The run-in was searing, as expected. UAE led the climb, with Benoît Cosnefroy driving the pace and splitting the front group. Evenepoel was gone. Then Pogačar struck — and Seixas held on brilliantly.
The gap behind them was enormous. Seixas dug as deep as he could, fighting for every second in the world champion's wheel. The pair crested the Redoute together with more than 20 seconds on Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek), and over half a minute on the rest. In that chasing group: Evenepoel, visibly paying the price for his early aggression.
Read on below the video!
Seixas vs Pogačar on Roche-aux-Faucons
The chasers never truly combined forces, so the two leaders were able to extend their advantage. A truce on the Côte des Forges meant everything would come down to the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons. Pogačar and Seixas had over a minute and a half on the second group as they reached the foot of the final climb.
From the base, Pogačar went again. Seixas was extraordinary — he hung on and on and on. But 500 metres from the summit, he finally cracked. In an instant, Pogačar had vanished up the road, while the teenager faded back. He had already lost 20 seconds by the top.
Behind, Skjelmose was raising the tempo again in the battle for third. But Pogačar was long gone. He crossed the line in Liège with almost a minute to spare, claiming his fourth victory at La Doyenne. Seixas arrived second, spent but defiant. The fight for third was entertaining enough — and it was Evenepoel who had just enough left to sprint onto the podium.
Results Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2026
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
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Latest Comments
- Here is a novel idea......it's a road bike race, stick to smooth asphalt courses! Cobble is like mild off-road cross riding!!!!Germanrazor14-04-2026
- To lose a race like that on a mechanical problem in this day and age is unforgivable. Why aren't all riders using the same (interchangeable) gear? It is the job of the team manager to manage and reduce risk variables. The fact that he not only didn't pick up on the potential issue but actually ok'd it is just madness.fatehasfans13-04-2026
- Rider X, y and z? Could you update?yaNzKEWL21-03-2026
- Can anyone help me understand the thinking behind the two punishments? Are the commissaires saying you get thrown out of the race for a second inadvertent disposal of a bidon (even to the delight of fans) but that as long as you can afford it you can show off your phalangeal cuticles all day long on international TV? Aking for a friend.packfiller7112-03-2026
- It's a bit embarrassing that. Isn't the main sponsor supposed to keep them at 36.5 ?tomjacques03-03-2026
- They were close to cracking a very tired Tadej that wasn't fully focused on the TdF with a team of riders focused solely on cracking Tadej. And if they cracked him, he would have still won. Tadej won't be racing the giro this year. It'll be an even easier win for him.Veganpotter09-02-2026
- Nice!Bea22-01-2026
- Those events are mental rest for him. Fun, without expectations. *Sagan lost his abilities because he gained weight and got lazy. Pogi will likely retire before that has a chance at happening.Veganpotter14-12-2025
- Ah, the consequences of riding for Israel.Veganpotter11-12-2025
- Pidcock could follow everyone but Pogi while finishing 3rd. No second place rider this season😃Veganpotter16-11-2025
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