In Liège, Belgium, Tadej Pogačar once again confirmed his status as one of the most dominant riders of our time, claiming his fourth victory at Liège–Bastogne–Liège and bringing his total number of Monument wins to 13. The Slovenian not only strengthened his position in the historical rankings but also drew closer to Eddy Merckx’s record, which remains out of reach for most professionals.
The main intrigue of the race was the surprising breakthrough of 19-year-old Frenchman Paul Seixas. He was the only one able to keep up with Pogačar on the La Redoute climb, while other favorites, including Remco Evenepoel, could not match the pace. Seixas held on for several kilometers, but on the Roche-aux-Faucons section, he fell behind, finishing second and becoming the breakout star of the season.
Battling for history
Pogačar continues to rack up victories in the biggest classics: his collection already includes titles at Milan–San Remo, Tour of Flanders, Liège–Bastogne–Liège, and Giro di Lombardia. The only Monument the Slovenian has yet to conquer is Paris–Roubaix, where he has already finished second, losing only to Wout van Aert. According to MARCA, Pogačar now trails only Eddy Merckx (19) in Monument wins and has surpassed legends such as Roger De Vlaeminck (11) and Fausto Coppi (9).
This season, Pogačar has already won three Monuments, and his performance at Roubaix showed that completing the full set is only a matter of time. In historical context, only three riders have won all five Monuments: Merckx, De Vlaeminck, and Rik Van Looy. Pogačar is confidently moving toward this achievement, and his versatility and consistency have drawn comparisons to the best riders of the past.
A new generation emerges
Paul Seixas’s appearance on the podium at Liège-Bastogne-Liège became a symbol of a generational shift in world cycling. The young Frenchman not only kept up with Pogacar’s pace on the key sections but was also the only one who managed to challenge the favorite. After the finish, Pogacar himself noted that he was impressed by Seixas’s level and sees him as a future rival capable of changing the balance of power in the peloton.
In recent years, the Monuments have become the stage for a clash between rising stars and established leaders. For example, similar trends can be seen in men’s basketball with the club Unicaja, which found itself on the verge of falling out of the top 8 after a string of defeats — you can read more about this in the article about Unicaja’s battle for a place in the Champions League.
Chasing Roubaix
Despite an impressive collection of titles, Pogacar still faces an unresolved challenge — winning Paris-Roubaix. This Monument is considered one of the toughest due to the specifics of the route and weather conditions. For now, the Slovenian is only getting closer to the cherished goal, but his progress and versatility suggest that in the coming seasons he may add this trophy to his collection as well.
In the all-time table, Pogacar has already matched Alejandro Valverde and Moreno Argentin with four wins at Liège-Bastogne-Liège; he needs just one more victory to equal Merckx’s record in this race. Every new season narrows the gap to the absolute leader, and Pogacar is becoming not just a successor but a real threat to historical records.
