Pogacar Overcomes Wet Conditions To Win Fleche Wallonne

World champion Tadej Pogacar battled acold and rain-sodden conditions to declare a 2nd Fleche Wallonne title successful Belgium.

The Slovenian's look and jersey were splattered pinch mud arsenic he crossed nan statement 10 seconds clear of France's Kevin Vauquelin, who vanished runner-up for nan 2nd successive year.

Britain's Tom Pidcock, competing successful nan arena for a 5th time, secured 3rd spot - a career-best decorativeness successful nan race.

"It's a beautiful place, but arsenic a cyclist you don't for illustration it truthful much, specified a reliable finish," said Pogacar.

"It's a really awesome feeling, nan upwind wasn't truthful bully but winning again is each that counts

Pogacar went into nan title having vanished 2nd successful his erstwhile 2 events, down Mathieu van der Poel astatine nan Paris-Roubaix and Mattias Skjelmose astatine nan Amstel Gold Race.

The three-time Tour de France victor launched an onslaught 400m from nan decorativeness connected nan steep Mur de Huy, 1 of 11 climbs connected nan 205km course, arsenic his rival Remco Evenepoel began to fade.

Evenepoel, competing successful conscionable his 2nd title since recovering from superior injury, was ninth crossed nan line.

Denmark's Skjelmose was 1 of respective riders who slid retired of nan title connected a tight area made hazardous by nan bedewed conditions pinch astir 40km to go.

Most of nan competitors will stay successful nan Ardennes for nan 252km Liege-Bastogne-Liege 'Monument' connected Sunday.