Liege-Bastogne-Liege: Tadej Pogacar wins cycling one-day spring classic Monument race in Belgium

Pogacar launched his solo attack with 30km of the race to go

Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar won the men's Liege-Bastogne-Liege spring classic race in Belgium thanks to a solo breakaway 30km from the finish line.

The 25-year-old accelerated away on a steep climb, sustaining it until the end and leaving his rivals in his wake.

France's Romain Bardet finished one minute and 39 seconds behind with Dutch rider Mathieu Van der Poel third.

Pogacar's win in the 254km race also avenges his fall last year on the same course, where he broke his wrist.

"It was an emotional day of riding for me. Not just because of my hand but also because two years ago, just before the race, Urska's mother died, so I was riding for her today," said Pogacar, referring to his professional cyclist partner Urska Zigart.

Pogacar also won here in 2021 with Sunday's triumph making it his sixth one-day Monument win.

Britain's Tom Pidcock finished 10th after a mechanical problem hindered his race.

In the women's race, Australia's Grace Brown pipped Italy's Elisa Longo Borghini and the Netherlands' Demi Vollering just before the line in a sprint finish to claim a thrilling victory.

It is the 31-year-old's first triumph at the event after finishing runner-up in 2020 and 2022.