No double for Tadej Pogacar.
The double winner of the Tour de France announced this Saturday that he would not participate in the Liège-Bastogne-Liège race tomorrow.
The Slovenian has decided to forfeit in order to stay with his wife, cyclist Urska Zygart, who has lost her mother.
“Unfortunately, I will not be at the start of Liège-Bastogne-Liège tomorrow to defend my title.
The last few days have been difficult but I want to thank everyone for their understanding, ”said the Slovenian on his Instagram account, especially thanking his UAE team and his manager, the Swiss Mauro Gianetti.
Sadly I won't be at the start of @LiegeBastogneL tomorrow.
It's been a tough few days but I'd like to thank everybody for their understanding
A special thank you to @TeamEmiratesUAE & especially to Mauro Gianetti and Team President Matar for their support in this situation 🙏 pic.twitter.com/px8VYkso65
— Tadej Pogačar (@TamauPogi) April 23, 2022
Pogacar took 12th place in the Flèche wallonne on Wednesday, his recovery race since he had not run since the Tour of Flanders (4th) at the beginning of the month.
He will be replaced in the Dean of the Classics by the American Brandon McNulty, said the Emirati team.
In his three appearances at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the 23-year-old star placed 18th on his debut in 2019 before appearing for victory the next two times, and finishing third in 2020 and winner in 2021 ahead of world champion Julian Alaphilippe.
This new edition will see a very tough field compete against each other: Wout Van Aert, Matej Mohoric, Dylan Teuns, winner of the Flèche wallonne on Wednesday, Alaphilippe of course, who has made this race his priority at the start of the season... Also watch Benoît Cosnefroy, "the eternal second" tricolor very in legs in recent weeks.