Prudhomme 'dreams' of Pogacar-Seixas duel at Liège-Bastogne-Liège

It never stops for Tadej Pogačar. After narrowly missing out on Paris-Roubaix victory on Sunday, thoughts are already turning to his next appointment at Liège-Bastogne-Liège in two weeks’ time.

Pogačar will line up in Liège as the defending champion and he will be the favourite to win La Doyenne for the fourth time in his career, but he will face a fresh slate of rivals in the Ardennes. Remco Evenepoel, who placed third at the Tour of Flanders, will be a prime challenger, but much of the intrigue will centre on debutant Paul Seixas.

The 19-year-old has been one of the stories of the Spring. After winning a stage of the Volta ao Algarve and the Ardèche Classic, he placed a fine second behind Pogačar at Strade Bianche. After a spell at altitude, Seixas returned to action at Itzulia Basque Country last week, winning three stages and the overall title.

That performance has led some to bill the Decathlon CMA CGM rider as Pogačar’s chief rival at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, including race director Christian Prudhomme. Speaking to RMC Radio in the aftermath of Paris-Roubaix, Prudhomme suggested that Liège-Bastogne-Liège might prove to be a duel between Pogačar and Seixas.

“I dream of a sprint in Liège between Pogačar and Paul for the win at La Doyenne, and I believe it’s possible,” said Prudhomme, who backed his compatriot to resist Pogačar’s accelerations. 

“Whatever the attacks, I believe that Paul Seixas won’t be distanced on La Redoute or La Roche aux Faucons”

In the Basque Country, Seixas became the first Frenchman to win a WorldTour stage race since Christophe Moreau claimed the Critérium du Dauphiné back in 2007. It remains to be seen if he can follow Bernard Hinault as the first French Tour de France winner since 1985, and he has yet to confirm that he will make his debut at La Grande Boucle this July.

“We’ll see after Flèche and Liège,” Seixas told reporters after he sealed Itzulia victory on Saturday.

Prudhomme, meanwhile, also expressed hope that Pogačar would return to Paris-Roubaix to complete a full set of Monument victories after losing out to Wout van Aert in a two-up sprint at the end of Sunday’s dizzying edition of the race.

“His quest for a fifth Monument eludes him, the only one he’s missing, and in a way, I don't mind,” said Prudhomme, who hailed Pogačar’s efforts on the pavé in 2025 and 2026.

“Last season, we learned that Pogačar would be racing on the cobbles in January, and I thought he’d just be there to train for next year. But no, three months later he’s racing and he finishes second…”