An 'Absolute Monarchy - one of the greatest Classics campaigns in history'. This was the headline in L'Équipe's front page after Tadej Pogačar's latest victory at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the crowning achievement of a historic spring for the Slovenian champion.

The numbers are impressive: nine Monuments won (one more than rival Mathieu van der Poel), which places him on the same level as legends such as Fausto Coppi, Sean Kelly and Costante Girardengo, in third place all time behind only Eddy Merckx and Roger De Vlaeminck.

But there's more: Pogačar became the first rider in history to achieve six consecutive podium finishes in the Monuments and only the third, after Merckx and Kelly, to finish in the top three in the first four Monuments of the season.

His last Liège, won at a record average of 41.983 km/h, brought his Monument win percentage to 47% (9 wins in 19 starts). In the last 16 Monuments he has contested - excluding his retirement due to a crash at Liège 2023 - he has never finished outside the top five.

A domain that breaks down every barrier

Pogačar broke what seemed like a taboo in modern cycling, becoming the first rider since Merckx in 1975 to win both the Tour of Flanders and Liège in the same season. His ability to maintain his form for almost two months, from Strade Bianche to Liège, is something unique in modern cycling.

the Slovenian admitted.