Tadej Pogačar won't race Liège-Bastogne-Liège after family emergency
UAE Team Emirates will defend title with Brandon McNulty in Pogačar's place


Tadej Pogačar will not defend his Liège-Bastogne-Liège title on Sunday, after a family emergency forced him to return to Slovenia from Belgium.
The UAE-Team Emirates rider will be replaced in the lineup by Brandon McNulty, meaning there will be a different winner of La Doyenne this year.
In a tweet, he explained, “Sadly I won't be at the start of [Liège-Bastogne-Liège] tomorrow.”
“It's been a tough few days but I'd like to thank everybody for their understanding. A special thank you to [UAE Team Emirates] & especially to Mauro Gianetti and Team President Matar for their support in this situation."
Pogačar pulled out of a press conference scheduled for Friday after he flew home to Slovenia from Belgium to support his fiancée, and fellow cyclist, Urška Žigart after she went through a family emergency.
On Thursday, Žigart said on Instagram that her mother had died, and Pogačar is thought to have headed home to be with his fiancée and her family.
“Life is not fair sometimes. It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I share with you this news today. My mom was my best friend and the most important person in my life,” Žigart said on Instagram.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Pogačar won Liège last year in part of an incredible season which saw him win another Monument, Il Lombardia, as well as his second Tour de France. So far in 2022 he has won Strade Bianche and Tirreno-Adriatico, as well as impressing at the Tour of Flanders.
While he finished 12th at La Flèche Wallonne on Wednesday, he would have been expected to produce his best form for the next Monument in the calendar, the fourth of the year.
Pogačar would have headed out of Liège as one of the favourites for Sunday's race, with a supporting team of Marc Soler, George Bennett, Diego Ulissi, Marc Hirschi, Jan Polanc and Vegard Stake Laengen.
Despite the addition of McNulty, the team will likely now go all in for Hirschi, who came second in the 2020 edition. The Swiss rider finished in the top ten at the Amstel Gold Race a fortnight ago.
With no Primož Roglič either, with the Jumbo-Visma rider missing out to injury, there will be no repeat of the last two editions, which were both won by Slovenians. Matej Mohorič could continue the Balkan trend on Sunday, with the Bahrain-Victorious rider looking good at Paris-Roubaix last week.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Adam is Cycling Weekly’s news editor – his greatest love is road racing but as long as he is cycling, he's happy. Before joining CW in 2021 he spent two years writing for Procycling. He's usually out and about on the roads of Bristol and its surrounds.
Before cycling took over his professional life, he covered ecclesiastical matters at the world’s largest Anglican newspaper and politics at Business Insider. Don't ask how that is related to riding bikes.
-
British Paralympian found alive and safe after missing person report
Sam Ruddock hadn't been heard from in 11 days, but has now been located
By Tom Davidson
-
Tadej Pogačar was dominant at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, but I hope for a competitive Tour de France
The Slovenian has finished on the podium of the last six Monuments, the first man to do so - when will he stop dominating?
By Tom Thewlis
-
Tadej Pogačar was dominant at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, but I hope for a competitive Tour de France
The Slovenian has finished on the podium of the last six Monuments, the first man to do so - when will he stop dominating?
By Tom Thewlis
-
Kim Le Court outsprints Demi Vollering and Puck Pieterse to take Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes victory
Mauritian edges out former Tour de France Femmes winner and La Flèche Wallonne champion to take unexpected win
By Tom Thewlis
-
Tadej Pogačar wins third Liège–Bastogne–Liège after 34 kilometre solo breakaway
Slovenian puts in decisive attack on the Côte de la Redoute as Giulio Ciccone grabs second with Ben Healy in third
By Tom Thewlis
-
Tadej Pogačar's hat-trick, La Redoute, and Dutch delight: Five things to look out for at Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2025
The oldest professional bike race in the world takes place this Sunday – here's how to watch, who to watch, and what to watch out for
By Adam Becket
-
How to watch Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2025: Everything you need to live stream the Belgian Monument
All the broadcast information for the last of the Ardennes Classics on April 27 with Tom Pidcock – here's how to watch Liège-Bastogne-Liège online and on TV
By James Shrubsall
-
Tadej Pogačar flies to dominant victory at La Flèche Wallonne
Slovenian takes second win at Belgian classic ahead of Kévin Vauquelin and Tom Pidcock
By Tom Thewlis
-
'The line was 5 metres too far' - Tadej Pogačar reacts to Amstel Gold Race second place
World champion reeled back and beaten in sprint by Lidl-Trek's Mattias Skjelmose
By Tom Davidson
-
'If I were a tennis player then my career would be over': Remco Evenepoel contemplated early retirement after serious training accident
Double Olympic champion was left with nerve damage and says his shoulder is not yet fully healed ahead of his return to racing at Brabantse Pijl
By Tom Thewlis