Tadej Pogachar became the third rider to win the Tour de France and Tour de Flanders, and with his solo victory in Oudenaarde, he took a giant step toward the elusive goal of winning cycling's five monumental classics.

The Slovenian joins Eddy Merckx and Luizon Bove in the record books as the only riders to have won the Tour de France and Tour de Flanders. He is the first modern-day rider to win the Tour de France and at least four monuments. He joins legends such as Merckx, Fausto Coppi, Luison Bovet, Gino Bartali, and Bernard Hinault. All of them are only 24 years old.

Only Merckx, Rick Van Roy, and Roger De Vlaeminck have won five monuments, and only Merckx has won more than once.

Pogachar has the abundant talent to conquer all five monuments, but was modest when asked if this was possible.

"I don't know if I can answer this question. We will see," he said after the race. [I am happy to be able to compete in different races like Flanders, the Tour, the Ardennes, and Milan-San Remo. I am grateful to be able to compete in different races like Flanders, the Tour, the Ardennes, and Milan-San Remo. I am really happy and proud today."

After his victory in the Tour of Flanders, he said he plans to one day ride Paris-Roubaix, but Milan-San Remo may be his most difficult monument.

"Milano-San Remo proved to be the most difficult race for me to win. I've been in the best shape of my life this year, but it's really hard to win. But I will not give up. I still have Milano-Sanremo and Roubaix to go," Pogachar said.

Pogachar will not compete in next Sunday's Paris-Roubaix, but will return to Belgium later this month to race in the Monument Classics, such as Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

"I'm also looking forward to the Ardennes Classics. I hope I can keep this form up until then," he warned.

If he can win all five races after his victory in Milan-San Remo, a challenge for Paris-Roubaix could be on the cards.

"I raced Roubaix as a junior and can't imagine how difficult it would be.

"The suffering and pain on the cobblestones is completely different. It's a big difference because here it's a climb."

"We'll see what happens. I need to put on a little more weight and strengthen my hands for the cobblestones. In the future. Let's leave it a bit for the next few years," Pogachar said, insisting that even if he does not win the Tour de France in July, the 2023 season is already a success.

Winning the Tour de Flanders was special for Pogachar, who finished fourth last year and also lost Milan-San Remo.

"It was a day I will never forget," he said. I could retire today and be proud of my career."

Pogachar knew that the climb up Aude Quaremont was crucial to victory. He chased the attackers with 55km to go and attempted to ride alone in the final 18km of the race. He then caught the attackers on the final climb of the Couveremont and had the legs to pull away from Mathieu Van Der Pol.

"On the final climb of the Quaremont, I knew I had to go solo. I gave it my all. I almost cracked on the Paterberg, but I knew it was going to be tough. It was the only way to get to the finish," Pogachar explained.

"Kwaremont suits me best. I hit it at speed on the cobblestones and I'm already suffering. I hit the cobblestones at speed and am already suffering. It's a favorable course for me."