Defending champion Tadej Pogacar won a record-equalling third Tour of Flanders in imperious fashion after dropping Mathieu van der Poel 18km from the finish.

The 27-year-old has now won both Monument races this season, having triumphed at Milan-San Remo in March.

Sunday’s victory draws Pogacar level with Van der Poel and six other cyclists on three wins at the Belgian event, having also won in 2023.

He now has 12 victories in Monuments – the five most prestigious one-day events in men’s road cycling – putting him clear in second in the all-time list behind only 19-time winner Eddy Merckx.

“It was a really crazy race today. I don’t know what to say – super hard from I don’t know which kilometre,” Pogacar told Belgian television.

“I don’t race too much, so when I race there is pressure to win. So far everything went perfect for me, so I can be more than happy.

“Coming next week to Roubaix, I can go motivated, but I try to enjoy the cobbles.”

On his Flanders debut, double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel held off fellow Belgian Wout van Aert for third in the 278km race, which features punchy climbs and a number of cobbled sections.

With 57km left to race Pogacar, Van der Poel and Evenepoel dropped the rest of the field with an acceleration on the second of three ascents up the Oude Kwaremont.

Evenepoel was left behind on the next climb, the Paterberg, and steadily drifted away from the leading pair, who have won six of the last seven stagings of this event.

Pogacar and Van der Poel rode together for nearly 40km before the former put in a race-winning push on the final ride up the Oude Kwaremont.

Having crested the climb with a six-second advantage, the Slovenian world champion pulled away to deny his Dutch rival a record fourth win in the event.

Pogacar has now won all three of his races this season, and if he finishes first in Paris-Roubaix next weekend, he will become just the fourth man to win all five Monuments after the Belgian trio of Merckx, Rik van Looy and Roger de Vlaeminck.

He finished second on his debut at the event last year and will face fierce resistance from Van der Poel, who has won the last three Roubaix contests.

There was drama early on in the Flanders race when the peloton was forced to stop at a level crossing as the light turned to red as it approached.

But, with still more than 200km of the race remaining, a group of chasers – including Pogacar and Evenepoel – slipped across the tracks in pursuit of the early leaders.

“Suddenly, three guys jumped in the middle of the road and started waving to stop. How can you stop in one second?” said Pogacar.

Belgian media reported, external the East Flanders public prosecutor’s office will pursue the chasing pack of up to 20 riders for breaching road safety rules. They could reportedly face fines of about 320 euros (£280).