Tadej Pogačar triumphed in a sprint finish at Liege-Bastogne-Liege ©Getty Images

Slovenia’s Tadej Pogačar and Demi Vollering of The Netherlands triumphed at Liège–Bastogne–Liège after triumphing in sprint finishes from breakaway groups at the one-day race in Belgium.

A five-man leading group pulled clear on the final climb at la Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons, with 13 kilometres of the 259.5km race remaining.

Pogačar formed part of the move, with the Tour de France winner joined by France’s Julian Alaphilippe and David Gaudu, as well as Canada’s Michael Woods and Spanish veteran Alejandro Valverde.

Valverde, a four-time winner of the race, attempted to lead out the final sprint but the 40-year-old was unable to add to his previous victories.

A strong sprint from Pogačar saw the Slovenian fend off the challenge of Alaphilippe and Gaudu to triumph in 6 hours, 39min and 26sec.

Alaphilippe was forced to settle for second place for the second straight year, after finishing as the runner-up to Slovenia’s Primož Roglič back in October.

Demi Vollering earned her first classic victory after a sprint finish to the women's event ©Getty Images
Demi Vollering earned her first classic victory after a sprint finish to the women's event ©Getty Images

Gaudu completed the top three with Valverde and Woods placing fourth and fifth, respectively.

The Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons climb had earlier seen the race winning move in the women’s event.

World champion Anna van der Breggen worked in support of her fellow Dutch rider Vollering on the climb, and the pair moved clear of the main field with Annemiek van Vleuten, Poland’s Katarzyna Niewiadoma and Italy’s Elisa Longo Borghini.

Van der Breggen led the group into the final kilometres where her Team SD Worx team mate Vollering produced the fastest finish.

Vollering crossed the line in 3:54.31 at the conclusion of the 140.9km race to secure a maiden victory in a classic.

Van Vleuten completed a Dutch one-two, with Longo Borghini finishing on the same time in third.