Pogacar, 24, riding for UAE Team Emirates, was offered the perfect opportunity to earn his 12th win of the season by his team-mates as he arrived at the final kilometre of the 194.2km race between Herve and the Mur de Huy as lone leader Louis Vervaeke was faltering.

As the chasing pack swept past the Belgian on the final climb, the Slovenian favourite kept his powder dry, Romain Bardet of Team DSM was the first to attack with just 250m left of this International Cycling Union (UCI) WorldTour classic event.

But he was quickly overtaken by the lethal acceleration of Pogacar, who finished in 4 hours 2min 53sec, comfortably clear of Denmark’s Mattias Jensen, riding for Trek-Segafredo, and Spain’s Mikel Landa, of Bahrain Victorious, who were second and third respectively.

Earlier Vollering, riding for Team SD Worx, had maintained her impressive recent form in the 26th edition of the women’s race.

Having won the Amstel Gold Race on Sunday, she added another Northern classic to her CV as she shed her rivals with a brutal effort on the final ascents.

She finished in 3 hours 29min 25sec, with Liane Lippert, riding for Movistar Team Women, at +05sec and Gaia Realini of Trek-Segafredo at +07.