The Slovenian has been replaced in the UAE Team Emirates squad by American Brandon McNulty.

"Sadly I won't be at the start of @LiegeBastogneL tomorrow," Pogačar tweeted.

"It's been a tough few days but I'd like to thank everybody for their understanding.

"A special thank you to @TeamEmiratesUAE and especially to Mauro Gianetti and Team President Matar for their support in this situation."

Pogačar’s fiancée Urška Žigart, who was due to ride in the women’s event tomorrow, announced earlier this week that her mother had died of cancer.

"My mom was my best friend and the most important person in my life,” Žigart wrote on Instagram.

"This is a very hard time for me and my family as we experience this loss and I kindly ask you for some privacy."

Liège-Bastogne-Liège is one of the five Monument races in the International Cycling Union (UCI) WorldTour season.

The oldest one-day classic will see its 108th men’s race tomorrow, with the 257.1 kilometre route starting and ending in Liege.

Slovenian riders have won back-to-back editions with Pogačar succeeding Primož Roglič as the winner last year.

Spain’s Alejandro Valverde will compete in a one-day classic for the final time in his career, with the 41-year-old having won the race four times.

Valverde, who finished second at Flèche Wallonne earlier this week, could equal Eddy Merckx’s record of five wins should he triumph tomorrow, the day before his 42nd birthday.

World champion Julian Alaphilippe will be a contender for victory, with the Frenchman having ended as the runner-up last year.

Alaphilippe had celebrated victory in 2020 only to have been pipped by Roglič in a photo finish, before being relegated to fifth place.

Wout van Aert has also been tipped as a contender, with the Belgian star to make his debut at the race.

Italy’s Marta Cavalli will be the centre of attention heading into the women’s race, which will be contested over 142.1km.

Cavalli heads into the race with the potential to complete the Ardennes triple, following triumphs at Flèche Wallonne and the Amstel Gold Race.

She could join Van der Breggen in becoming the second woman to complete the Ardennes triple.

Van der Breggen, who has now retired, won the first two editions of the women’s race in 2017 and 2018.

Annemiek van Vleuten triumphed in 2018, while the Dutch rider finished as the runner-up last year to compatriot Demi Vollering.

Vollering and Van Vleuten will both hope to be in contention tomorrow.