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Team Sky have finally claimed a victory in one of cycling’s monuments, taking out the 2016 Liege-Bastogne-Liege in trying conditions through Wouter Poels.
REPORT: POELS WINS LIEGE-BASTOGNE-LIEGE
The race was absolutely one of the hardest in recent memory with the weather being the main reason why. For much of the day the temperature struggled to stay in positive numbers, with rain and snow playing its part. There was a legitimate fear at one point that the race may have been called off, and it certainly caused a deviation in the course early on the day.
The early morning breakaway didn’t take long to get away from the peloton, although it was tougher for them to build a gap.
The riders that managed to get away were:
Paolo Tiralongo (Astana), Alessandro De Marchi (BMC), Pavel Brutt (Tinkoff), Nicolas Edet (Cofidis), Jeremy Roy (FDJ), Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal), and Cesare Benedetti (Bora Argon 18) and Vegard Stake Laengen (IAM).
They steadily built their lead through the rain and snow up to about 8 minutes before the first climb, eventually reaching a maximum of about 9 minutes with Eitxx Quick Step and Movistar doing the majority of the work. With such a strong breakaway, the peloton were never going to give them a massive gap.
The race would eventually splinter, although the peloton kept a fairly solid size about it with Movistar setting the pace all the way through to about the last 25 kilometres.
From there, it was Carlos Betancur who launched the attack trying to toughen up the race and pace making was left to Etixx Quickstep. Betancur was the main animator of the race throughout the final parts of the race, but it wouldn’t matter for Movistar.
There were plenty of little attacks throughout the final 15 kilometres but none of them were able to get any distance on the peloton. Onto the final climb of Cote de la Rue Naniot, and it was Albasini who managed to launch the attack.
He opened a fairly solid gap to the bunch, and a few other riders, including Wouter Poels, Rui Costa and Samuel Sanchez managed to go with him. Illnur Zakkarin also tried to get away, but couldn’t go with them.
The favourites – Alejandro Valverde, Simon Gerrans and the two Etixx riders were simply unable to stick with the pace.
Albasini and Poels did a majority of the work coming up the finishing straight before Poels put in a big sprint, and Albasini got into the wheels. He was simply unable to get himself out and around though, with Poels managing to hold on for the win.
Undoubtedly though, that was one of the toughest classics you are ever likely to see due to the weather, and the favourites couldn’t live up to their name as Sky finally took a monument.
Top five
1. Wouter Poels (Team Sky) @ 6:24:29
2. Michael Albasini (Orica GreenEdge) + 0:00
3. Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida) + 0:00
4. Samuel Sanchez (BMC) + 0:04
5. Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha) + 0:09
Can Alejandro Valverde close out the spring classics season with another victory at Liege-Bastogne-Liege, or will the chasing pack, led by Aussie Simon Gerrans, find a way to get the win? Join The Roar for live coverage from 8:15pm (AEST).
We have had the cobblestone races, a week in the Ardenees and with the Giro d’Italia only two weeks away, the best classics riders in the peloton get one more chance to show what they are made of at ‘La Doyenne’.
As it did last year, the race route will have exactly 11 recognised climbs although it is lumpy all day and there is no real respite for the riders. The day will start in Liege, as the riders lump and bump their way through the first 80 kilometres with a breakaway expected to be formed during that period.
At that point they reach the first climb of Cote de La Roche-en-Ardenne. It is almost 50 more kilometres before they reach the second climb, and another 40 to the third meaning there are only three recognised climbs inside the first 160 kilometres – which is not to say there will be any period of respite.
What will follow that is six recognised climbs in 75 kilometres to the finish line. Things should get interesting with about 35 kilometres to go when the peloton take on the Cote de La Redoute. At 2 kilometres, with an average gradient of almost nine per cent, and a maximum of 19, it is fearsome, however there won’t be any winning the race here – just a lot of losing.
The final three climbs are all fairly similar in stature – all about 1.5 kilometres, although the climbers will be looking to go from further out due to the fact the last climb only of the Cote d’Ans has an average gradient of five per cent.
Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) is undoubtedly the favourite here. He won La Fleche Wallone during the week and is looking for the Ardennes double once again.
The interesting dynamic here is the one at Etixx-Quickstep where Julian Alaphillipe and Daniel Martin are fighting for leadership. They finished second and third respectively at La Fleche Wallone, and the pressure is on them to produce a result.
You can never count out punchy riders like Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha), Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida), Simon Gerrans (Orica), Daniel Navarro (Cofidis), Tony Gallopin (Lotto-Soudal) or Thomas Voeckler (Direct Energie).
Furthermore, with some very steep climbs in that last 30 kilometres, some of the best climbers in the world – Vincenzo Nibali (Astana), Chris Froome (Sky) and Richie Porte (BMC) are lining up for the race. If they can mount an attack on the fourth last climb then they may well be a chance of stealing the win.
Prediction
It’s hard to see anyone stopping Alejandro Valverde here. He is in what appears to be absolutely top form, having taken out La Fleche Wallone during the week. Julian Alaphilippe looks to be the best of the challengers, and don’t be surprised if Simon Gerrans gets his name up there despite a lack of form.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the final spring classic from 8:15pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde