The man to beat: Philippe Gilbert will be aiming to complete a hat-trick of Ardennes classics wins at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the fourth 'monument' of cycling on Sunday
Sunday, April 24
Sunday, April 24
Liège-Bastogne-Liège
Race details: Liège - Ans, 255.5km
TV: British Eurosport 1.15-4pm, highlights 10.15-11.15pm
Last year's winner: Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz)
In pictures: best of the action from the Ardennes classics
Most wins: 5 Eddy Merckx (Bel); 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975
Race details: Liège - Ans, 255.5km
TV: British Eurosport 1.15-4pm, highlights 10.15-11.15pm
Last year's winner: Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz)
In pictures: best of the action from the Ardennes classics
Most wins: 5 Eddy Merckx (Bel); 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975
Following a phenomenal classics campaign that has seen Philippe Gilbert triumph in the Strade Bianche, Brabantse Pijl, Amstel Gold Race and La Flèche Wallonne as well as a podium finish at Milan-San Remo it is difficult to see beyond the popular Belgian for Easter Sunday's Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
Indeed, even Eddy Merckx, the most successful road cyclist in the history of the sport and compatriot of Gilbert's, has gone as far as stating that the Omega Pharma-Lotto rider "is better than Merckx."
"I'm really impressed by what he's done," Merckx told Het Nieuwsblad, the Belgian daily newspaper. "What he's done so far is better than Merckx.
"At Amstel, it was Gilbert who led the chase behind Andy Schleck before he attacked himself, but in Flèche he was even more impressive because he had nothing in his favour."
"The bunch was far bigger than usual at the foot of the Mur [du Huy] and the climbers were all very confident that they would get a result."
"But instead, Gilbert attacked at 400 metres from the line and blew them all away."
"He waited for his best moment and that's easy to say afterwards with the benefit of hindsight, but in cycling choosing the best moment to attack isn't so easy."
Gilbert, who was born near the foot of the Côte de la Redoute climb 35 kilometres from the finishing line of the fourth 'monument' of the season, will be desperate to give his supporters reason to cheer as he aims to win the 97th edition of the race known as La Doyenne, or 'the oldest'.
Although traditionally dominated by Belgians, locals have not celebrated a home win since 1999 when the late Frank Vandenbroucke triumphed.
However, the Walloons will feel confident following a run of results that has seen Belgian riders dominate the one-day classics.
Aside from Gilbert, Tom Boonen, Nick Nuyens and Johan van Summeren have won Ghent-Wevelgem, Tour of Flanders, and Paris-Roubaix respectively. Matt Goss is the only non-Belgian to have won a 'monument' this season after the Australian won Milan-San Remo in March.
Should Gilbert prevail on Sunday then he will become the first Belgian to win all three of the Ardennes classics in a single season. A feat that has only ever been achieved once - Davide Rebellin, of Italy, in 2004.
The Omega Pharma-Lotto leader, though, sounded cautious ahead of the race.
"I have to ensure that I don't go in there feeling over-confident," he said. "I know I will start in the hope I can win it and if I'm best on the day then I will."
Liège-Bastogne-Liège teams: Ag2r-La Mondiale, Astana, BMC Racing, Cofidis Le Credit en Ligne, Euskaltel-Euskadi, FDJ, Garmin-Cervelo, HTC-Highroad, Katusha, Lampre-ISD, Landbouwkrediet, Leopard-Trek, Liquigas-Cannondale, Movistar, Omega Pharma-Lotto, Quick Step, Rabobank, RadioShack, Saur-Sojasun, Saxo Bank-SunGard, Skil-Shimano, Team Sky, Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator, Vacansoleil-DCM, Veranda's Willems.
"At Amstel, it was Gilbert who led the chase behind Andy Schleck before he attacked himself, but in Flèche he was even more impressive because he had nothing in his favour."
"The bunch was far bigger than usual at the foot of the Mur [du Huy] and the climbers were all very confident that they would get a result."
"But instead, Gilbert attacked at 400 metres from the line and blew them all away."
"He waited for his best moment and that's easy to say afterwards with the benefit of hindsight, but in cycling choosing the best moment to attack isn't so easy."
Gilbert, who was born near the foot of the Côte de la Redoute climb 35 kilometres from the finishing line of the fourth 'monument' of the season, will be desperate to give his supporters reason to cheer as he aims to win the 97th edition of the race known as La Doyenne, or 'the oldest'.
Although traditionally dominated by Belgians, locals have not celebrated a home win since 1999 when the late Frank Vandenbroucke triumphed.
However, the Walloons will feel confident following a run of results that has seen Belgian riders dominate the one-day classics.
Aside from Gilbert, Tom Boonen, Nick Nuyens and Johan van Summeren have won Ghent-Wevelgem, Tour of Flanders, and Paris-Roubaix respectively. Matt Goss is the only non-Belgian to have won a 'monument' this season after the Australian won Milan-San Remo in March.
Should Gilbert prevail on Sunday then he will become the first Belgian to win all three of the Ardennes classics in a single season. A feat that has only ever been achieved once - Davide Rebellin, of Italy, in 2004.
The Omega Pharma-Lotto leader, though, sounded cautious ahead of the race.
"I have to ensure that I don't go in there feeling over-confident," he said. "I know I will start in the hope I can win it and if I'm best on the day then I will."
Liège-Bastogne-Liège teams: Ag2r-La Mondiale, Astana, BMC Racing, Cofidis Le Credit en Ligne, Euskaltel-Euskadi, FDJ, Garmin-Cervelo, HTC-Highroad, Katusha, Lampre-ISD, Landbouwkrediet, Leopard-Trek, Liquigas-Cannondale, Movistar, Omega Pharma-Lotto, Quick Step, Rabobank, RadioShack, Saur-Sojasun, Saxo Bank-SunGard, Skil-Shimano, Team Sky, Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator, Vacansoleil-DCM, Veranda's Willems.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment