Vinokourov victorious at La Doyenne

Five years after his first victory at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) has sealed his comeback to the sport with his second career 'La Doyenne' today. Overpowering his breakaway companion Alexandr Kolobnev (Katusha) in the final 500 metres of the uphill finish in Ans, the 36-year-old Astana rider proved his team tactics to be perfect.

Spaniard Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) was fastest in the chase group, outsprinting Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) and World Champion Cadel Evans (BMC) on the line 1:04 later.

"I gave my best in this race," said Kolobnev. "I worked together with Vinokourov very well for us to take a solid gap. I knew everything would be decided in the final metres. I tried to follow him but he was too strong for me today. I want to thank the whole team because they worked very well."

"Three riders named Alejandro on the podium!" said Valverde. "I would have liked the order to be different but this time it was not possible to win. I am nevertheless happy with my result, which shows how consistent I am in this race."

Vinokourov made his move with 17 kilometres to go on the descent of the Côte de la Roche aux Faucons, after his teammate Alberto Contador duped his rivals on the climb by launching a powerful attack. As the Kazakhstani went, focus remained on the Spaniard, but instead his teammate pulled off a fantastic raid in the company of Kolobnev, and continued on until the finish.

Gilbert was the first to realize the danger coming from the Russian-Kazakhstani duo and set off to chase them on his own with 15 kilometres to go, soon joined by Valverde and Evans. But it was too late: the gap was 30 seconds at the bottom of the Côte de Saint Nicolas, where Gilbert again tried to bridge up on his own, in vain.

The remaining favourites such as Andy and Fränk Schleck, Contador, Chris Horner (RadioShack) and Igor Anton (Euskaltel-Euskadi) nearly caught the chasing trio on the line for the remainder of top ten placings.

Eight men gain eight minutes

A 198-strong peloton left the Place Saint-Lambert square in Liège for an initial 9km neutral section before reaching kilometre zero on their 258km trek through the Ardennes. Soon after the official start, under overcast skies, a group of seven riders formed the early breakaway. Thomas De Gendt (Topsport Vlaanderen), Maxime Bouet (AG2R La Mondiale), Alan Perez (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Jussi Veikkanen (Française des Jeux), Dries Devenyns (Quick Step), Niki Terpstra (Milram) and Mauro Finetto (Liquigas-Doimo) built up a lead of eight minutes.

One rider, Dirk Bellemakers (Landbouwkrediet), missed the train but continued chasing the leader's group for more than an hour before finally joining them. The BMC Racing squad of world champion Cadel Evans controlled the peloton's tempo and after 100km the gap was steady at six minutes.

When approaching the important duo of climbs, the Côte de Wanne and Côte de Stockeu, the speed increased both in the breakaway group and in the peloton. It wasn't too fast for Jens Voigt (Saxo Bank), though, who attacked solo from the peloton. Caisse d'Epargne and Omega Pharma-Lotto set the pace in the field to keep the German locomotive within reach but that chase was hampered when Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) crashed at the second feed zone.

As the leaders approached the longest climb of the day, the 6.4km long Côte du Rosier with 71km remaining to the finish in Ans, a brush fire made the race jury opt to take a different route. The five remaining leaders - De Gendt, Perez, Devenyns, Terpstra and Bellemakers - didn't seem bothered by the incident, working well together and keeping Voigt and Veikkanen at one minute.

The peloton gained back time on Voigt and on the Côte du Maquisard, with 60km remaining, the gap between the leaders and the peloton dropped to a little over one minute. Voigt and Veikkanen were still riding in between these two group while Belgium's Maxime Monfort (HTC-Columbia) forced himself into the racing action with an attack on the Maquisard.

With 50 kilometres to go Devenyns showed that he was the strongest man in the breakaway group as the young Belgian dropped the rest of the group on the Mont-Theux. At the top of this climb Devenyns had 50 seconds on the peloton where riders from HTC-Columbia, Rabobank and Omega Pharma-Lotto tried to form a new breakaway, anticipating the famous Côte de la Redoute.

Lieutenants launch on La Redoute

Their escapees' efforts were in vain and with 37km to go, at the foot of La Redoute, everybody was back together at the front of the race. On the La Redoute the big guns kept quiet while their lieutenants went out on the offensive. After the famous climb a group with Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas-Doimo), Carlos Barredo (Quick Step), Laurens Ten Dam (Rabobank), Tony Martin (HTC-Columbia) and Stefano Garzelli (Acqua & Sapone) lead the race.

Ten Dam would drop his breakaway companions and continue alone in the lead towards the penultimate climb of the day, the Côte de la Roche aux Faucons at 238km. Ten Dam's former break companions were absorbed and Russian champion Serguei Ivanov (Katusha) set off in pursuit of the Dutchman but couldn't reduce to gap further than 28 seconds to the race leader.

Fireworks on the Côte de la Roche aux Faucons

Once the field began its ascent of the Côte de la Roche aux Faucons, the fireworks commenced amongst the race favourites. Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) and Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) launched a blistering attack and flew past Ivanov and Ten Dam into the race lead. The pair were soon joined by Tour de France champion Alberto Contador (Astana) to form a very threatening lead trio, but their attack was neutralised over the top of the Côte de la Roche aux Faucons.

2005 Liège - Bastogne - Liège champion Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) launched an attack on the descent of the Côte de la Roche aux Faucons and was soon joined by Alexandr Kolobnev with 17km remaining.

Sensing the danger in this attack, Gilbert, Valverde and Evans set off in pursuit of the Russian/Kazakhstani duo. As Vinokourov and Kolobnev approached the final climb, the Côte de Saint-Nicolas with 6km to go, they led the three-man chase group by 30 seconds while the field already conceded more than one minute. Vinokourov attacked Kolobnev near the climb's summit, but the Russian was able to real in the Kazakhstani on the descent. Meanwhile, Valverde attacked Gilbert and Evans on the climb and got a small gap. While Evans struggled to answer the Spaniard's move, Gilbert caught Valverde and launched an attack of his own which proved successful in distancing himself from his two breakaway companions.

Gilbert closed to within 22 seconds of Vinokourov and Kolobnev, but would draw no closer. With two kilometres remaining Gilbert dropped back to 40 seconds behind the two leaders and would be caught by Evans and Valverde at the flamme rouge.

As Vinokourov and Kolobnev tackled the gradual ascent to the finish line inside the final kilometre, the Kazakhstani attacked and Kolobnev had no answer. Vinokourov powered to the finish line to win Liège - Bastogne - Liège for the second time, distancing Kolobnev by six seconds.

The chasing trio of Valverde, Gilbert and Evans began a game of cat-and-mouse in the final several hundred metres as they vied for the final podium position. Just as the Andy Schleck-led chase group behind them was about to make contact at 250m to go, Valverde launched his sprint and held off Gilbert and Evans for third, 1:04 behind Vinokourov. Schleck outsprinted his four chase companions three seconds later to secure sixth place.

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Full Results
1Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana6:37:48
2Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Team Katusha0:00:06
3Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne0:01:04
4Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 3 - Cell 2
5Cadel Evans (Aus) BMC Racing TeamRow 4 - Cell 2
6Andy Schleck (Lux) Saxo Bank0:01:07
7Igor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiRow 6 - Cell 2
8Christopher Horner (USA) Team RadioshackRow 7 - Cell 2
9Frank Schleck (Lux) Saxo BankRow 8 - Cell 2
10Alberto Contador (Spa) AstanaRow 9 - Cell 2
11Thomas Voeckler (Fra) BBox Bouygues Telecom0:01:18
12Simon Gerrans (Aus) Sky Professional Cycling TeamRow 11 - Cell 2
13Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - TransitionsRow 12 - Cell 2
14Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Française Des JeuxRow 13 - Cell 2
15Paul Martens (Ger) RabobankRow 14 - Cell 2
16Robert Gesink (Ned) RabobankRow 15 - Cell 2
17Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Team MilramRow 16 - Cell 2
18Stefano Garzelli (Ita) Acqua & SaponeRow 17 - Cell 2
19Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 18 - Cell 2
20Carlos Barredo (Spa) Quick StepRow 19 - Cell 2
21Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Farnese ViniRow 20 - Cell 2
22Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale0:01:22
23Jérôme Baugnies (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 22 - Cell 2
24Stephen Cummings (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling TeamRow 23 - Cell 2
25Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Omega Pharma-Lotto0:01:25
26Xavier Tondo (Spa) Cervélo TestTeamRow 25 - Cell 2
27Yury Trofimov (Rus) BBox Bouygues TelecomRow 26 - Cell 2
28Luis-Leon Sanchez (Spa) Caisse d'EpargneRow 27 - Cell 2
29Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo0:01:29
30Xavier Florencio (Spa) Cervélo TestTeam0:01:33
31Thomas Löfkvist (Swe) Sky Professional Cycling TeamRow 30 - Cell 2
32Dimitri Champion (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 31 - Cell 2
33Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank0:01:45
34Francesco Masciarelli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone0:01:59
35Bram Tankink (Ned) Rabobank0:02:02
36Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Team Milram0:02:08
37David Moncoutie (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 36 - Cell 2
38Leonardo Bertagnolli (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 37 - Cell 2
39Francesco Failli (Ita) Acqua & Sapone0:02:35
40Juan José Oroz (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi0:02:59
41Egoi Martinez (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiRow 40 - Cell 2
42Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Française Des Jeux0:03:00
43Serguei Ivanov (Rus) Team Katusha0:03:18
44Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha0:05:07
45Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas-DoimoRow 44 - Cell 2
46Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Team KatushaRow 45 - Cell 2
47Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank0:05:52
48Eduard Vorganov (Rus) Team KatushaRow 47 - Cell 2
49Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Quick StepRow 48 - Cell 2
50Vladimir Miholjevic (Cro) Acqua & Sapone0:06:08
51Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas-DoimoRow 50 - Cell 2
52Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Team RadioshackRow 51 - Cell 2
53Steve Morabito (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 52 - Cell 2
54Bert De Waele (Bel) Landbouwkrediet0:07:05
55Manuele Mori (Ita) Lampre-Farnese ViniRow 54 - Cell 2
56Massimo Codol (Ita) Acqua & SaponeRow 55 - Cell 2
57Gorazd Stangelj (Slo) AstanaRow 56 - Cell 2
58Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Saxo BankRow 57 - Cell 2
59Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin - TransitionsRow 58 - Cell 2
60Pieter Weening (Ned) RabobankRow 59 - Cell 2
61Johan Coenen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator0:09:34
62Bert Scheirlinckx (Bel) LandbouwkredietRow 61 - Cell 2
63Christophe Moreau (Fra) Caisse d'EpargneRow 62 - Cell 2
64Kevin De Weert (Bel) Quick StepRow 63 - Cell 2
65Laurent Lefevre (Fra) BBox Bouygues TelecomRow 64 - Cell 2
66Christian Knees (Ger) Team MilramRow 65 - Cell 2
67John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 66 - Cell 2
68Ted King (USA) Cervélo TestTeamRow 67 - Cell 2
69Sylvain Calzati (Fra) Sky Professional Cycling TeamRow 68 - Cell 2
70Pierre Rolland (Fra) BBox Bouygues TelecomRow 69 - Cell 2
71Inaki Isasi (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiRow 70 - Cell 2
72Tony Martin (Ger) Team HTC - ColumbiaRow 71 - Cell 2
73Cyril Gautier (Fra) BBox Bouygues TelecomRow 72 - Cell 2
74Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling TeamRow 73 - Cell 2
75Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - TransitionsRow 74 - Cell 2
76Dario Cataldo (Ita) Quick StepRow 75 - Cell 2
77Amaël Moinard (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 76 - Cell 2
78Christophe Brandt (Bel) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 77 - Cell 2
79Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese ViniRow 78 - Cell 2
80Rubens Bertogliati (Swi) Androni GiocattoliRow 79 - Cell 2
81Kristjan Koren (Slo) Liquigas-DoimoRow 80 - Cell 2
82Luis Pasamontes (Spa) Caisse d'EpargneRow 81 - Cell 2
83Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) AstanaRow 82 - Cell 2
84Valerio Agnoli (Ita) Liquigas-DoimoRow 83 - Cell 2
85Nicki Sorensen (Den) Saxo BankRow 84 - Cell 2
86Sander Armee (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 85 - Cell 2
87Ignatas Konovalovas (Ltu) Cervélo TestTeam0:10:22
88Maxime Monfort (Bel) Team HTC - Columbia0:12:27
89Alessandro Spezialetti (Ita) Lampre-Farnese ViniRow 88 - Cell 2
90Geert Verheyen (Bel) LandbouwkredietRow 89 - Cell 2
91Christophe Kern (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 90 - Cell 2
92Bart Dockx (Bel) LandbouwkredietRow 91 - Cell 2
93Jens Voigt (Ger) Saxo BankRow 92 - Cell 2
94Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Team MilramRow 93 - Cell 2
95Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 94 - Cell 2
96Andrea Masciarelli (Ita) Acqua & SaponeRow 95 - Cell 2
97Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing TeamRow 96 - Cell 2
98Laurent Didier (Lux) Saxo BankRow 97 - Cell 2
99Grischa Niermann (Ger) RabobankRow 98 - Cell 2
100Michael Albasini (Swi) Team HTC - ColumbiaRow 99 - Cell 2
101Peter Stetina (USA) Garmin - TransitionsRow 100 - Cell 2
102David Loosli (Swi) Lampre-Farnese ViniRow 101 - Cell 2
103Pieter Vanspeybrouck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 102 - Cell 2
104Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Team RadioshackRow 103 - Cell 2
105Peter Velits (Svk) Team HTC - ColumbiaRow 104 - Cell 2
106Andriy Grivko (Ukr) AstanaRow 105 - Cell 2
107Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz) AstanaRow 106 - Cell 2
108Mikel Nieve (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiRow 107 - Cell 2
109Kjell Carlström (Fin) Sky Professional Cycling TeamRow 108 - Cell 2
110Ivan Rovny (Rus) Team RadioshackRow 109 - Cell 2
111Sergei Klimov (Rus) Team KatushaRow 110 - Cell 2
112Pavel Brutt (Rus) Team KatushaRow 111 - Cell 2
113Sergio Paulinho (Por) Team RadioshackRow 112 - Cell 2
114Mathias Frank (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 113 - Cell 2
115Carlos Sastre (Spa) Cervélo TestTeamRow 114 - Cell 2
116Marcel Wyss (Swi) Cervélo TestTeamRow 115 - Cell 2
117Volodymir Gustov (Ukr) Cervélo TestTeamRow 116 - Cell 2
118Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 117 - Cell 2
119Craig Lewis (USA) Team HTC - ColumbiaRow 118 - Cell 2
120Peter Wrolich (Aut) Team MilramRow 119 - Cell 2
121Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) BBox Bouygues TelecomRow 120 - Cell 2
122Tejay Van Garderen (USA) Team HTC - ColumbiaRow 121 - Cell 2
123Luca Mazzanti (Ita) Team KatushaRow 122 - Cell 2
124Leonardo Duque (Col) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 123 - Cell 2
125Daniele Righi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese ViniRow 124 - Cell 2
126Philip Deignan (Irl) Cervélo TestTeamRow 125 - Cell 2
127Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) Omega Pharma-Lotto0:12:35
128Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator0:16:04
129Dirk Bellemakers (Ned) LandbouwkredietRow 128 - Cell 2
130Imanol Erviti (Spa) Caisse d'EpargneRow 129 - Cell 2
131Davy Commeyne (Bel) LandbouwkredietRow 130 - Cell 2
132Matthew Busche (USA) Team RadioshackRow 131 - Cell 2
133Benjamin Gourgue (Bel) LandbouwkredietRow 132 - Cell 2
134Reiner Honig (Ned) Acqua & Sapone0:17:51
135Kristof Vandewalle (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 134 - Cell 2
136Matteo Bono (Ita) Lampre-Farnese ViniRow 135 - Cell 2
137Martin Velits (Svk) Team HTC - ColumbiaRow 136 - Cell 2
138Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling TeamRow 137 - Cell 2
139Stijn Devolder (Bel) Quick StepRow 138 - Cell 2
140Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française Des JeuxRow 139 - Cell 2

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