Valverde wins Liège-Bastogne-Liège

In the end, Liège-Bastogne-Liège followed the anticipated script. A succession of teams tried and failed to rid themselves of Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) and the Spaniard duly claimed the uphill sprint in Ans to take his third victory at La Doyenne, seeing off Julian Alaphillipe (Etixx-QuickStep) and Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha).

Valverde's first triumph came in 2006, the year of the Operacion Puerto blood doping scandal, and the second came in 2008, the year his DNA was matched to the blood bags found in Dr. Eufemiano Fuentes' possession in Madrid.

The Spaniard eventually served a two-year ban after a protracted case that went all the way to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but he returned seemingly missing without a beat in 2012. Valverde turned 35 on Saturday and, somehow, he has just enjoyed the best Ardennes week of his career, placing second at Amstel Gold Race last weekend before claiming his third Flèche Wallonne win on Wednesday.

On Sunday, Valverde gave the impression that he was always in control of his brief in the finale, even setting the tempo on the front on the Côte de Saint-Nicolas in a bid to dissuade late attacks, and while Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) and Michal Kwiatkowski (Etixx-QuickStep) were distanced over the top, he remained safely part of the leading group of ten on the approach to the finish in Ans.

Katusha were the final team to try to break Valverde's resolve. Dani Moreno punched clear of the leading group underneath the red kite and looked to have opened a winning gap, only for Valverde to steal across with 500 metres remaining. Rodriguez was planted on his rear wheel, and the rest of the group scrambled across soon afterwards.

But even though Valverde led out from distance, the result was never in doubt, as he claimed the win with more than a bike length to spare over the youngster Alaphilippe, who had also placed second on the Mur de Huy in midweek.

"This is incredible for me," Valverde said. "There was a difficult moment when I saw Moreno go away, but I decided to get across to him. I had to try and get him, even if it was a risk and I risked losing energy for the final."

Alaphilippe's sprint was lengthened somewhat by having to come around a slowing Rodriguez, but in truth he was never likely to catch Valverde, who, as at Flèche Wallonne, seemed to have an extra gear. In the rain-soaked finale, Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida) took fourth place, while Roman Kreuziger (Tinkoff-Saxo), an attacker on the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons claimed fifth ahead of Romain Bardet (Ag2r-La Mondiale).

The finale of the race was marred by a large crash ahead of the Côte de La Redoute that ended the hopes of the past two winners, Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEdge) and Dan Martin (Cannondale-Garmin), and ultimately forced a greater reduction of the main peloton than any climb other than the final categorised ascent of the Côte de Saint-Nicolas. In keeping with recent history at La Doyenne, the selection came from the back rather than the front for the most part, and with nobody able to make the difference in the closing kilometres, a group finish was inevitable – and so too, perhaps, was Valverde's win.

How it unfolded

A brisk start to proceedings meant that it took almost an hour of racing for the day's early break to take shape, with Diego Ulissi (Lampre-Merida) eventually beating a way clear with Matteo Montaguti (Ag2r-La Mondiale), Otto Vergaerde (Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise), Clement Chevrier (IAM Cycling), Marco Minnaard (Wanty-Groupe Gobert), Anthony Turgis (Cofidis), Cesare Benedetti (Bora-Argon 18) and Rasmus Quaade (Cult) after 40 kilometres.

They built up a lead of seven minutes at one point only for Europcar's unexpected show of force on the front to bring their margin under control ahead of the troika of the Côte de Wanne, Côte de Stockeu and Côte de la Haute-Levée with 80 kilometres remaining, by which point a determined delegation from Astana had taken up the reins.

Their aim was to dictate the terms and conditions of the break that would form ahead of the race's denouement and they duly succeeded. After Andriy Grivko laid the groundwork on the Stockeu, Tanel Kangert and Michele Scarponi found themselves off the front after the Haut-Leveé in the company of Esteban Chaves (Orica-GreenEdge), Manuele Boaro (Tinkoff-Saxo) and Julian Arredondo (Trek Factory Racing).

By the Rosier, Arredondo and Boaro had been dropped, but with Chaves persuaded to contribute to the pace-setting, the three leaders padded their advantage out to almost a minute on the Maquisard with a shade under 50 kilometres remaining, before Movistar and Etixx-QuickStep began to inject some life into the pursuit.

The pace ratcheted up still further following the large crash on the approach to the Côte de la Redoute that eliminated Martin, Gerrans (the Australian would crash again while chasing back on), Nicolas Roche (Sky), Matthias Fränk (IAM Cycling) and Fränk Schleck (Trek) from contention, and the peloton was reduced to just 40 riders or so by the base of the climb.

Up front, Kangert was forced to relent on La Redoute, and his absence – allied to the increase in intensity behind – saw Scarponi and Chaves swept up at the base of the Roche-aux-Fauçons with a little over 22 kilometres remaining. It was stalemate most of the way up the climb, as Nibali, Kwiatkowski and Bardet all sized one another up, before Kreuziger punched his way clear within sight of the summit.

Kreuziger, who is still racing pending a Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing on his biological passport case, was joined by Giampaolo Caruso (Katusha) and Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) on the way down the other side, and the trio built up a lead of 25 seconds as Movistar and Etixx dithered behind. As leaden drops of rain began to fall, Zdenek Stybar (Etixx-QuickStep) took up the reins, and his forcing brought the peloton back to within sight of the leaders at the base of the Côte de Saint-Nicolas.

Valverde looked to control the pace on the early slopes before Nibali's much-anticipated attack finally arrived as the gradient stiffened but although he pegged back the three leaders, he couldn't forge clear alone. His attack did, however, put paid to the hopes of Kwiatkowski and Philippe Gilbert (BMC) among others, and when Dani Moreno took over near the summit, it ultimately led to the winning selection being formed.

Romain Bardet took a flyer on the treacherous descent but he was unable to force his way clear, although his move did distance Nibali himself and reduced the leading group to just ten riders on the approach to Ans.

As the gradient pitched upwards, Dani Moreno scorched off the front and as all eyes turned to Valverde to chase, it briefly looked as though he might benefit from the impasse behind to claim the win. On this occasion, however, Valverde's thinking was clear, and he bounded up to his wheel on the approach to the final left-hand bend.

"I started as the big favourite, and I knew all the world watching me, but I knew that I could do something all the same," Valverde said. "It's been an amazing week."

 

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team6:14:20
2Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 1 - Cell 2
3Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Team KatushaRow 2 - Cell 2
4Rui Costa (Por) Lampre-MeridaRow 3 - Cell 2
5Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 4 - Cell 2
6Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 5 - Cell 2
7Sergio Luis Henao (Col) Team SkyRow 6 - Cell 2
8Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La MondialeRow 7 - Cell 2
9Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana Pro TeamRow 8 - Cell 2
10Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Team KatushaRow 9 - Cell 2
11Louis Meintjes (RSA) MTN - Qhubeka0:00:10
12Lars Petter Nordhaug (Nor) Team SkyRow 11 - Cell 2
13Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana Pro Team0:00:24
14Pieter Weening (Ned) Orica GreenEdgeRow 13 - Cell 2
15Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Team KatushaRow 14 - Cell 2
16Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 15 - Cell 2
17Julien Simon (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:00:32
18Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) Tinkoff-Saxo0:00:44
19Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Team Sky0:00:52
20Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto Soudal0:00:58
21Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 20 - Cell 2
22Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Soudal0:01:04
23José Mendes (Por) Bora-Argon 18Row 22 - Cell 2
24Sébastien Reichenbach (Swi) IAM Cycling0:01:06
25Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 24 - Cell 2
26Stephen Cummings (GBr) MTN - QhubekaRow 25 - Cell 2
27Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 26 - Cell 2
28Rudy Molard (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 27 - Cell 2
29Samuel Sanchez (Spa) BMC Racing TeamRow 28 - Cell 2
30Luis Leon Sanchez (Spa) Astana Pro TeamRow 29 - Cell 2
31Dylan Teuns (Bel) BMC Racing Team0:01:10
32Davide Formolo (Ita) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling TeamRow 31 - Cell 2
33Rafal Majka (Pol) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 32 - Cell 2
34Warren Barguil (Fra) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 33 - Cell 2
35Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek Factory Racing0:01:30
36Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing Team0:01:41
37Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team LottoNL-JumboRow 36 - Cell 2
38Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Team Sky0:02:03
39Simon Yates (GBr) Orica GreenEdge0:02:41
40Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Movistar Team0:02:49
41Michele Scarponi (Ita) Astana Pro Team0:04:37
42Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Etixx - Quick-Step0:04:44
43Jarlinson Pantano (Col) IAM Cycling0:05:02
44Tom Jelte Slagter (Ned) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling Team0:05:31
45Huub Duyn (Ned) Team Roompot0:06:05
46Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing TeamRow 45 - Cell 2
47Georg Preidler (Aut) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 46 - Cell 2
48Dominik Nerz (Ger) Bora-Argon 18Row 47 - Cell 2
49Maurits Lammertink (Ned) Team RoompotRow 48 - Cell 2
50Tiago Machado (Por) Team KatushaRow 49 - Cell 2
51Merhawi Kudus Ghebremedhin (Eri) MTN - QhubekaRow 50 - Cell 2
52Mikael Cherel (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 51 - Cell 2
53Björn Leukemans (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 52 - Cell 2
54Patrick Konrad (Aut) Bora-Argon 18Row 53 - Cell 2
55Fabio Felline (Ita) Trek Factory RacingRow 54 - Cell 2
56Michael Albasini (Swi) Orica GreenEdgeRow 55 - Cell 2
57Jan Bakelants (Bel) AG2R La MondialeRow 56 - Cell 2
58Tanel Kangert (Est) Astana Pro TeamRow 57 - Cell 2
59Anthony Roux (Fra) FDJ.frRow 58 - Cell 2
60Simon Clarke (Aus) Orica GreenEdgeRow 59 - Cell 2
61Jacques Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 60 - Cell 2
62Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Team LottoNL-Jumbo0:06:22
63Simon Geschke (Ger) Team Giant-Alpecin0:08:09
64Matteo Bono (Ita) Lampre-Merida0:08:18
65Rafael Valls Ferri (Spa) Lampre-MeridaRow 64 - Cell 2
66Alberto Losada Alguacil (Spa) Team KatushaRow 65 - Cell 2
67Rein Taaramae (Est) Astana Pro TeamRow 66 - Cell 2
68Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica GreenEdgeRow 67 - Cell 2
69Carlos Betancur (Col) AG2R La MondialeRow 68 - Cell 2
70José Herrada (Spa) Movistar Team0:09:22
71Gorka Izagirre (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 70 - Cell 2
72Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:09:32
73Petr Vakoc (Cze) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 72 - Cell 2
74Jan Polanc (Slo) Lampre-MeridaRow 73 - Cell 2
75Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 74 - Cell 2
76Matteo Montaguti (Ita) AG2R La MondialeRow 75 - Cell 2
77Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La MondialeRow 76 - Cell 2
78Laurent Pichon (Fra) FDJ.frRow 77 - Cell 2
79Joseph Rosskopf (USA) BMC Racing TeamRow 78 - Cell 2
80Chris Anker Sörensen (Den) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 79 - Cell 2
81Luis Angel Mate (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 80 - Cell 2
82Bob Jungels (Lux) Trek Factory RacingRow 81 - Cell 2
83Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar TeamRow 82 - Cell 2
84Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 83 - Cell 2
85Stéphane Rossetto (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:10:16
86Mike Terpstra (Ned) Team RoompotRow 85 - Cell 2
87Emanuel Buchmann (Ger) Bora-Argon 18Row 86 - Cell 2
88Rasmus Guldhammer (Den) Cult Energy Pro CyclingRow 87 - Cell 2
89Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Team RoompotRow 88 - Cell 2
90Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Astana Pro Team0:11:28
91Arnold Jeannesson (Fra) FDJ.fr0:11:39
92Jérôme Baugnies (Bel) Wanty - Groupe Gobert0:12:02
93Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto Soudal0:13:04
94Sergey Lagutin (Rus) Team Katusha0:15:04
95Manuele Mori (Ita) Lampre-Merida0:16:43
96Paul Martens (Ger) Team LottoNL-JumboRow 95 - Cell 2
97Sander Armee (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 96 - Cell 2
98Bjorn Thurau (Ger) Bora-Argon 18Row 97 - Cell 2
99Maxime Mederel (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 98 - Cell 2
100Alex Howes (USA) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling TeamRow 99 - Cell 2
DNFSimon Gerrans (Aus) Orica GreenEdgeRow 100 - Cell 2
DNFLuke Durbridge (Aus) Orica GreenEdgeRow 101 - Cell 2
DNFDaryl Impey (RSA) Orica GreenEdgeRow 102 - Cell 2
DNFImanol Erviti (Spa) Movistar TeamRow 103 - Cell 2
DNFRory Sutherland (Aus) Movistar TeamRow 104 - Cell 2
DNFMaxime Bouet (Fra) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 105 - Cell 2
DNFGianluca Brambilla (Ita) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 106 - Cell 2
DNFMichal Golas (Pol) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 107 - Cell 2
DNFJulien Vermote (Bel) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 108 - Cell 2
DNFAlessandro Vanotti (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRow 109 - Cell 2
DNFDaniel Martin (Irl) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling TeamRow 110 - Cell 2
DNFNathan Haas (Aus) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling TeamRow 111 - Cell 2
DNFBenjamin King (USA) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling TeamRow 112 - Cell 2
DNFSebastian Langeveld (Ned) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling TeamRow 113 - Cell 2
DNFMatej Mohoric (Slo) Cannondale-Garmin Pro Cycling TeamRow 114 - Cell 2
DNFBen Hermans (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 115 - Cell 2
DNFKlaas Lodewyck (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 116 - Cell 2
DNFTejay Van Garderen (USA) BMC Racing TeamRow 117 - Cell 2
DNFDmitrii Kozonchuk (Rus) Team KatushaRow 118 - Cell 2
DNFMaxim Belkov (Rus) Team KatushaRow 119 - Cell 2
DNFSébastien Minard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 120 - Cell 2
DNFManuele Boaro (Ita) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 121 - Cell 2
DNFBruno Pires (Por) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 122 - Cell 2
DNFPawel Poljanski (Pol) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 123 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Valgren Andersen (Den) Tinkoff-SaxoRow 124 - Cell 2
DNFValerio Conti (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 125 - Cell 2
DNFJose Rodolfo Serpa (Col) Lampre-MeridaRow 126 - Cell 2
DNFDiego Ulissi (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 127 - Cell 2
DNFBart De Clercq (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 128 - Cell 2
DNFTosh Van Der Sande (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 129 - Cell 2
DNFDennis Vanendert (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 130 - Cell 2
DNFLouis Vervaeke (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 131 - Cell 2
DNFNicolas Roche (Irl) Team SkyRow 132 - Cell 2
DNFPhilip Deignan (Irl) Team SkyRow 133 - Cell 2
DNFNathan Earle (Aus) Team SkyRow 134 - Cell 2
DNFDanny Pate (USA) Team SkyRow 135 - Cell 2
DNFJulian Arredondo (Col) Trek Factory RacingRow 136 - Cell 2
DNFFumiyuki Beppu (Jpn) Trek Factory RacingRow 137 - Cell 2
DNFLaurent Didier (Lux) Trek Factory RacingRow 138 - Cell 2
DNFFrank Schleck (Lux) Trek Factory RacingRow 139 - Cell 2
DNFCalvin Watson (Aus) Trek Factory RacingRow 140 - Cell 2
DNFYukiya Arashiro (Jpn) Team EuropcarRow 141 - Cell 2
DNFFabrice Jeandesboz (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 142 - Cell 2
DNFBryan Naulleau (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 143 - Cell 2
DNFPerrig Quemeneur (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 144 - Cell 2
DNFAngelo Tulik (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 145 - Cell 2
DNFBertjan Lindeman (Ned) Team LottoNL-JumboRow 146 - Cell 2
DNFBram Tankink (Ned) Team LottoNL-JumboRow 147 - Cell 2
DNFMike Teunissen (Ned) Team LottoNL-JumboRow 148 - Cell 2
DNFJos Van Emden (Ned) Team LottoNL-JumboRow 149 - Cell 2
DNFMoreno Hofland (Ned) Team LottoNL-JumboRow 150 - Cell 2
DNFLawson Craddock (USA) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 151 - Cell 2
DNFCaleb Fairly (USA) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 152 - Cell 2
DNFJohannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 153 - Cell 2
DNFThierry Hupond (Fra) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 154 - Cell 2
DNFFloris De Tier (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 155 - Cell 2
DNFTim Declercq (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 156 - Cell 2
DNFSander Helven (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 157 - Cell 2
DNFThomas Sprengers (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 158 - Cell 2
DNFPieter Vanspeybrouck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 159 - Cell 2
DNFArthur Van Overberghe (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 160 - Cell 2
DNFOtto Vergaerde (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 161 - Cell 2
DNFMathias Frank (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 162 - Cell 2
DNFClement Chevrier (Fra) IAM CyclingRow 163 - Cell 2
DNFPirmin Lang (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 164 - Cell 2
DNFPatrick Schelling (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 165 - Cell 2
DNFDavid Tanner (Aus) IAM CyclingRow 166 - Cell 2
DNFLarry Warbasse (USA) IAM CyclingRow 167 - Cell 2
DNFArthur Vichot (Fra) FDJ.frRow 168 - Cell 2
DNFOlivier Le Gac (Fra) FDJ.frRow 169 - Cell 2
DNFKévin Reza (Fra) FDJ.frRow 170 - Cell 2
DNFBenoît Vaugrenard (Fra) FDJ.frRow 171 - Cell 2
DNFJussi Veikkanen (Fin) FDJ.frRow 172 - Cell 2
DNFSimone Antonini (Ita) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 173 - Cell 2
DNFFrancis De Greef (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 174 - Cell 2
DNFTim De Troyer (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 175 - Cell 2
DNFYannick Eijssen (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 176 - Cell 2
DNFMarco Minnaard (Ned) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 177 - Cell 2
DNFMatthew Brammeier (Irl) MTN - QhubekaRow 178 - Cell 2
DNFAndreas Stauff (Ger) MTN - QhubekaRow 179 - Cell 2
DNFDaniel Teklehaimanot (Eri) MTN - QhubekaRow 180 - Cell 2
DNFJohann Van Zyl (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 181 - Cell 2
DNFYohan Bagot (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 182 - Cell 2
DNFNicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 183 - Cell 2
DNFRomain Hardy (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 184 - Cell 2
DNFAnthony Turgis (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 185 - Cell 2
DNFCesare Benedetti (Ita) Bora-Argon 18Row 186 - Cell 2
DNFBartosz Huzarski (Pol) Bora-Argon 18Row 187 - Cell 2
DNFPaul Voss (Ger) Bora-Argon 18Row 188 - Cell 2
DNFMarc De Maar (Ned) Team RoompotRow 189 - Cell 2
DNFReinier Honig (Ned) Team RoompotRow 190 - Cell 2
DNFSjoerd Van Ginneken (Ned) Team RoompotRow 191 - Cell 2
DNFJesper Asselman (Ned) Team RoompotRow 192 - Cell 2
DNFAlex Kirsch (Lux) Cult Energy Pro CyclingRow 193 - Cell 2
DNFRomain Lemarchand (Fra) Cult Energy Pro CyclingRow 194 - Cell 2
DNFChristian Mager (Ger) Cult Energy Pro CyclingRow 195 - Cell 2
DNFMartin Mortensen (Den) Cult Energy Pro CyclingRow 196 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Reihs (Den) Cult Energy Pro CyclingRow 197 - Cell 2
DNFFabian Wegmann (Ger) Cult Energy Pro CyclingRow 198 - Cell 2
DNFRasmus Christian Quaade (Den) Cult Energy Pro CyclingRow 199 - Cell 2

 

Barry Ryan
Head of Features

Barry Ryan was Head of Features at Cyclingnews. He has covered professional cycling since 2010, reporting from the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and events from Argentina to Japan. His writing has appeared in The Independent, Procycling and Cycling Plus. He is the author of The Ascent: Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche and the Rise of Irish Cycling’s Golden Generation, published by Gill Books.

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