88th Liege-Bastogne-Liege / Luik-Bastenaken-Luik - (CDM)

Belgium, April 21, 2002

2001 Results    Preview     Start List    Past winners    Live report

Battle of the Ardennes resumes in Liège

By Jeff Jones

Photo: © AFP

The oldest classic on the cycling calendar is Liège-Bastogne-Liège, now in its 111th year after having celebrated 87 editions. It was first held in 1892 and won by Belgian Léon Houa, who then went onto win the next two years before the race stopped until 1908. After that it was interrupted during both World Wars, resuming in 1945 since which time it has been run every year.

It's considered a climber's race, with a number of steep "côtes" included in the 258 kilometre journey from Liège to Bastogne and back to Ans, a suburb of Liège. There are no long flat sections as in Milan-San Remo, Tour of Flanders or Paris-Roubaix, and riders who have done well in this race include a number of winners of the major tours.

Eddy Merckx heads this list with five wins, between 1969 and 1975, also his best Tour de France years. Five time Tour winners Bernard Hinault and Jacques Anquetil (Fra) won it, as did Evgeni Berzin (Giro d'Italia winner). Notable runners up include Lance Armstrong (1994 and 1996), Laurent Jalabert (1997 and 1998), Toni Rominger (1993) and Stephen Roche (1987). Italian classics guru Moreno Argentin managed to win it four times between 1985 and 1991.

Despite an overall Belgian domination (61 wins) in 'La Doyenne' as it's affectionately nicknamed, the past 25 years has seen a mixture of Italian, Swiss, French, Russian, Irish, Dutch, Danish and German riders share the bulk of the victories. The last Belgian winner was Frank Vandenbroucke in 1999, who prevented Michele Bartoli from taking his third LBL in a row. Before that it was Dirk De Wolf in 1992, Eric Van Lancker in 1990, and before that Joseph Bruyere in 1976.

The favourites for 2002

In the absence of defending champion Oscar Camenzind, this year's number one will be worn by World Cup leader and Paris-Roubaix winner Johan Museeuw (Domo-Farm Frites). Age has not wearied Museeuw as shown by his second place in the Tour of Flanders and last weekend's win. He's not the type of rider to win Liege, but could pick up a few points if he still has the legs after last week's mighty effort.

Domo's hopes of a win in Liege probably rest on Axel Merckx, who rode well in Fleche Wallonne for sixth place, after he instigated the final breakaway but didn't have the legs on the Mur de Huy.

Fleche Wallonne winner Mario Aerts is calm and eager to do well in Liege. His team Lotto has a strong co-leadership with Rik Verbrugghe, Serge Baguet and Peter Van Petegem, all capable of doing well in this sort of terrain.

Mapei-Quick Step boasts 2000 winner Paolo Bettini, who along with Oscar Freire will be supported by Andrea Noè (5th in FW), Cadel Evans, Fabien De Waele, Luca Paolini and Paolo Fornaciari.

Rabobank's Michael Boogerd came close to making the final break on Wednesday, and is obviously in good shape. He finished 2nd to Vandenbroucke in 1999 and should be right up there in 2002. Tacconi Sport's Dario Frigo was another who was prominent in the action, and could figure again in Liege.

US Postal will feature two time runner up Lance Armstrong, who is riding Liege for the first time since his cancer days. Given his current condition, he would surprise nobody if he were to win, although he may be looking to next week's Amstel Gold Race to do that.

1997-1998 winner Michele Bartoli, who finished third in last Wednesday's Fleche Wallonne, will again be at the start in Liege. Riding for Fassa Bortolo, Bartoli is not quite back to his former best, but Sunday may be his day. His very able teammate Francesco Casagrande is also worth watching.

Euskaltel's David Etxebarria has made no secret of the fact that he wants to win Liege. Third last year and second the year before, the pocket climber from the Basque Country is in perfect condition, as is his team, evidenced by namesake Unai Etxebarria's second place in Fleche Wallonne.

Saeco-Longoni Sport will be without Gilberto Simoni, but Danilo Di Luca is aiming to do well in LBL. His form seemed a little bit off on Wednesday so he may struggle to make the selection in when it counts.

Gerolsteiner's Davide Rebellin finished 11th in La Fleche, making the first group of chasers that finished 6 seconds behind Aerts. He finished second last year and is in good enough form make the podium again.

Don't miss Cyclingnews' Live coverage of the 88th Liege-Bastogne-Liege - starts at 9:45 local time (3:45am USA eastern time, 12:45am USA west, 5:45pm Australian east).

Past winners

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