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Gallery: Riders recon Liège-Bastogne-Liège route

Critical climbs previewed for Sunday's La Doyenne

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The BMC squad of defending Liege-Bastogne-Liege champion Philippe Gilbert on the Côte de La Redoute.

The BMC squad of defending Liege-Bastogne-Liege champion Philippe Gilbert on the Côte de La Redoute.
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2R La Mondiale)

Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2R La Mondiale)
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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2011 Liege-Bastogne-Liege podium finisher Frank Schleck (RadioShack-Nissan) on the Côte de La Redoute.

2011 Liege-Bastogne-Liege podium finisher Frank Schleck (RadioShack-Nissan) on the Côte de La Redoute.
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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US-based Pro Continental squad Team Type 1-Sanofi were one of the wildcard invites to Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

US-based Pro Continental squad Team Type 1-Sanofi were one of the wildcard invites to Liege-Bastogne-Liege.
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Jerome Pineau (Omega Pharma-QuickStep)

Jerome Pineau (Omega Pharma-QuickStep)
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Brice Feillu (Saur-Sojasun)

Brice Feillu (Saur-Sojasun)
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Vincenzo NIbali and his Liquigas-Cannondale teammates check out the Côte de La Redoute.

Vincenzo NIbali and his Liquigas-Cannondale teammates check out the Côte de La Redoute.
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Amstel Gold Race champion Enrico Gasparotto (Astana)

Amstel Gold Race champion Enrico Gasparotto (Astana)
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Frank Schleck (RadioShack-Nissan) leads his teammates up the Côte de La Redoute.

Frank Schleck (RadioShack-Nissan) leads his teammates up the Côte de La Redoute.
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Italian champion Giovanni Visconti (Movistar) doesn't seem too bothered by the Côte de La Redoute.

Italian champion Giovanni Visconti (Movistar) doesn't seem too bothered by the Côte de La Redoute.
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Christophe Le Mevel (Garmin-Barracuda)

Christophe Le Mevel (Garmin-Barracuda)
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Katusha riders preview the Liege-Bastogne-Liege route on Friday.

Katusha riders preview the Liege-Bastogne-Liege route on Friday.
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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FDJ-Big Mat riders preview the Côte de La Redoute.

FDJ-Big Mat riders preview the Côte de La Redoute.
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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The orange armada of Euskaltel-Euskadi should find the hilly terrain to their liking.

The orange armada of Euskaltel-Euskadi should find the hilly terrain to their liking.
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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AG2R La Mondial riders preview the Liege-Bastogne-Liege route.

AG2R La Mondial riders preview the Liege-Bastogne-Liege route.
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Igor Anton (Euskaltel-Euskadi) checks in with his directeur sportif.

Igor Anton (Euskaltel-Euskadi) checks in with his directeur sportif.
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Riders enjoyed good weather during their LIege-Bastogne-Liege recon on Friday.

Riders enjoyed good weather during their LIege-Bastogne-Liege recon on Friday.
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Chris Horner (RadioShack-Nissan), smiling as usual on the Côte de La Redoute.

Chris Horner (RadioShack-Nissan), smiling as usual on the Côte de La Redoute.
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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2009 Liege-Bastogne-Liege champion Andy Schleck (RadioShack-Nissan)

2009 Liege-Bastogne-Liege champion Andy Schleck (RadioShack-Nissan)
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Frank Schleck (RadioShack-Nissan)

Frank Schleck (RadioShack-Nissan)
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Rubens Bertogliati, right, leads his Team Type 1-Sanofi teammates up the La Redoute climb.

Rubens Bertogliati, right, leads his Team Type 1-Sanofi teammates up the La Redoute climb.
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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The Lampre-ISD team checks out the Liege-Bastogne-Liege parcours.

The Lampre-ISD team checks out the Liege-Bastogne-Liege parcours.
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Fans of Wout Poels have been busy on the Côte de La Redoute.

Fans of Wout Poels have been busy on the Côte de La Redoute.
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Belgium's Lotto Belisol team will look for a good result in the final Spring Classic of the 2012 season.

Belgium's Lotto Belisol team will look for a good result in the final Spring Classic of the 2012 season.
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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The BMC team rolls up the Côte de La Redoute climb.

The BMC team rolls up the Côte de La Redoute climb.
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Japanese champion Fumiyuki Beppu (GreenEdge)

Japanese champion Fumiyuki Beppu (GreenEdge)
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Danish champion Nicki Sørensen (Saxo Bank)

Danish champion Nicki Sørensen (Saxo Bank)
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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A plaque on the La Redoute climb commemorating the 100th anniversaray of Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

A plaque on the La Redoute climb commemorating the 100th anniversaray of Liege-Bastogne-Liege.
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Chris Anker Sorensen (Saxo Bank)

Chris Anker Sorensen (Saxo Bank)
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) recons the Côte de La Redoute.

Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) recons the Côte de La Redoute.
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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France's Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) will seek a good results on Sunday.

France's Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) will seek a good results on Sunday.
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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The Lampre-ISD team ascends the Côte de La Redoute.

The Lampre-ISD team ascends the Côte de La Redoute.
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Lotto Belisol riders check out the key La Redoute climb on the Liege-Bastogne-Liege parcours.

Lotto Belisol riders check out the key La Redoute climb on the Liege-Bastogne-Liege parcours.
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Defending Liege-Bastogne-Liege champion Philippe Gilbert makes his way up the Côte de La Redoute.

Defending Liege-Bastogne-Liege champion Philippe Gilbert makes his way up the Côte de La Redoute.
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Philippe Gilbert and his BMC teammates climb the Côte de La Redoute.

Philippe Gilbert and his BMC teammates climb the Côte de La Redoute.
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Belgian champion Philippe Gilbert (BMC) will seek his second straight Liege-Bastogne-Liege victory on Sunday.

Belgian champion Philippe Gilbert (BMC) will seek his second straight Liege-Bastogne-Liege victory on Sunday.
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Australia's GreenEdge team ascends La Redoute on a Friday recon ride.

Australia's GreenEdge team ascends La Redoute on a Friday recon ride.
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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The GreenEdge squad recons the Côte de La Redoute.

The GreenEdge squad recons the Côte de La Redoute.
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Danish champion Nicki Sørensen and two Saxo Bank teammates climb Côte de La Redoute

Danish champion Nicki Sørensen and two Saxo Bank teammates climb Côte de La Redoute
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Oscar Freire, right, will be part of a strong Katusha team for Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

Oscar Freire, right, will be part of a strong Katusha team for Liege-Bastogne-Liege.
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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The Philippe Gilbert fan club has been busy at work for the defending Liege-Bastogne-Liege champion.

The Philippe Gilbert fan club has been busy at work for the defending Liege-Bastogne-Liege champion.
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Plenty of love for Philippe Gilbert on the steep pitch of La Redoute.

Plenty of love for Philippe Gilbert on the steep pitch of La Redoute.
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Crowd barriers in place on the La Redoute climb.

Crowd barriers in place on the La Redoute climb.
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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The route markers are up for Sunday's Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

The route markers are up for Sunday's Liege-Bastogne-Liege.
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Spanish champion Jose Joaquin Rojas climbs La Redoute with his Movistar teammates.

Spanish champion Jose Joaquin Rojas climbs La Redoute with his Movistar teammates.
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) will seek a third Liege-Bastogne-Liege victory on Sunday.

Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) will seek a third Liege-Bastogne-Liege victory on Sunday.
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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The hilly Liege-Bastogne-Liege terrain should play to the strengths of Daniel Martin (Garmin-Barracuda).

The hilly Liege-Bastogne-Liege terrain should play to the strengths of Daniel Martin (Garmin-Barracuda).
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Fabian Wegmann (Garmin-Barracuda)

Fabian Wegmann (Garmin-Barracuda)
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Sébastien Rosseler (Garmin-Barracuda)

Sébastien Rosseler (Garmin-Barracuda)
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Spain's Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) is a heavy favourite to win the 2012 edition of Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

Spain's Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) is a heavy favourite to win the 2012 edition of Liege-Bastogne-Liege.
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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Katusha's Daniel Moreno, Joaquim Rodriguez and Angel Vicioso climb La Redoute.

Katusha's Daniel Moreno, Joaquim Rodriguez and Angel Vicioso climb La Redoute.
(Image credit: Sirotti)
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The Côte de La Redoute is prepped with crowd retention barriers.

The Côte de La Redoute is prepped with crowd retention barriers.
(Image credit: Sirotti)

As the clock ticks down to the start of Liège-Bastogne-Liège on Sunday, riders took the opportunity to preview the parcours today and familiarise (or re-familiarise) themselves with the challenging, hilly route of the 2012 season's final Spring Classic.

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Eleven categorised climbs are included in the 257.5km route, with the final nine placed in the last 100km. The narrow, steeply pitched Côte de La Redoute, situated 34.5km from the finish in Ans, is a frequent launch pad for winning moves in La Doyenne and teams made sure their riders were well acquainted with the climb during Friday's course preview.

The teams were able to ride the latter portions of the route in relative calm under sunny skies, but the crowd barriers already in place will be put to good use on Sunday as the parcours will be full of spectators eager to see who will be crowned the 2012 Liège-Bastogne-Liège champion.

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