Jakob Fuglsang has him still bite, his great victory. The 34-year-old Dane of Astana disposed on the Roche-aux-Faucons of his competitors and rode on the most beautiful way imaginable, solo, to the first classic victory in his career. After a third place in the Amstel, second in Flèche wallonne could hardly otherwise or Fuglsang had this afternoon win in Liège. As his wife had also predicted. The Italian Formolo was surprisingly second, the third podium place went to the German Schachmann.
The renewed trail but especially the harsh weather conditions, have a beautiful edition of liège-Bastogne-Liège. Deceuninck – Quick Step began more than one hundred kilometers from the finish line to an offensive that only ended up in the streets of Liège.
There was poorly predicted and the riders have bad weather. A whole day full of showers and opklaringen but especially a temperature never higher than a degree or ten, the temperature was never higher than just above the freezing point. Eight riders seemed little to matter. Also two compatriots: Kenny Molly (Wallonie – Bruxelles) and Kevin Deltombe (Vlaanderen – Baloise). The eight received a bonus of more than five minutes offered.
Giving Martin and Valverde
The turning point in Bastogne, where the mercury fell to five degrees – was for Deceuninck – Quick Step to a first Ardennes-offensive to launch. Victims? And or! Ex-winners Dan Martin and Alejandro Valverde were genekt by the cold and the high tempo and gifts. The peloton burst apart with, among others Rui Costa but also Jelle Vanendert in a third platoon verzeilden. There were more than a hundred kilometers away and the famous slopes were still to come.
The triptych around Stavelot, for example: Wanne, Stockeu and Haute-Levée. The blauwhemden of Patrick Lefevere kept the pace high but for a real attack, we had to wait on the spur of the Haute-Levée. Gilbert accelerated and came in tabs a very interesting breakaway with Gilbert, Van Avermaet, Laurens De Plus, Schachmann and Vincenzo Nibali. Lotto-Soudal had no one and was obliged in the chase to take control. At the foot of the Rosier was the unification a fact.
Lambrecht
The next attack, but: Kangert and Fraile went on the Rosier looking for some breathing room and were given just for the running company of eight riders with more revelation Bjorg Lambrecht. This time had Deceuninck – Quick Step and Bora hansgrohe the work missed. The leaders clearly had their luitenanten the command is given the game is still harder to make. Deceuninck-Quick Step saw the danger and brought again sailing in the peloton with meesterknechten Serry and Vakoc. Fortunately for the riders it had now stopped raining and dried out the roads.
The ten built their lead out to a small, minute but in the run-up to La Redoute was in the peloton as the pace increased so the advantage of the leaders dropped. Devenyns piloted Alaphilippe to the head of the peloton in the pay of La Redoute, we also received a first time Tim Wellens. But who spectacle expected, was disappointed. Front took Kangert few lengths ahead, but the peloton was mostly together look. Gilbert had the difficult but came in the spur of the ‘local’ re-connecting.
Suddenly it was the pace, the height in the peloton. The escapees were therefore quickly for the effort. Only Kangert remained for the group of favourites out, but also he was doing an impossible task. Kangert got the company of the Austrian Konrad, from the platoon were also Wellens and Impey the crossing in the prospect of the final climb, the Roche-aux-Faucons. Four leaders, but an impressive Astana – with six riders in the lead of the peloton – loved the four within shot.
Fuglsang accelerates
The four reached the foot of the last obstacle with a small lead. Wellens accelerated but from the peloton came the big guns on and about our fellow countryman flown. Fuglsang accelerated on the Roche-aux-Faucons and got Woods and Formolo in his wheel. The rest? Everything seemed to be still playable. A surprisingly strong Dylan Teuns went in the counter attack with the Frenchman Gaudu, in the group Alaphilippe tried to Astana and Bora the quantity of the lamb. A last gear of Fuglsang was the first time Woods and a bit further also Formolo fatal.
After second place in the Strade Bianche and the Walloon Arrow behind Julian Alaphilippe was the 34-year-old Dane finally his tormentor delivered. The hardest was over for the Dane, his only assignment was to stand in the dangerous descent in the direction of Liège. In the last dangerous curve seemed to go wrong but the ex-mountain biker was a crash just to avoid. What followed was a triumphal march in the streets of Liège.
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