Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2016: Favourites
Liege-Bastogne-Liege is the last and longest hilly classic in the spring. Following a week with both Amstel Gold Race and La Fleche Wallonne 'La Doyenne' is a veritable war of attrition. After a powerful victory in La Fleche Wallone Alejandro Valverde is top favourite, yet he is not the only rider with the required talent to win the race.
To be able to win Liege-Bastogne-Liege you have to be a good climbers and a good sprinter. The first talent is most important, after all, no rider is fresh after an onslaught of Ardennes Hills and over 250 kilometres. So it’s fair to say: the leading contender is the rider who has enough juice left for a jump or a sprint after such a demanding race.
The last time a rider arrived solo was in 2012. With 20 kilometres Vincenzo Nibali attacked to go solo, but Maxim Iglinsky chased him down to gobble him up in the last kilometre and solo to victory. Since then the race is mostly decided by a sprint with a select group. This is something title defender Valverde is very capable of. But so are Dan Martin and Simon Gerrans, successively winners in 2013 and in 2014.
Valverde did win the race three times already, in 2006, 2008 and 2015. If the (almost) 36-year old wants to equal Eddy Merckx’ record he has only one option: to win. After all, the Cannibal is a five time winner in La Doyenne.
Favourites Liège-Bastogne-Liège
*** Alejandro Valverde, Daniel Martin, Rui Costa, Tim Wellens
** Tony Gallopin, Vincenzo Nibali, Romain Bardet, Julian Alaphilippe, Michal Kwiatkowski
* Bauke Mollema, Joaquim Rodriguez, Roman Kreuziger, Wout Poels, Simon Gerrans, Tom-Jelte Slagter
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Vuelta 2022: Riders
Vuelta 2022 Route stage 1: TTT in Utrecht
Vuelta 2022 Route stage 2: 's Hertogenbosch - Utrecht
Vuelta 2022 Route stage 3: Breda - Breda
Vuelta 2022 Favourites stage 1: TTT for first red jersey
Vuelta 2022 Favourites stage 2: For fast men #1
Vuelta 2022 Favourites stage 3: For fast men #2
Vuelta 2022 Route stage 4: Vitoria-Gasteiz - Laguardia
Vuelta 2022 Route stage 5: Irún - Bilbao
Vuelta 2022 Route stage 6: Bilbao - Pico del Jano
Vuelta 2022 Route stage 7: Camargo - Cistierna
Vuelta 2022 Route stage 8: Pola de Laviana - Collado Fancuaya
Vuelta 2022 Route stage 9: Villaviciosa - Les Praeres
Vuelta 2022 Route stage 10: Elche - Alicante
Vuelta 2022 Route stage 11: Alhama de Murcia - Cabo de Gata
Vuelta 2022 Route stage 12: Salobreña - Peñas Blancas
Vuelta 2022 Route stage 13: Ronda - Montilla
Vuelta 2022 Route stage 14: Montoro - Sierra de la Pandera
Vuelta 2022 Route stage 15: Martos - Sierra Nevada
Vuelta 2022 Route stage 16: Sanlúcar de Barrameda - Tomares
Vuelta 2022 Route stage 17: Aracena - Monasterio de Tentudía
Vuelta 2022 Route stage 18: Trujillo - Piornal
Vuelta 2022 Route stage 19: Talavera de la Reina - Talavera de la Reina
Vuelta 2022 Route stage 20: Moralzarzal - Puerto de Navacerrada
Vuelta 2022 Route stage 21: Las Rozas - Madrid
Cycling Calendar 2022
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