Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2016: Wout Poels wins his first Monument, Albasini in second
At around 250 kilometres, Liège–Bastogne–Liège features ten Ardennes hills. Due to hectic weather conditions (rain, snow), the race organisation changed the planned course during the race, yet all hills were still in the course. Poels, Albasini, Costa and Sanchez attacked on the last climb from an elite group, while the Dutchman from Team Sky powered to victory in the last 500 metres. (Slideshow route/profile)
Results Liège-Bastogne-Liège
1. Wout Poels (nld)
2. Michael Albasini (swi) s.t.
3. Rui Costa (por) s.t.
4. Samuel Sánchez (spa) s.t.
5. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) + 0.04
6. Warren Barguil (fra) + 0.11
7. Roman Kreuziger (cze) + 0.12
8. Joaquim Rodriguez (spa) s.t.
9. Bauke Mollema (nld) s.t.
10. Diego Rosa (ita) s.t.
Race report
The breakaway is off after around 10 kms. The brave men go by the names of Brutt, Tiralongo, Edet, Benedetti, De Gendt, Roy and De Marchi, while Vegard Stake Laengen hooks up after a long chase. The front group races to a lead at 9 minutes in Bastogne. By then the new itinerary – totalling at 248 kms, 5 kms less than planned – is behind themd. The planned course was changed from km 45 to km 75 and the riders returned to the normal course just before the first climb of the day.
At the second climb, Côte de Saint-Roch, the gap has dropped to 8 minutes and it keeps getting down slowly. When cresting La Redoute, five hills down the road, Edet and De Marchi are the remaining leaders at the front of the race, but with 23 kms to go they are reeled in.
Rosa and Zakarin attack at the Saint Nicolas, but a select group of 24 riders is bunched again at the foot of the steep cobbled cliimb up the Côte de la Rue de Naniot. At the top Wout Poels, Michael Albasini, Rui Costa and Sammy Sanchez have forced a tiny gap.
Albasini pushes on, but it’s with 500 metres left Poels delivers the final blow and he powers to his – and Team Sky’s – first win in a Monument.
Liège–Bastogne–Liège 2016: Route maps, height profiles, and more
Click on the images to zoom
Wout Poels
Watch the highlights of recent races here:
Related articles Overview - Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2016 More articles Tour of the Alps 2021 Route stage 5: Idroland – Riva del Garda
Tour of the Alps 2021: Bilbao winst three-up spint, Yates cements lead
Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2021: The Route
Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2021: Riders
Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes 2021: The Route
Tour de Romandie 2021: The Route
Tour de Romandie 2021: Riders
Tour de Romandie 2021 Route prologue: Oron-la-Ville
Tour de Romandie 2021 Route stage 1: Aigle - Martigny
Tour de Romandie 2021 Route stage 2: La Neuveville - Saint-Imier
Tour de Romandie 2021 Route stage 3: Estavayer - Estavayer
Tour de Romandie 2021 Route stage 4: Sion - Thyon 2000
Giro 2021: The Route
Giro 2021: Riders
Giro 2021: GC Favourites
Giro 2021 Route stage 1: Turin - Turin
Giro 2021 Favourites stage 1: Ganna's dash for pink
Giro 2021 Route stage 2: Stupinigi – Novara
Giro 2021 Favourites stage 2: First fast finishers showdown
Giro 2021 Route stage 3: Biella – Canale
Giro 2021 Favourites stage 3: Strong sprinters or late attackers
Giro 2021 Route stage 4: Piacenza - Sestola
Giro 2021 Favourites stage 4: Bike handling in intriguing finale
Giro 2021 Route stage 5: Modena - Cattolica
Giro 2021 Favourites stage 5: Back to the fast men
Tour of the Alps 2021: Riders
Tour de France 2021: The Route
Tour de France 2021: Riders
Cycling Calendar 2021
Vuelta 2021: The Route
Like our Facebook page and stay on top of all pro-race information!