Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) has won Liège-Bastogne-Liège for the second year in a row with an impressive solo. The world champion drove – after a great job from his team – 30 kilometers away from the opposition. Tadej Pogacar was no longer among them, the Slovenian had to give up early after a fall and a broken wrist.
Liège-Bastogne-Liège in a nutshell:
Winner of the day: Remco Evenepoel came, saw and conquered in almost the same way as last year. This time, the world champion rocked a 30-kilometer solo from his thighs. The spring of Soudal-Quick Step has been saved at the last minute.
Loser of the day: The unfortunate Tadej Pogacar was on paper the big challenger of Evenepoel, but after 84 kilometers he crashed heavily in a descent. The two-way race that everyone was looking forward to did not happen.
Statistics: All riders who have ever started Liège-Bastogne-Liège with number 1 on a rainbow jersey have also won that edition. Ferdi Kübler (Zwi) in 1952, Eddy Merckx in 1972, Moreno Argentin in 1987 and now Remco Evenepoel.
Pogacar drops out early, impressive Wolfpack
The predicted titan duel was allowed to go into the trash before the first television images.
Tadej Pogacar slammed into the asphalt in a descent and suffered fractures in his hand and wrist. A one-man show by Remco Evenepoel was already written in the stars.
The only question was: on which slope would Evenepoel turn on all the taps?
Soudal-Quick Step rolled out the red carpet in an impressive way for the world champion. Due to beech work by Alaphilippe, Vervaeke and Van Wilder, the opposition was already dead for La Redoute.
Just before the top, the predicted bang came from Evenepoel. Pidcock was able to go another kilometer in the wake of the defending champion, who then mercilessly left the Brit behind.
In no time, Evenepoel had half a minute ahead.
Evenepoel relegates opposition, Pidcock best of the rest
Evenepoel had a short moment when he lost his balance in a slippery corner.
Then a long triumphal procession towards Liège awaited. His first victory photo in the rainbow jersey and white bib shorts is one to frame.
In the fight for 2nd place, a fantastic Healy darted away on the Roche-aux-Faucons with Pidcock and the Colombian spring Buitrago.
Pidcock won the sprint for 2nd place, Buitrago was 3rd on the podium.
With Tiesj Benoot (7th), another 2nd Belgian finished in the top 10.
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4:53 pm Tiesj Benoot is the 2nd Belgian, in a nice 7th place. .
Tiesj Benoot is the 2nd Belgian, in a nice 7th place.
16h53. Pidcock sprints to 2nd place.
Pidcock sprints to 2nd place
16h52. Pidcock is 2nd, Buitrago 3rd. In the sprint for 2nd place, Pidcock floored Buitrago. Healy falls just off the podium this time. .
Pidcock is 2e, Buitrago 3e
In the sprint for 2nd place, Pidcock floored Buitrago. Healy falls just off the podium this time.
4:52 pm. Evenepoel whips up the crowd at the finish.
Evenepoel whips up the crowd at the finish
4:51 pm. Evenepoel triumphs! Evenepoel has his first victory photo in the rainbow jersey! A track of 30 kilometers, a blueprint from last year. .
Evenepoel triumphs!
Evenepoel has his first victory photo in the rainbow jersey! A track of 30 kilometers, a blueprint from last year.
16h50. Pure class. Karl Vannieuwkerke.
Pure class
Karl Vannieuwkerke
Enjoy the last mile. Evenepoel addresses the team car and dives under the rod rag. He clenches his fist. . 16 hours 49.
Enjoy the last mile
Evenepoel addresses the team car and dives under the rod rag. He clenches his fist.
4:49 PM. Remco Evenepoel greets the camera.
Remco Evenepoel greets the camera
16 hours 48. Smile at Evenepoel. When the cameraman takes up position next to Evenepoel, a smile appears on the face of the world champion. His 2nd monumental victory is almost a fact. .
Smile at Evenepoel
When the cameraman takes up position next to Evenepoel, a smile appears on the face of the world champion. His 2nd monumental victory is almost a fact.
4:46 pm. Evenepoel is already taking some time to stretch. Already recovering for his main goal that starts in 2 weeks: the Giro. .
Evenepoel is already taking some time to stretch. Already recovering for his main goal that starts in 2 weeks: the Giro.
4:45 pm. Another 5 km. Heaven is waiting for Evenepoel. For the 2nd time in a row he will triumph in Liège, this time in his virginal white rainbow jersey. .
Another 5 km
Heaven is waiting for Evenepoel. For the 2nd time in a row he will triumph in Liège, this time in his virginal white rainbow jersey.
4:45pm. This makes it all worth it. Jose De Cauwer.
This makes it all worth it.
Joseph DeCauwer
4:42 pm. Fight for the podium. Healy, Buitrago and Pidcock seem to decide among themselves who can take the podium photo with Evenepoel. For Benoot and Van Gils, a top 10 place seems the highest achievable. .
Fight for the podium
Healy, Buitrago and Pidcock seem to decide among themselves who can take the podium photo with Evenepoel. For Benoot and Van Gils, a top 10 place seems the highest achievable.
4:41 PM. Pidcock joins Buitrago and Healy.
Pidcock joins Buitrago and Healy
4:40 pm. Triumphal procession Evenepoel. Another 9 kilometers for Evenepoel. He has some margin for fantasies towards the camera, because his lead is still 1’30”. .
Triumph procession Evenepoel
Another 9 kilometers for Evenepoel. He has some margin for fantasies towards the camera, because his lead is still 1’30”.
4:38 pm. Van Gils. With Maxim Van Gils, a second compatriot is aiming for a podium place. Benoot is also in the group that is a stone’s throw from Healy and Buitrago. .
Van Gils
With Maxim Van Gils, a second compatriot is aiming for a podium place. Benoot is also in the group that is a stone’s throw from Healy and Buitrago.
4:36 pm. Another 11 km. Evenepoel has passed the Roche-aux-Faucons without decay. His lead scrambles towards a minute and a half. .
Another 11 km
Evenepoel has passed the Roche-aux-Faucons without decay. His lead scrambles towards a minute and a half.
4:35 pm. Healy’s demolition work throws Sivakov overboard. Only Buitrago can follow the rock star Irishman. .
Healy’s demolition work sends Sivakov overboard. Only Buitrago can follow the rock star Irishman.
4:34 pm. Healy and Buitrago still want to join the podium.
Healy and Buitrago still want to join the podium
4:33 pm. Trio on stage hunt. The battle for the podium places seems to be in its first fold. Healy, Buitrago and Sivakov tear themselves away. Has the rest been counted out? .
Trio on the podium
The battle for the podium places seems to be in its first fold. Healy, Buitrago and Sivakov tear themselves away. Has the rest been counted out?
