20 Years Since Valverde’s First Liège Triumph: ‘El Bala’ Ended Spain’s Classics Curse

Twenty years ago this week, Alejandro Valverde unleashed a sprint that changed Spanish cycling forever. On April 25, 2004, the Murcian rider known as ‘El Bala’ outsprinted Italian legends Paolo Bettini and Damiano Cunego to claim his first victory in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, launching a historic run that finally broke Spain’s long-standing complex in cycling’s monument classics.

Valverde’s triumph in ‘La Decana’ – the oldest of the five cycling monuments – was more than just another palmares entry. It marked the beginning of an extraordinary four-year dominance in the Ardennes classic, where he would go on to win again in 2006, 2008 and 2015. This weekend, as Tadej Pogacar lines up aiming to equal that feat, the cycling world looks back at where it all began for one of Spain’s greatest ever riders.

The Sprint That Changed Everything

The 2004 Liège-Bastogne-Liège finale came down to a three-man sprint in Ans, with Valverde holding the wheel of Bettini before launching his decisive attack. Cunego, the young Italian star who had won the Giro d’Italia earlier that year, finished third. As reported by Spanish outlets at the time and later confirmed by cycling archives, Valverde’s victory was built on impeccable timing and explosive acceleration in the final 200 meters – traits that would earn him the nickname ‘El Bala’ (The Bullet) among fans and peers alike.

This win was particularly significant given Spain’s historical struggles in the northern classics. Prior to Valverde’s breakthrough, Spanish riders had rarely featured prominently in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, with the race often dominated by Belgian, Italian, and Dutch specialists. His victory signaled a shift, proving that Spanish cyclists could not only compete but triumph on the sport’s most demanding one-day courses.

Building a Legacy in the Ardennes

Valverde’s 2004 win was the first of four Liège-Bastogne-Liège triumphs, a feat matched only by Eddy Merckx (five wins) and Roger De Vlaeminck (four) in the modern era. His subsequent victories came in 2006 (solo attack on the Stockeu), 2008 (out-sprinting Davide Rebellin and Kim Kirchen), and 2015 (holding off Julian Alaphilippe and Joaquim Rodríguez in a reduced group sprint).

What made Valverde’s Ardennes dominance remarkable was its longevity. Spanning over a decade, his Liège wins showcased extraordinary adaptability – from explosive puncheur in his youth to tactical mastermind in his mid-30s. This consistency in one of cycling’s most unpredictable races, where weather, form, and tactics can change overnight, cemented his reputation as one of the greatest classic riders of his generation.

The Pogacar Challenge: Can History Repeat?

This year’s Liège-Bastogne-Liège presents a fascinating parallel. Tadej Pogacar, the Slovenian two-time Tour de France winner, arrives having already won the 2024 edition and seeking to match Valverde’s streak of four victories. Like Valverde in 2004, Pogacar enters the race as a dominant force in stage racing but faces the unique challenge of conquering Liège’s brutal 260-kilometer course with its succession of sharp climbs in the final 50 kilometers.

Cycling historians note the symbolic weight of this pursuit. If Pogacar succeeds, he would join an elite club of riders with four or more Liège wins, while also echoing Valverde’s role in breaking national expectations – Slovenia, like Spain before Valverde’s era, had never won Liège before Pogacar’s 2024 triumph.

Beyond the Palmares: Valverde’s Enduring Influence

Valverde’s impact extends far beyond his Liège achievements. Over a 20-year professional career, he amassed 133 victories, including the 2018 World Championship road race, two Vuelta a España overall titles (2009, 2017), and podiums in all three Grand Tours. His versatility – winning everything from sprint finishes to mountain time trials – made him one of the most complete riders of his era.

Perhaps most importantly, Valverde inspired a generation of Spanish cyclists. His success in the classics paved the way for riders like Joaquim Rodríguez, who won Liège in 2012, and helped establish Spain as a consistent force in northern classics racing. When Valverde retired in 2022, he left behind not just a remarkable palmares but a cultural shift in how Spanish cycling was perceived globally.

Why Liège-Bastogne-Liège Remains Cycling’s Ultimate Test

Known as ‘La Decana’ for its status as cycling’s oldest monument (first run in 1892), Liège-Bastogne-Liège presents a unique challenge. Unlike the cobbled chaos of Paris-Roubaix or the climb-focused intensity of the Tour of Flanders, Liège combines distance (over 260km), relentless rolling terrain, and a finale dominated by short, explosive climbs – the Côte de la Redoute, Côte de Saint-Nicolas, and the infamous Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons in the final kilometers.

This profile favors puncheurs and explosive finishers over pure climbers or sprinters, making it particularly suited to riders like Valverde and Pogacar who combine endurance with explosive power. The race’s unpredictability – where breaks often succeed and favorites can be undone by a single mistake – adds to its mystique as cycling’s most demanding one-day test.

Looking Ahead: What This Anniversary Means for Cycling

As cycling celebrates two decades since Valverde’s breakthrough, the sport finds itself at an interesting crossroads. The Ardennes classics continue to produce thrilling racing, with young talents like Remco Evenepoel and Mathieu van der Poel challenging the established order. Yet Valverde’s Liège legacy remains a benchmark – a reminder that greatness in cycling’s monuments requires not just talent, but longevity, adaptability, and the courage to deliver when it matters most.

For Pogacar, matching Valverde’s four Liège wins would be more than a numerical achievement. It would affirm his place among cycling’s all-time great classic riders and complete a personal arc that began with his 2024 breakthrough. For fans, it offers a chance to reflect on how one April afternoon in 2004 reshaped the landscape of Spanish cycling – and how its echoes still resonate in the Ardennes today.

As the riders roll out of Liège this Sunday, they’ll do so knowing they’re competing in a race where history is written not just in victories, but in the moments that change how an entire nation sees itself in the sport. Twenty years on, Valverde’s sprint to glory in Ans remains that moment – the start of something fantastic, as the headline proclaimed, and a legacy that continues to inspire.

Will Tadej Pogacar equal Valverde’s feat this weekend? Only the roads of Liège-Bastogne-Liège will tell. But regardless of the outcome, the cycling world owes a debt of gratitude to ‘El Bala’ for showing, two decades ago, that Spain belonged among the sport’s elite in the monuments – and that sometimes, all it takes is one perfect sprint to begin a legend.

What are your thoughts on Valverde’s Liège legacy and Pogacar’s challenge? Share your views in the comments below, and don’t forget to share this article with fellow cycling fans who appreciate the sport’s rich history.