Liège – Bastogne – Liège

1. I loved watching Tom Boonen’s display of dominance in the Cobbled Classics and lead-up races. It would have been nice to have seen Cancellara there to challenge him, but nothing can take away the fact that Boonen has established himself as one of the best Classics riders in history, despite what Roger De Vlaeminck says. Boonen has now won Flanders and Roubaix a total of seven times. Add that to his three wins in Ghent-Wevelgem and he has a total of ten Classic wins to his name. Times are different now and I’m not so sure that comparisons to past legends of the sport are even relevant anymore, but here is the list of Classics winners for your reference:

Classic wins:
27: Eddy Merckx
14: Rik Van Looy
13: Roger De Vlaeminck
12: Jan Raas
11: Johan Museeuw & Sean Kelly
10: Fausto Coppi, Francesco Moser & Tom Boonen

2. Philippe Gilbert had some enormous expectations to live up to after a spectacular season last year. In my view, these expectations were unrealistic and it would have been nearly impossible for Gilbert to match. He was at the top of his game last year, and when you’re at the top, there’s nowhere to go but down. You don’t see too many riders have consecutive seasons of dominance in one-day races anymore. There’s so much has to go perfectly to plan and there can only be one winner. Gilbert ended up with 6th at Amstel, 3rd at La Flèche Wallonne, and 16th here at Liège, so I wouldn’t say it was a failure for him or for BMC. He’s shown that he’s human and I’d prefer that to any other result.

3. GreenEDGE managed their first season expectations wisely and have always stated that the Spring Classics would be their primary goals. With their most promising cobble rider Sebastian Langeveld crashing out at Flanders there was little hope for a result at Paris Roubaix. I’d say that Gerro winning Milan San Remo made GreenEDGE’s Classics campaign a success. Unfortunately he didn’t get the win in the Ardennes that he wanted but in my view taking the honors La Primavera eclipses anything else he could have done. Read an excellent interview that RIDE did with Gerro after Milan San Remo and see his SRM power files here.

4. Europcar has had outstanding success in the Spring Classics, especially for a Pro-Continental team. Sébastien Turgot turning himself inside out and getting 2nd at Paris Roubaix, Thomas Voekler with 8th at the Tour of Flanders, 1st at Brabantse Pijl, 5th at Amstel, and 4th at Liège. As much as the little Frenchman annoys me with his unsightly grimace, ultra short knicks, and his inability to hold himself back without attacking whichever bunch he’s in, he’s won my heart and I love cheering for this little fighter.

5. 2010 Tour Down Under Obscure Pro Arthur Vichot had some excellent results in the Ardennes and it won’t be surprising to see him near the top over the next few years. 41st at Amstel, 23rd at La Flèche Wallonne, and 21st here at Liège is pretty darn respectable for a guy most of us had never heard of only two years ago.

I’ve also been keeping a close eye on the 2011 Obscure Pro, Ángel Madrazo (The Sparrow of Cazoña). While he hasn’t had excellent results on paper, I’ve watched him actively support Valverde this season and he’s risen far above obscurity in my eyes.

And how can we forget about the 2012 Obscure Pro, Wouter Mol? The poor guy broke his collarbone in three places at a crash in Scheldeprijs after coming in 80th at the Tour of Flanders. Get well soon Wouter.

2012 Spring Classics Results:

Milan-San Remo

Cobbled Classics:
Dwars door Vlaanderen
E3 Prijs Vlaanderen – Harelbeke
Gent Wevelgem
Tour of Flanders
Scheldeprijs
Paris Roubaix

Ardennes Classics:
Amstel Gold Race
La Flèche Wallonne
Liège – Bastogne – Liège

Liège–Bastogne–Liège GreenEDGE Backstage Pass

Liège–Bastogne–Liège Final Kilometers

Liège–Bastogne–Liège Photo Gallery

by Veeral Patel and Cor Vos

: Gerro signing autographs before his last chance for a win in the Ardennes this year

: Movistar’s spare Pinarellos

: Christian Meier, one of the growing number of Canadians in the pro peloton

: Even before the official departure Igor Anton crasheed out and broke his collarbone.

: Simon Clarke at the front of the peloton

: Joaquin “El Purito” Rodriguez fanclub

: Iconic Liege-Bastogne-Liege photo of the riders going up the Cote St Roche climb in Houffalize

: Now that’s a dedicated fan club

: BMC ramping up the pace for defending champion Gilbert after La Redoute had thinned out the field. Notice the Gilbert fan club on the right

: A shattered Nibali concedes another 2nd place in the Classics after being the instigator towards the winning moves

: Enrico Gasparotto (Astana) who just won Amstel wins the sprint for 3rd and Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) gets 4th and Daniel Martin (Garmin) for 5th

: Philippe Gilbert crossing the finish line in 16th place

: Thomas Voeckler finishing an extraordinary Ardennes Classics

: Gerro coming across the line in 19th position after a hugely successful season already.

: You gotta feel sorry for Vincenzo Nibali after getting second in Milan San Remo and then this. He’ll never die wondering. Watch out for him at the Giro. He’s a much better stage racer than a Classics rider

: Michael Albasini coming across the line in 75th position

: BMC’s Greg Van Avermaet. At only 26, this guy is gonna be a star after he gets his first big Classics win. Already this year he’s 4th in Flanders, 5th in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, 5th in Strade Bianche, 5th Brabantse Pijl

: Maxim Iglinsky (Kaz) Astana 2. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale, 3. Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Astana

Race Results

(2012) - Liege - Bastogne - Liege

(258km)

22 Apr 2012

Position	Name	Nationality	Team	Time
1	IGLINSKY, Maxim		ASTANA	6:43:52
2	NIBALI, Vincenzo	ITA	LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE	21
3	GASPAROTTO, Enrico	ITA	ASTANA	36
4	VOECKLER, Thomas	FRA	TEAM EUROPCAR
5	MARTIN, Daniel	IRL	GARMIN-BARRACUDA
6	MOLLEMA, Bauke	NED	RABOBANK
7	SANCHEZ GONZALEZ, Samuel	ESP	EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI
8	SCARPONI, Michele	ITA	LAMPRE - ISD
9	HESJEDAL, Ryder	CAN	GARMIN-BARRACUDA
10	VANENDERT, Jelle	BEL	LOTTO BELISOL
11	NOCENTINI, Rinaldo	ITA	AG2R LA MONDIALE
12	ROLLAND, Pierre	FRA	TEAM EUROPCAR
13	MORENO FERNANDEZ, Daniel	ESP	KATUSHA
14	KISERLOVSKI, Robert	CRO	ASTANA
15	RODRIGUEZ OLIVER, Joaquin	ESP	KATUSHA	+1:00
16	GILBERT, Philippe	BEL	BMC RACING	+1:27
17	FARIA DA COSTA, Rui Alberto	POR	MOVISTAR	+2:11
18	SIMON, Julien	FRA	SAUR - SOJASUN
19	GERRANS, Simon	AUS	ORICA-GREENEDGE
20	NORDHAUG, Lars Petter	NOR	SKY PROCYCLING
21	VICHOT, Arthur	FRA	FDJ-BIG MAT
22	HOOGERLAND, Johnny	NED	VACANSOLEIL-DCM
23	SCHLECK, Frank	LUX	RADIOSHACK-NISSAN
24	FREIRE GOMEZ, Oscar	ESP	KATUSHA
25	KROON, Karsten	NED	SAXO BANK
26	SANTAMBROGIO, Mauro	ITA	BMC RACING
27	MONFORT, Maxime	BEL	RADIOSHACK-NISSAN
28	DEVENYNS, Dries	BEL	OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP
29	Luis HENAO MONTOYA, Sergio		SKY PROCYCLING
30	SERRY, Pieter	BEL	TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN - MERCATOR
31	SÖRENSEN, Chris Anker	DEN	SAXO BANK
32	TROFIMOV, Yury	RUS	KATUSHA
33	VAUGRENARD, Benoît	FRA	FDJ-BIG MAT
34	FEDRIGO, Pierrick	FRA	FDJ-BIG MAT
35	CUNEGO, Damiano	ITA	LAMPRE - ISD
36	LÖVKVIST, Thomas	CZE	SKY PROCYCLING
37	VAN DEN BROECK, Jurgen	BEL	LOTTO BELISOL	+2:19
38	PIETROPOLLI, Daniele	ITA	LAMPRE - ISD	+5:05
39	MARINO, Jean Marc	FRA	SAUR - SOJASUN
40	KIRYIENKA, Vasili	BLR	MOVISTAR	+5:27
41	CUSIN, Rémi	FRA	TEAM TYPE 1 - SANOFI
42	CHEREL, Mikael	FRA	AG2R LA MONDIALE	+5:39
43	ARMEE, Sander	BEL	TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN - MERCATOR
44	NERZ, Dominik	GER	LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE
45	DE GREEF, Francis	BEL	LOTTO BELISOL
46	SÖRENSEN, Nicki	DEN	SAXO BANK
47	HOWES, Alex	USA	GARMIN-BARRACUDA
48	LE MEVEL, Christophe	FRA	GARMIN-BARRACUDA
49	DE WAELE, Bert	BEL	LANDBOUWKREDIET
50	SCHLECK, Andy	LUX	RADIOSHACK-NISSAN
51	DUPONT, Hubert	FRA	AG2R LA MONDIALE
52	WEGMANN, Fabian	GER	GARMIN-BARRACUDA
53	GENIEZ, Alexandre	FRA	ARG
54	STETINA, Peter	USA	GARMIN-BARRACUDA
55	CARUSO, Damiano	ITA	LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE
56	PATERSKI, Maciej	POL	LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE
57	GESINK, Robert	NED	RABOBANK
58	BAKELANTS, Jan	BEL	RADIOSHACK-NISSAN
59	DE WEERT, Kevin	BEL	OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP
60	MOSER, Moreno	ITA	LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE
61	VAN GARDEREN, Tejay	USA	BMC RACING
62	CHRISTENSEN, Mads	DEN	SAXO BANK
63	TEN DAM, Laurens	NED	RABOBANK
64	SANCHEZ GIL, Luis Leon	ESP	RABOBANK
65	VISCONTI, Giovanni	ITA	MOVISTAR	+5:45
66	BELLEMAKERS, Dirk	NED	LANDBOUWKREDIET	+7:29
67	PAUWELS, Serge	BEL	OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP
68	COMMEYNE, Davy	BEL	LANDBOUWKREDIET	+8:22
69	NIEVE ITURALDE, Mikel	ESP	EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI
70	MARTINEZ DE ESTEBAN, Egoi	ESP	EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI
71	JÉRÔME, Vincent	FRA	TEAM EUROPCAR	+8:28
72	LELAY, David	FRA	SAUR - SOJASUN	+8:30
73	VAN AVERMAET, Greg	BEL	BMC RACING	+8:54
74	MORI, Manuele	ITA	LAMPRE - ISD
75	ALBASINI, Michael	SUI	ORICA-GREENEDGE
76	POELS, Wouter	NED	VACANSOLEIL-DCM
77	FEILLU, Brice	FRA	SAUR - SOJASUN
78	ULISSI, Diego	ITA	LAMPRE - ISD
79	VICIOSO ARCOS, Angel	ESP	KATUSHA	+11:04
80	CATALDO, Dario	ITA	OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP
81	RUIJGH, Rob	NED	VACANSOLEIL-DCM	+12:18
82	MARTENS, Paul	GER	RABOBANK
83	MARCZYNSKI, Tomasz	POL	VACANSOLEIL-DCM
84	VAN HECKE, Preben	BEL	TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN - MERCATOR
85	ISTA, Kevin	BEL	ACCENT JOBS - WILLEMS VERANDA'S
86	DELAPLACE, Anthony	FRA	SAUR - SOJASUN
87	ROY, Jérémy	FRA	FDJ-BIG MAT
88	BAZZANA, Alessandro	ITA	TEAM TYPE 1 - SANOFI
89	CARRARA, Matteo	ITA	VACANSOLEIL-DCM
90	KRUIJSWIJK, Steven	NED	RABOBANK
91	SPRICK, Matthieu	FRA	ARG
92	PIRES, Bruno	POR	SAXO BANK
93	FRÖHLINGER, Johannes	GER	ARG
94	BERTOGLIATI, Rubens	SUI	TEAM TYPE 1 - SANOFI
95	LAENGEN, Vegard Stake	NOR	TEAM TYPE 1 - SANOFI
96	SICARD, Romain	FRA	EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI
97	GRIVKO, Andriy	UKR	ASTANA
98	FLORENCIO CABRE, Xavier	ESP	KATUSHA
99	LAGUTIN, Sergey	UZB	VACANSOLEIL-DCM
100	ZANDIO ECHAIDE, Xabier	ESP	SKY PROCYCLING
101	ERVITI, Imanol		MOVISTAR
102	FOFONOV, Dmitriy	KAZ	ASTANA
103	PETROV, Evgeny	RUS	ASTANA
104	MEIER, Christian	CAN	ORICA-GREENEDGE
105	ROCHE, Nicolas	IRL	AG2R LA MONDIALE
106	GAUTIER, Cyril	FRA	TEAM EUROPCAR
107	STORTONI, Simone	ITA	LAMPRE - ISD
108	PUCCIO, Salvatore	ITA	SKY PROCYCLING
109	JEANDESBOZ, Fabrice	FRA	SAUR - SOJASUN
110	IMPEY, Daryl	RSA	ORICA-GREENEDGE	+12:50
111	DEVOLDER, Stijn	BEL	VACANSOLEIL-DCM	+12:54
112	CLARKE, Simon	AUS	ORICA-GREENEDGE	+14:31
113	VANENDERT, Dennis	BEL	LOTTO BELISOL

http://cycling.norbtech.com/ norbs

Clean that sensor Veeral. :)

Nice shots of the dates!
Matthew

You’ve got to feel for Nibali…
Mark

Dedicated fan club!?
My eyes are soiled!
- timmy
  
  What made it worse was the follow up image of there faces- i was contect to remain ignorant of their identities, but to reveal both ends of their anatomy made it all too real. Depilatory intervention required here- if not in reality at least photoshop something.
  - https://twitter.com/#!/BPriestie Priestie
    
    I’d like to know which one was the first to agree with the idea. “OK I’ll write on your bum if you write on mine.”
    
    … And no ‘WOW Phil’. :)
- http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips
  
  Wasn’t sure if I should post that or not. But since Veeral got his hands very dirty getting that pic, it was the least I could do for him
  - jules
    
    not doing make up, i hope
Tim

Great photos! Have you got this in hi-res? http://cyclingtipscontent.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/ONEV9435.jpg
Is it for sale?

Also, The Shark will be on for the Giro, he’s looking good.

What was it Matty Lloyd said about the Orange Doll Brigade? “I’d come around a corner and one would be lying on the ground for no reason.”?

Voeckler is one of my favourites. Always has a crack. I thought you’d say his Ultra Short-Shorts were Ultra-Pro?! They make my 2009 Liquigas ones look LONG.
- Tricky Dicky
  
  Mate, if your bibs are any shorter than Voeckler’s, you are wearing what are called “hot pants” and you should be holidaying in Mykonos.
  - jules
    
    “euro togs”
- JM
  
  Bleeding Carrots!
https://twitter.com/#!/BPriestie Priestie

Euskaltel-Euskadi have all the crash bad luck.
https://twitter.com/#!/BPriestie Priestie

Euskaltel-Euskadi have all the crash bad luck.
- http://profiles.google.com/aglogan Andy Logan
  
  lol, they are always crashing. Not a race goes by without one of their riders hitting the deck.
  - Anonymous
    
    I can’t understand why the team doesn’t run at least one bike handling course for their riders every year!
JC

Those mooners should splash out for some dunny roll
- http://whatspossible.com.au/ Scott Barrow
  
  Indeed. I’m certain that’s chocolate sauce down two of their cracks.
http://twitter.com/Antmar123 Antonio Marino

Omg that the photo of Nibali crossing the line looks like that guy traveling around belgium in his O2 gear , might just be the colours of his gear :-)
http://twitter.com/adamwallen Adam Allen

He calls them the Bleeding Carrots
Schlep

Ass 3 in the ‘Phil Fan Club’ shot needs some Photoshopping and/or crack waxing. Time for some Belgo Manscaping. OK, Ass 1 too.
- timmy
  
  Far too detailed in your anal-ysis. Step away from the monitor my friend.
http://twitter.com/ankush83 Ankush Agarwal

who painted on the arses, I’m guessing Veeral did. Except for those, loved the other photos. Wade you could have at least warned us, my eyes :(
Notso Swift

Dud race
Without Nibali it would have been even worse
Anonymous

Poor Igor Anton, he’s one of my favourites but he has NO luck whatsoever.

Nibali will never die wondering, great to watch. That queen stage at the Giro last year when he got dropped, did the crazy descent to catch Contador and Scarponi’s group again and promptly got blown away on the final climb anyway was one of the best things I saw last year.
John

It bothers me that Gerro keeps being beaten in sprints by Movistar riders.
Jii

The ugliness of Team Type 1′s jersey is only overshadowed by the fan club.
Owen Bentley

Another great wrap up thanks CT.
But another broken collarbone (Igor Anton).
This injury is one of cycling’s greatest curses – is there any research about ways to prevent it?
- http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips
  
  Hi Owen, I’ve done a post on the broken collarbone here: http://www.cyclingtips.com.au/2010/11/the-broken-collarbone/
  
  I don’t know about any research per se, but the best way I know of preventing this injury is by not sticking your hand out to break your fall (the collarbone is the weakest bone in the chain).
  
  Also, some tips on crash prevention here: http://www.cyclingtipsblog.com/2011/03/crash-prevention/
http://twitter.com/purevelo purevelo

amazing how Nibali was left standing. But shows that he had just given everything. We all know the feeling when the tank is empty! Great race, great finish.
Raphael

Thanks for the amazing photos. I really enjoyed reading your adventures and review of the spring classic.
As for me, I will be headed to the Tour de Romandie, as it is around my place.
cheers.
Raphael

Thanks for the amazing photos. I really enjoyed reading your adventures and review of the spring classic.
As for me, I will be headed to the Tour de Romandie, as it is around my place.
cheers.
ssanchez

Voeckler’s short shorts piss me off too
FortheLove

I agree that Gilbert shouldn’t be expected to repeat last year’s glory; however, once you’ve tasted the Gilbert style of winning, you only want more! He wins with a heroic, powerful style – a true showman!

Personally, I think that we’ll see him blossom or peak in July, while pursuing the Green Jersey. I think his experience last year, wearing the Green Jersey, winning a stage, may have made him hungry for more Tour Glory!?!