All classifications
| 1 | Danilo DI LUCA |
| 2 | Alejandro VALVERDE |
| 3 | Frank SCHLECK |
| 4 | Paolo BETTINI |
| 5 | Davide REBELLIN |
| » overall rankings |
The race
Sunday 29 April 2007| Liège > Ans - 262 km |
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The newsflashes
16:45Top Five
1- Danilo Di Luca (LIQ)
2- Alejandro Valverde (GCE)
3- Franck Schleck (CSC)
4- Paolo Bettini (QST)
5- Davide Rebellin (GST)
Tears of joy for Di Luca
Di Luca wins the race for the first time of his career. Valverde is second followed by Schleck.
16:42Di Luca wins it
On his own, Danilo Di Luca crosses the finish line and claims Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
16:42Valverde overtakes Schleck
Last effort for Valverde who catches and overtakes Schleck. He’s second...
16:41Di Luca attacks
Off goes Di Luca. Schleck cant follow.
16:40Last kilometre
One kilometre to go and still two in the lead: Schleck and Di Luca.
16:3810" for front two
The leading two have a 10" advantage over the chasing group including Valverde, Bettini, Cunego and Rebellin.
16:37Schleck and Di Luca lead
Under 3 kilometres to go and two men in the lead: Danilo Di Luca and Franck Schleck.
16:36Off goes Schleck
Franck Schleck gives it a go... Under 4 kilometres to go. Schleck is chased by Di Luca.
16:34Off goes Bettini
Paolo Bettini tries his luck in the last kilometre of the climb, immediately chased by Valverde and all the other favourites. Not good enough!
16:33Schumacher caught and dropped
After his solo effort Stefan Schumacher has been caught by the favourite’s group. And immediatley dropped. Just over 5km to go!
16:31Schumacher in St Nicolas
Stefan Schumacher is in the last climb of the day, the Côte de St Nicolas. The chase is on, led by the CSC riders.
16:29Gap increases for Schumacher
8 kilometres to go and Stefan Schumacher now has a 21" lead over the chasing pack.
16:2616" for Schumacher
Stefan Schumacher now has a 16" lead over the pack... Sylvain Chavanel (COF) tries to break away.
16:25Schumacher alone ahead
With under 15 kilometres to go, Stefan Schumacher (GST) still leads the race. Behind all the riders are together again. Still to come, the Côte de St Nicolas.
16:22Schumacher on his own
Off goes Stefan Schumacher... Cedrid Vasseur fails to follow. The Amstel Gold Race winner has a 10" lead over his first follower.
16:18Now two in the lead
Now only two riders in the lead: Schumacher (GST) and Vasseur (QST) who increased their pace in the climb up the Côte de Sart-Tilman.
16:16Race situation
Vasseur (QST), Kroon (CSC) Schumacher (GST), Nibali (LIQ), Barredo (QST), Di Gregorio (FDJ) and Etxebarria (EUS) are currently in the leading group with a 25" advantage over the pack and under 18km to go.
16:1130" for the leaders
The group of seven leading riders now has a 30" advantage over a pack led by a Rabobank rider. Just over 20km to go!
16:07Leading two caught
Di Gregorio and Etxebarria have been caught by the Schumacher group. Now seven riders in the lead.
16:0630" for the front men
Remy Di Gregorio and Unai Etxebarria hang on to their leadership. They still have a 30" advantage over the Schumacher group. 25 kilometres to go!
16:05Now seven in a counter-attack
Cedric Vasseur (QST) and Karsten Kroon (CSC) have caught up with Nibali, Schumacher and Barredo.
16:02Barredo caught by two followers
Carlos Barredo has just been caught by Schumacher (GST) and Nibali (LIQ). The front two have a 20" lead over the counter-attacking riders.
16:00Nibali and Schumacher take off
Race situation with 29km to go. Two men in the lead (Di Gregorio and Etxebarria) followed by one man on his own (Barredo) and then two other riders (Nibali and Schumacher, winner of the Amstel Gold Race).
15:59Front two in Côte de Sprimont
The leading two riders, Di Gregorio and Etxebarria are in the climb up the Côte de Sprimont. They still have a 1’ lead over the pack.
15:54Two at top of Redoute
The front two riders have reached the top of the Côte de la Redoute with a 40" lead over Kiriyenka and 1’25 on Carlos Barredo.
15:52Barredo takes off
Quickstep rider Carlos Barredo (QST) has just broken away from the pack in the climb up the Côte de la Redoute. Meanwhile Jens Voigt (CSC) has beend dropped behind.
15:48Kiriyenka dropped in La Redoute
Now only two riders in the lead: Di Gregorio (FDJ) and Etxebarria (EUS). Vasil Kiriyenka (TIN) has been dropped behind in the first few metres of the climb up the Côte de la Redoute. He was the first to take off this morning at kilometre 7.
15:45Over 200km in the lead
The current three front riders have now been in the lead for over 200 kilometres. Still 36km to go!
15:44Pack moving closer
The pack now led by the Liquigas, Quick Step and Lampre riders is moving closer and closer. The gap has dropped to under 3’ (2’55). A first explanation between the main favourites could well take place in the climb up the Côte de la Redoute.
15:36Heading to the Côte de la Redoute
Still to come the very tough Côte de la Redoute where the final explanation between the favourites could well start. That climb will then be followed by the Côte de Sprimont, the Côte de Sart-Tilman and the Côte de Saint Nicolas.
15:34Gap under 4’
With under 50 kilometres to go, the gap between the front men and the chasing pack has dropped down to 3’50.
15:28Julich dropped behind
Former winner of Paris-Nice back in 2005, Bobby Julich (CSC) has been dropped by the pack in the climb up the Côte de la Vecquée. Also dropped: Christophe Brandt (PRL)
15:26Etxebarria first at top of the Côte de la Vecquée
Unai Etxebarria has just reached the top of the Côte de la Vecquée (km 210) ahead of Kiriyenka and Di Gregorio.
15:24Kuyckx caught by the pack
Still three men in the lead at km 205 (Di Gregorio, Kiriyenka and Etxebarria). Jan Kuyckx has just been caught by the chasing pack led by the Gerolsteiner riders. Latest gap: 6’20.
15:13Kuyckx 4’30 behind
Part of the breakaway but dropped behind in the climb up the Côte de Wanne, Jan Kuyckx has made it to the top of the Côte du Rosier with a 4’30 time deficit on the leaders. Meanwhile, the pack is 7’50 adrift.
15:06Kiriyenka first at top of Côte du Rosier
Vasil Kiriyenka is the first to make it at the top of the Côte du Rosier (km 197.5) while the pack is still at km 199. The latest gap is of 9’30. 64.5km to go for the leading three riders!
14:58Pack moving closer
After having covered the three climbs up the Côte de Wanne, Stockeu and Haute-Levée, the pack is now 10’30 adrift with 68km to go. Still three men in the lead: Di Gregorio, Etxebarria and Kiriyenka.
14:44Di Gregorio first at top of Côte de Haute-Levée
Frenchman Remy Di gregorio (FDJ) has just reached the top of the Côte de Haute-Levée (km 185) alongside Kiriyenka and Etxebarria. Jan Kuyckx is now 1’40 behind while the pack is 12’30 adrift.
14:42Astarloa dropped behind
Former World Champion and winner of the Fleche Wallonne a few years agao, Igor Astarloa (MRM) is struggling at the back of the pack in the climb up the Côte de Stockeu.
14:40Pack in climb up Stockeu
The pack has started the climb up the Côte de Stockeu (1.1km at 10.5%) with Paolo Betinni (QST) in third spot closely followed by Michael Boogerd (RAB)
14:36Quick Step and Gerolsteiner lead the chase
Two teams (Quick Step and Gerolsteiner) are represented at the front of the pack taking care of most of the chase. Latest gap : 13’
14:32Pack at top of Wanne
The pack has just made it to the top of the Côte de Wanne. The gap has now dropped to 13’10.
14:31Kiriyenka first at top of Stockeu
Vasil Kiriyenka (TIN) was the first to reach the top of the Côte de Stockeu (km 179.5) while Jan Kuyckx was dropped behind, 30" adrift.
14:30Stockeu time!
While the front men have started the climb up the Côte de Stockeu, here are a few details on this very demanding hill. According to French newspaper L’Equipe and a story quoting a cycling encyclopedia on the different hills of Belgium, the Côte de Stockeu is the second most difficult hill of the country. In comparison, the Mur de Huy covered during the Fleche Wallonne is only 54th. However, staged very far from the finish, this hill is rarely decisive for victory. Back in 1969, Eddy Merckx managed to take off during the climb of Stockeu before capturing his first win in Liège.
14:22Kirienka first at top of Wanne
Vasil Kiriyenka (TIN) was the first to reach the top of the Côte de Wanne. The leading men now have a 14’40 advantage over the pack.
14:12Front men in Côte de Wanne
The leading four riders have started the climb up the Côte de Wanne. They currently have a 16’ lead over the pack. After the Côte de Wanne, the front men will have to cover the very demanding Côte de Stockeu, certainly the toughest climb of the day.
14:10Etxebarria already a winner on the Vuelta
Of the four riders currently in the race lead the one having captured the most prestigious win is Venezuela’s Unai Etxebarria (EUS) who claimed a stage of the 2003 Tour of Spain in Burgos. For more details on the riders of this 93rd edition, click on the rider list.
13:58Already over 150 kilometres in the lead
Together since km 11, the front four have been in the lead for now over 150 kilometres.
13:56Race summary so far
With the riders having covered 143 km, here is what happened so far during the race: Vasil Kiriyenka (TIN) was the first to take off at kilometre 7. He was then caught by Jan Kuyckx (LAM) and then by two other riders: Remy Di Gregorio (FDJ) and Unai Etxebarria (EUS). These four men have a had a maximum 18’30 lead on the pack at km 77. Since then that advantage has slowly been dropping. Latest gap: 16’50.
13:52Under 17’ now
The pack led by the QuickStep, Liquigas, Saunier-Duval and Lampre teams are very slowly gaining time on the four escapees who still can enjoy a huge 16’50 advantage at km 143.
13:38Davide Rebellin: “As strong as in 2004”
Quite naturally, a lot of attention went to Davide Rebellin (GST) during the team presentation in Liège. After conquering the Fleche Wallonne on Wednesday, the Italian who is the only rider to have managed the Amstel-Fleche-Liege treble back in 2004 hopes to clinch a double. Letour.fr spoke to the Gerolsteiner leader. “I consider that the three days I have just spent since the Fleche are enough to prepare for Liège in a decent way. On Thursday, I went to check the last 90kms of the race. On Friday I went on the curse again and Saturday morning I went for a 80km ride in the Netherlands. I have no problems with the heat, it actually suits me rather well. My goal is of course to manage the double but it certainly isn’t easy and I will have to be at a 100%. Like on the Fleche Wallonne, it’ll be important to ride calmly and stay very focused in order not to waste too much energy. Liège is the toughest of the three classics but I feel as strong as in 2004.”
13:31Pack at top of St Roch
The pack has reached the top of the Côte de Saint-Roch (km 129) and still has a 17’45 deficit on the front group. Etxebarria after having punctured is back with his three breakaway companions.
13:15Di Gregorio first at top of Côte de St Roch
Frenchman Remy Di Gregorio (FDJ) has just reached the top of the third climb of the day, the Côte de Saint-Roch ahead of Kiriyenka (TIN) and Kuyckx (LAN). Unai Etxebarria (EUS) who suffered a puncture made it to the top 13" later.
13:09Chase starts
While the front men have started the climb up the Côte de Saint Roch, it appears that the pack has reacted and has started their chase. The gap drops down to 17’40.
13:04Gap stable
While all the riders are enjoying some refreshments and food after going through the feeding zone (km 11), the gap remains the same: 18’20. The chase hasn’t really started yet...
12:42Front men in Bastogne
The four leading riders have just reached the city of Bastogne at km 107 and will now head back up north to Liège and the finish in Ans. Still 155km to go and 10 hills to climb.
12:31Gap starts dropping
For the first time of the day the gap between the four leaders (Di Gregorio, Etxebarria, Kiriyenka and Kuyckx) and the pack has started dropping. At kilometre 101, the leader’s advantage is of 18’20.
12:14Damiano Cunego: “Wait until the final explanation”
Third of last year’s edition, Damiano Cunego (LAM) is among the favourites again this year, especially after claiming the Tour of Trentino earlier this week. Letour.fr spoke to the Italian rider before the race. “I’m here to win but one needs a lot of luck to do so. It’s a one day race! This race is quite tricky so I’ll have to wait until the final explanation. I’ll just have to be extra careful at what the other top riders do. Liège is a race I enjoy and it’s also a good preparation before my main objective this season: the Giro. It’s kind of a first stage of the Giro. Added to that it has also become a race for the Italians. Today the guys to watch are Bettini, Valverde, Rebellin but also Ricco, a young but already very strong rider. He has what it takes to win Liège-Bastogne-Liège. And he’ll also be a rival on the Giro”.
12:11Over 18’ for the leaders
While the front riders have reached Ortho at kilometre 87, the pack, still not too concerned about the breakaway group, is at kilometre 77 with a time deficit of 18’30.
12:04Second climb for the four leaders
The four front men led by Kiriyenka ahead of Kuyckx, Di Gregorio and Etxebarria have just reached the top of the second climb of the day, the Côte de la Roche-en-Ardenne. They still have a 16’55 lead over the pack.
11:48Vinokourov to help Kessler
Winner of the event back in 2005, Alexandre Vinokourov (AST), despite having been rather quiet since the start of the season, remains a contender for final victory. The rider from Kazakhstan who considers he is still in his preparation phase for his main objective the Tour de France, spoke to Belgian newspaper ‘La Dernière Heure’ about his ambitions. “I’m here to help Kessler win, he’s in excellent shape. Personally, I haven’t really prepared to win Liège-Bastogne-Liège, but I’ll still give all I have. It’s a race that I enjoy and I also have to test myself and know how I’m doing. I’ve just returned from a mountain training camp where we worked a lot.”
11:45Pack at top of first climb
While the four leading riders are far ahead, the main field has only just reached the top of the Côte de Ny (km 57.5) with a 16’55 time deficit.
11:37Le Mevel first to quit
Christophe Le Mevel (CA), one of the early attackers during the Fleche Wallonne and winner of a stage on the Giro back in 2005, is the first man to quit the race at kilometre 46.
11:32Gap still growing
After having climbed the first hill of the day (the Côte de Ny), the four leaders now have a 16’50 lead over the pack.
11:24Over 15’ for the front men
At kilometre 44 (for the pack), the four men in the race lead (Di Gregorio, Etxebarria, Kiriyenka and Kuyckx) have a 15’50 advantage and are about to climb the first hill of the day, the Côte de Ny.
11:22Alejandro Valverde: “I feel confident”
During the Liège team presentation, Letour.fr caught up with title holder Alejandro Valverde (GCE) who will once again be a man to keep an eye on during this 93rd edition of the event. “I feel confident and had a good rest after the Fleche Wallonne. Finishing second on Wednesday certainly wasn’t a disappointment, it would have been if I had quit the race. The favourites of Liège-Bastogne-Liège remain basically the same as on the Amstel Gold Race and the Fleche. To win this one, you need to be very strong. It’s a long race with numerous climbs close to each other. It’ll be an elimination race.”
11:087 kilometre gap between leaders and pack.
While the four leading riders have now covered 40km, the pack remains 7 kilometres behind at km 33. The gap has now increased to reach 13’45.
10:46Over 4’ for the leaders
At kilometre 25,the front riders now have a 4’20 lead over the pack. These four men are: Vasil Kiriyenka (TIN), Jan Kuyckx (LAN), Remy Di Gregorio (FDJ) and Unai Etxebarria (EUS).
10:44Marc Madiot: "Gilbert in good shape"
With Française des Jeux rider Remy Di Gregorio in the first real breakaway of the day, Letour.fr gave his sporting director Marc Madiot a quick phone call to find out what the plans were for the race.
"I asked my guys to go in the breakaways. It wasn’t necessarily going to be Di Gregorio. It’ll be tough for the four front so early men but it’s good for Di Gregorio. Concerning our leader Philippe Gilbert, he attacked too early during the Fleche Wallonne on Wednesday but he’s in good shape for this Liège-Nastogne-Liege. He found it rather tough when he went to check out the course during the week. We’ll just have to wait and see how he does in the many climbs to be covered".
Looking good for the front four
At kilometre 22, the four leading riders now have a 1’50 advantage over the pack.
10:34Last ten winners of the event
2006: Alejandro Valverde (SPA)
2005: Alexandre Vinokourov (KAZ)
2004: Davide Rebellin (ITA)
2003: Tyler Hamilton (USA)
2002: Paolo Bettini (ITA)
2001: Oscar Camenzind (SWI)
2000: Paolo Bettini (ITA)
1999: Franck Vandenbroucke (BEL)
1998: Michele Bartoli (ITA)
1997: Michele Bartoli (ITA)
Gap grows for the 4 front men
At kilometre 17, the four men (Di Gregorio, Etxebarria, Kiriyenka and Kuyckx) currentlyin the lead can now enjoy a 45" lead over the pack.
10:24Now 4 in the lead
The leading two riders (Kiriyenka and Kuyckx) have been caught by two counter-attackers: Remy Di Gregorio (FDJ) and Unai Etxebarria (EUS). These four riders together have a 30" lead over the pack at kilometre 14.
10:21Kuyckx and Kiriyenka in the lead
Vasil Kiriyenka (TIN) first caught by the pack at kilometre 8 is again in the race lead with another rider: Jan Kuyckx (LAN). Both have a 15" lead over the pack as several other riders try to also take off.
10:18One man in the lead
One man alone has managed to take off from the pack at kilometre 7: Vasil Kiryienka (TIN)
10:14Christophe Moreau: “Good to be back”
Back from a long term illness, Frenchman Christophe Moreau (one of the first riders to attack this morning) is basically just happy to be back on a bike. Letour.fr spoke to the AG2R rider. “I had pneumonia during the month of March and had to take antibiotics for 18 days. I’ve only had 9 real days of racing so far. I’m happy to see that my shape is getting better and better and it’s really good to be back. I tried to attack during the Fleche Wallonne but I was well aware that I was lacking of something to really be decisive. Normally I should finish this week with a feeling of having worked well.”
10:13All over for the two
The first escapees of the day have been caught by the pack only enjoying a 1km break. The pack is bunched again and at a fairly fast pace.
10:12Two in the lead
At kilometre 3, two riders have managed to take off: Christophe Moreau (AG2R) and Niki Terpstra (MRM).
10:10All bunched
Despite a first attempt on behalf of a Agritubel rider, the pack remains bunched after two kilometres of racing.
10:09Riders to watch
Italy: Davide Rebellin (GST), Danilo Di Luca (LIQ), Damiano Cunego (LAM), Paolo Bettini (QST), Riccardo Ricco (SDV)
Spain: Alejandro Valverde (GCE), Oscar Freire (RAB), Samuel Sanchez (EUS), Igor Astarloa (MRM), Alberto Contador (DSC)
Germany: Patrik Sinkewitz (TMO), Jens Voigt (CSC), Mathias Kessler (AST), Stefan Schumacher (GST), Fabian Wegmann (GST)
Netherlands: Michael Boogerd (RAB), Thomas Dekker (RAB)
Luxemburg: Kim Kirchen (TMO), Franck Schleck (CSC)
Australia: Cadel Evans (PRL), Michael Rogers (TMO)
Kazakhstan: Alexander Vinokourov (AST), Andrei Kasheshkin (AST)
Belgium: Rik Verbrugghe (COF), Stijn Devolder (DSC), Philippe Gilbert (FDJ), Axel Merckx (TMO)
Russia: Evgueni Petrov (TIN), Alexander Botcharov (CA), Vladimir Gusev (DSC)
USA: Bobby Julich (CSC), Chris Horner (PRL)
Ukraine: Yaroslav Popovych (DSC)
Sweden: Thomas Lovkvist (FDJ)
France: Sylvain Chavanel (COF), Jérôme Pineau (BTL), Christophe Moreau (CA).
Official start
The 191 riders have officially started the day’s 262km race at 10:05 PM. Off we go for this 93rd edition of the oldest of Classics (La Doyenne as they say in French).
10:0112 hills to climb
Km 57.5: Côte de Ny (1.8km at 5.7%)
Km 83: Côte de la Roche-En-Ardenne (2.8km at 4.9%)
Km 129: Côte de Saint-Roch (0.9km at 12%)
Km 173: Côte de Wanne (3.1km at 6.1%)
Km 179.5: Côte de Stockeu (1.1km at 10.5%)
Km 185: Côte de la Haute-Levée (3.4km at 6%)
Km 197.5: Côte du Rosier (4km at 5.9%)
Km 210: Côte de la Vecquée (3.1km at 5.9%)
Km 227.5: Côte de la Redoute (2.1km at 8.4%)
Km 233: Côte de Sprimont (1.4km at 4.7%)
Km 248: Côte de Sart-Tilman – Tilff (3.6km at 5.3%)
Km 256.5: Côte de Saint-Nicolas (1km at 11.1%)
191 riders heading to start
After taking off from a crowded and sunny Place Saint Lambert in Liège, the 191 riders registered for the race are heading to the official start of the event after a 6.9km through the streets of Liège.
09:58Blood tests this morning
This morning between 6:40 and 7:40 PM, 40 riders from 5 teams (LAM, QST, BAR, CSC and MRM) have been asked by the UCI to go through blood tests. All have been authorised to start the day’s race.
09:58Welcome to Liège-Bastogne-Liège LIVE
Welcome to our live coverage of the 93th edition of Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the third chapter of the Amstel-Fleche-Liège trilogy and certainly a very eventful race. The riders are due to take off at 9:50 PM from the Place Saint-Lambert in Liège for a 262 km down north to Bastogne and then back up for a finish in Ans after climbing the 12 hills of the course.