Liege-Bastogne-Liege! 2022

Julian Alaphilippe has made no secret of targeting the Belgian Ardennes races. · Remco Evenepoel wins Liege-Bastogne-Liege!

A slight tweak to the course this year brings the penultimate climb, the Cote de la Redoute (2km at 8.9%) six kilometres closer to the finish. This is followed by a 16km run to the foot of the final climb, the Cote de la Roche-aux-Faucons (1.3km at 11%), which had proved to be the pivotal moment in recent years. Beyond the industrial suburbs of Liege, is the most elegant, understated rolling countryside of the Ardennes. Valverde is chasing, with the help of Carlos Verona (Movistar) as is Valentin Madouas (Groupama FDJ) Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) and Domenico Pozzovivo. Looking to see where Julian Alaphilippe is. Sepp Kuss (Jumbo Visma) is obliged to chase the Basque rider down. LBL really is the climbers’ Monument and apart from La Redoute, the Cote de Stockeu is one of those ramps synonymous with it. Mikel Landa (Bahrain Victorious) tries an attack on the Côte de Desnié, looking to split this race apart. The World Champion is reported to be in an ambulance, but conscious. Ten seconds of the gap is gone in a flash, but they’re having to suffer to take them. It looks like the breakaway will make it onto and up La Redoute. We’re nearly onto the iconic climb, one of the greats of world cycling. That was a massive move from the young Belgian, just before the top of La Redoute. He really punched the pedals to the point where his back wheel span out. Benoit Cosnefroy wants to make up for the disappointment of Amstel Gold - he’s definitely due a big one.