The Doyenne des classiques, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, was today the last of the spring classic races.

In Ans Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) was the first to cross the finish line with a comfortable gap on Alexandr Kolobnev (Team Katusha).

A resume of Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2010

The 258 kilometers of this classic have been raced under quite good and sunny weather conditions with an average speed of 38.9 km/h.

Quite quickly after the start (after 4 kilometers), a group of 7 riders was formed at the head of the race by Thomas de Gendt (Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator), Maxime Bouet (AG2R La Mondiale), Alan Perez (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Jussi Veikkanen (Française des Jeux), Dries Devenijns (Quick Step), Niki Terpstra (Team Milram) and Mauro Finetto (Liquigas-Doimo). At 180 kilometers from the finish their gap is at its highest at about 8 minutes and about 10 kilometers further Dirk Bellemakers (Landbouwkrediet) joins the 7 escapees.

While Maxime Bouet is having difficulties in following the other riders of this group in the Côte de Stockeu and once back with the group again in the climb of the Col du Rosier, the German rider Jens Voigt (Team Saxo Bank) is doing quite an effort to join the leading riders, but when he gets back on Jussi Veikkanen -also left behind by the leading group- the gap grows again and the two riders are finally taken back by the peloton.

While approaching the Mont Theux, it's up to Maxime Monfort (HTC-Columbia) to attack at the head of the peloton, but he doesn't manage to join the leading group which falls apart at the same time and is finally taken back by the peloton, except for Dries Devenijns. At 39 kilometers from the finish this last rider is also taken back by the peloton.

In the Côte de Redoute, Carlos Barredo's (Quick Step) attack leads to the formation of a new leading group, which is however quickly taken back.

After an attack by Bram Tankink (Rabobank), Serguei Ivanov (Team Katusha) is the next to attack but while approaching the Côte de la Roche aux Faucons the Russian rider is taken back as well. The next rider to attack is Andy Schleck, winner of Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2009, accompanied by the principal favourite Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto).
When they get over Tankink, a group with all favourites, including Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team), Alberto Contador (Astana), Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne), Igor Anton (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Frank Schleck (Team Saxo Bank), is formed behind them.

At 20 kilometers from the finish the two-times winner of the Tour de France, Alberto Contador, places his counter-attack to easily come back on Schleck and Gilbert.
When these riders are taken back a few kilometers further, the next attack comes from Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana), counter-attacked by Alexandr Kolobnev (Team Katusha) who gets back on him, with behind them a group of most important favourites: Andy Schleck, Alberto Contador, Alejandro Valverde and Philippe Gilbert.
When Philippe Gilbert attacks, Andy Schleck can not follow his speed and behind the leading duo, another duo is thus formed by Gilbert and Valverde, followed a bit further by Andy Schleck and Cadel Evans. The World Champion, earlier this week winner of the Flèche Wallonne, finally gets back on the second duo which is than at 14 seconds behind the leading duo while the peloton is at about 40 seconds.

At the foot of the last climb, the Côte de Saint-Nicolas at 5 kilometers from the finish, the two leading riders increased their gap up to 30 seconds and in the climb the 3 chasing riders don't really get closer. The two Alexandr(e) can thus start to think about the victory: Vinokourov is the first to try to secure his chance to win and he thus places an attack at about 6 kilometers from the finish, but he never really gets rid of Kolobnev.

At the same place, the favourite rider Philippe Gilbert tries his final chance and attacks as well. He doesn't manage to get back on Vinokourov and Kolobnev however while they continue at their rhythm to the finish line.

When Alexandre Vinokourov attacks at 500 meters from the finish, Kolobnev no longer sticks with him and Vino thus continues solo to his second victory in Liège-Bastogne-Liège (after the 2005 edition). Kolobnev finishes second behind him while Alejandro Valverde wins the sprint for the third place, ahead of Philippe Gilbert and Cadel Evans. That was most probably not the birthday present he would have liked to offer himself!!

The Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2010 classification

The top 10 of the 96st edition of the Doyenne des classiques, Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2010 is as follows:
1/ Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) - 6h37'48"
2/ Alexandr Kolobnev (Katusha Team) - +00'06"
3/ Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) - +01'04"
4/ Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) - +01'04"
5/ Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team) - +01'04"
6/ Andy Schleck (Team Saxo Bank) - +01'07"
7/ Igor Anton (Euskaltel-Euskadi) - +01'07"
8/ Chris Horner (Team Radioshack) - +01'07"
9/ Frank Schleck (Team Saxo Bank) - +01'07"
10/ Alberto Contador (Astana) - +01'07"

door Thomas Vergouwen
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