At the last spring classic in the 2022 cycling year, 257.2 kilometres and ten tough climbs in the Ardennes await world champion Julian Alaphilippe and Co.
When Liège-Bastogne-Liège is held for the 108th time this Sunday, the Frenchman will have Belgian all-rounder Wout van Aert as his biggest rival. Defending champion Tadej Pogacar has to withdraw due to a bereavement. Or will old star Alejandro Valverde have the crowning glory? The 41-year-old Spaniard, who is ending his career after the season, has already won the race four times and presented himself in surprisingly strong form with second place at the Flèche Wallonne on Wednesday.
Farewell
When Alejandro Valverde entered professional cycling in 2002, Jan Ullrich and Lance Armstrong were still duelling for victory in the Tour de France. The Spaniard quickly became a permanent fixture - albeit with a dubious reputation. Like Ullrich, Valverde was also involved in the scandal surrounding doping doctor Eufemiano Fuentes and was even banned for two years until the end of 2011. However, the man from Murcia returned and celebrated further great successes - especially in one-day races. He won four times in Liège, five times at the Flèche Wallonne and to top it all off, he won the 2018 World Championship title. He turns 42 on Monday.
Favourites
Without defending champion Tadej Pogacar, there are many indications of a duel between Alaphilippe and van Aert. Based on recent performances, van Aert is likely to be slightly ahead. Pogacar's representative Marc Hirschi from Switzerland, the Russian Bora-Hansgrohe pro Aleksandr Vlasov and Basque Country winner Dani Martinez from Colombia are among the other contenders.
German
No German has triumphed in Liège since Didi Thurau's success in 1979. This is unlikely to change following the absence of Maximilian Schachmann, who finished third in 2019, due to illness. However, his Bora-hansgrohe racing team is still hoping for a successful result. After all, the Russian Vlasov should not be underestimated following his third place at the Flèche.
Route
257.2 kilometres await the riders. Over the first 100 kilometres to Bastogne, breakaway groups are likely to look for their chance. The real action, however, will be in the last 90 kilometres, when eight of the ten poisonous climbs in the Ardennes await. The Côte de la Redoute and the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons in particular could bring the (preliminary) decision in the last 30 kilometres.
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