CyclingQuotes.com uses cookies for statistics and targeting ads. This information is shared with third parties.
ACCEPT COOKIES » MORE INFO »

Every day we bring you more pro-cycling news

"So I thought if I tried something I could make the difference, as Daniel Martin did last year. But I didn't have the legs for it today. Maybe you couldn't see it on television but I was on my limit," Gilbert says

Photo: Sirotti

LIÈGE - BASTOGNE - LIÈGE

RACE PROFILE
|
NEWS

PHILIPPE GILBERT

RIDER PROFILE
|
NEWS

SAMUEL SANCHEZ

RIDER PROFILE
|
NEWS
27.04.2014 @ 20:37 Posted by Emil Axelgaard

 

After his win in the Amstel Gold Race, Philippe Gilbert (BMC) was one of the red-hot favourites to win today's Liege-Bastogne-Liege but the local hero could only mane 8th. An honest Gilbert admitted that lacked the legs in the finale and also made it clear that the Dutch classic suit him much better than his home race to Liege.

 

BMC Racing Team's Philippe Gilbert finished eighth Sunday at Liège-Bastogne-Liège after Samuel Sánchez was the last of several teammates who worked hard to chase down breakaway riders in the final spring classic of the season. 


Spanning 263 kilometers from Liège to Ans, the 100th edition of the race featured 10 significant climbs, including the Côte de La Redoute – which featured "Phil" painted on its slopes dozens of times.

Six riders gained a lead of nearly 16 minutes before the peloton gave chase. Steve Cummings, Marcus Burghardt, Peter Velits and Ben Hermans were among the BMC Racing Team riders prominently contributing to the chase as the last of the escapees was caught with 20 km to go.

Gianpaolo Caruso (Katusha Team) and Domenico Pozzovivo (AG2R La Mondiale) attacked with 5.6 km to go and built a 16-second lead. Hermans and then Sánchez led the chase of a group containing Gilbert into the final kilometers.

 

"I worked a lot in La Roche-aux-Faucons, Saint-Nicolas and in Ans," Sánchez said. "The final we saw was good, but it is important that we win the race."

 

Simon Gerrans (Orica-GreenEDGE) dodged defending champion Dan Martin (Garmin-Sharp), who slid out in the last turn, and held off runner-up Alejandro Valverde (Movistar Team). Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) finished third.

"The final was fast but controlled," Gilbert said. "We always stayed together with a big group. All the leaders had some teammates around them (so) it was difficult to try something. The favorites were always together.

 

"(On the last climb), I looked back and I saw everyone was on the limit and it was 10 percent (gradient). So I thought if I tried something I could make the difference, as Daniel Martin did last year. But I didn't have the legs for it today. Maybe you couldn't see it on television but I was on my limit.

 

"The Amstel has my name written all over it, with the technical course. But in Liege usually the shape is more important. Nonetheless, Liege is the main race for me."

"It was a good performance from the team in general," Sport Director Valerio Piva said "We went in all the action and controlled the race from the beginning. In the final, Philippe was good, but not good enough to win. Samuel Sánchez and Ben Hermans were very strong in the final kilometers."

MORE NEWS:

VIEW SELECTED

Bycykling 101: Navigering i byens gader og cykelvenlige... 27.11.2023 @ 12:11The Best Danish Cyclist To Bet On At 2022 Tour De France 13.01.2022 @ 15:262022 Upcoming Tournament Overview 03.01.2022 @ 09:45Best Place to Find Stand-Up Paddleboards 16.06.2021 @ 08:16What are Primoz Roglic’s Chances to Win 2021 Tour de Fr... 17.03.2021 @ 08:37Amazing victory by young champion Sarah Gigante 04.02.2021 @ 14:21Three reasons why cycling is one of the best ways to ex... 28.09.2020 @ 12:03Why do businesses use meeting room managers? 14.09.2020 @ 13:42Five things that you can do, if you want to gain more f... 20.08.2020 @ 15:38One for the road 09.06.2020 @ 15:25List of CyclingQuotes previews 07.05.2020 @ 13:20Blue Energy: room for all interests 26.08.2019 @ 12:56Get your daily dose of exercise at home 08.07.2019 @ 10:443 good advice to be able to afford your favorite bike 25.02.2019 @ 12:32Cycle through gorgeous landscapes 22.10.2018 @ 21:41Balance Your Economy and Diet and Start Saving Money 08.10.2018 @ 11:18Stay Safe: 3 Helmets That Can Keep Your Head Protected... 20.07.2018 @ 07:59Planning to bet on Tour De France - Bet types and strat... 24.05.2018 @ 14:18Basics of cycling betting 25.10.2017 @ 13:10Bauer moves to ORICA-SCOTT 28.08.2017 @ 10:45End of the road for CyclingQuotes 08.01.2017 @ 16:00Rui Costa confirms Giro participation 07.01.2017 @ 12:55Van Avermaet: I am not afraid of Sagan 07.01.2017 @ 09:45Unchanged course for E3 Harelbeke 07.01.2017 @ 09:32Jenner takes surprise win at Australian U23 Championships 07.01.2017 @ 08:53No replacement for Meersman at Fortuneo-Vital Concept 06.01.2017 @ 19:14Barguil with two goals in 2017 06.01.2017 @ 19:06More details about French Vuelta start emerges 06.01.2017 @ 14:16Kristoff to start season at Etoile de Besseges 06.01.2017 @ 14:10Ion Izagirre announces schedule for first year at Bahrain 06.01.2017 @ 12:40JLT Condor optimistic for Herald Sun Tour 06.01.2017 @ 09:19Haas leads Dimension Data trio in fight for Australian... 06.01.2017 @ 09:15Sagan spearheads Bora-hansgrohe at Tour Down Under 06.01.2017 @ 09:12Henao and Thomas lead Sky Down Under 06.01.2017 @ 09:09Bauer crowned New Zealand TT champion 06.01.2017 @ 08:33Van der Poel ready to defend Dutch title 05.01.2017 @ 21:00Pantano ambitious for first Tour with Trek 05.01.2017 @ 20:41Landa with new approach to the Giro 05.01.2017 @ 20:36Sunweb Development Team sign Goos and Zepuntke 05.01.2017 @ 20:27Dumoulin confirms Giro participation 05.01.2017 @ 20:19Bauer targets victories in Quick-Step debut 05.01.2017 @ 20:16Gaviria and Boonen lead Quick-Step in San Juan 05.01.2017 @ 20:13Team Sunweb presented in Germany 05.01.2017 @ 20:09ASO take over major German WorldTour race 05.01.2017 @ 11:01Team Sunweb unveil new jersey 05.01.2017 @ 10:54Reactions from the Australian TT Championships 05.01.2017 @ 08:27Dennis defends Australian TT title 05.01.2017 @ 08:21Scotson takes back to back U23 TT titles in Australia 05.01.2017 @ 08:15Utrecht on track to host 2020 Vuelta 04.01.2017 @ 18:28Pre-season setback for Talansky 04.01.2017 @ 17:56Kristoff: It's not impossible for me to win in Rou... 04.01.2017 @ 17:49Boom close to first cyclo-cross win in LottoNL debut 04.01.2017 @ 17:40UAE Abu Dhabi make late signing of Arab rider 04.01.2017 @ 17:36UAE Abu Dhabi unveil new jersey 04.01.2017 @ 17:30BMC unveil race schedule 04.01.2017 @ 17:21

Currently no news in this list

Peng LIU
41 years | today
Denis BERTOLINI
53 years | today
Rafael APOLINARIO
29 years | today
Marthe RØDSGAARD
29 years | today
Leon MAZZONE
28 years | today

© CyclingQuotes.com