Samuel Sánchez (29th) and Dylan Teuns (31st) were the BMC Racing Team's best finishers Sunday at Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Philippe Gilbert soldiered home in 36th, 1:41 after winner Alejandro Valverde (Movistar Team), still bearing the scars from his hard crash Wednesday at Flèche Wallonne.

Philippe Gilbert has once before won the Liége-Bastogne-Liége. It was back in 2011, where he had the impressing year with the Triple Ardennes victory: victory in Fleche Wallone, Amstel Gold Race and Liége-Bastogne-Liége.

"We tried our best," Gilbert said to the BMC Racing Team website. "Personally, I was not starting in the best condition after the crash. But I did my best and tried to hold on as long as possible. I survived the climbs, but at the bottom of the Côte de Saint-Nicolas, I had to let them go.

"It is disappointing because I was really good before this week and then I lost everything on this crash Wednesday. That is sports. But at the same time, it is disappointing."

Sánchez arrived at the finish of the 253-kilometer race 66 seconds after Valverde – who won the race for the third time. Teuns, who was riding the WorldTour race for the first time, finished four seconds later.