Liege-Bastogne-Liege 2010: The Big Preview

• Thursday, 22 April 2010
• Nigel Wynn
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Liege-Bastogne-Liege pulls the curtain down on the 2010 Spring Classics on Sunday, April 25.

The oldest and generally considered the toughest of the Spring Classics, Liege-Bastogne-Liege features 10 climbs plus the leg-sapping final ascent to the finish line in Ans.

This year's route has been revised by organiser ASO to take into account roadworks that have ruled out the Haute-Levée and Vecquée climbs. These have been replaced by Col du Maquisard and Mont-Theux, positioned at 60km and 55km from the finish line respectively.

Last year, Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) jumped away on the penultimate climb, Côte de la Roche aux Faucons, to catch and pass escapee Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) and take a textbook solo win.

Schleck will be looking to repeat his win this year, and will again be up against Amstel Gold winner Gilbert and Fleche Wallonne winner Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team) - both of whom are on top form.

Last year's runner-up Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) has amassed an impressive array of results so far this season, and will be looking to round off his spring with a win at La Doyenne. Rodriguez was runner-up to Evans at Wednesday's Fleche Wallonne.

Other contenders to watch out for include double Liege winner Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne), Damiano Cunego (Lampre), Chris Horner (RadioShack), Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Transitions), Alberto Contador (Astana) and Simon Gerrans (Team Sky).

Liege-Bastogne-Liege 2010: Route
Belgium
Sunday, April 25
Distance: 258km
Starts: Liege
Finish: Ans (Liege)

Click on the images below to enlarge them in a new window

Liege-Bastogne-Liege 2010: Teams
Acqua & Sapone
Ag2r La Mondiale
Androni Giocattoli
Astana
Bbox Bouygues Telecom
BMC Racing Team
Caisse d'Epargne
Cervelo
Cofidis
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Francaise des Jeux
Garmin-Transitions
HTC-Columbia
Katusha
Lampre-Farnese
Landbouwkrediet
Liquigas-Doimo
Milram
Omega Pharma-Lotto
Quick Step
Rabobank
RadioShack
Saxo Bank
Team Sky
Topsport Vlaanderen

Liege-Bastogne-Liege 2010: British riders
Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky)
Steve Cummings (Team Sky)
Chris Froome (Team Sky)

Liege-Bastogne-Liege 2010: TV guide
Sunday, April 25: 1-4pm, LIVE coverage, British Eurosport
Monday, April 26: 1-2.30pm, highlights, British Eurosport

Liege-Bastogne-Liege: Recent winners
2009 Andy Schleck (Luxembourg)
2008 Alejandro Valverde (Spain)
2007 Danilo Di Luca (Italy)
2006 Alejandro Valverde (Spain)
2005 Alexandre Vinokourov (Kazakhstan)
2004 Davide Rebellin (Italy)
2003 Tyler Hamilton (USA)
2002 Paolo Bettini (Italy)
2001 Oscar Camenzind (Switzerland)
2000 Paolo Bettini (Italy)
1999 Frank Vandenbroucke (Belgium)

Andy Schleck wins in 2009

Liege-Bastogne-Liege: Last year's top ten
1. Andy Schleck (Lux) Saxo Bank in 6-34-32
2. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne at 1-17
3. Davide Rebellin (Ita) Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni at 1-24
4. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Silence-Lotto
5. Serguei Ivanov (Rus) Katusha
6. Simon Gerrans (Aus) Cervelo Test Team
7. Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-NGC
8. Benoit Vaugrenard (Fra) Francaise des Jeux
9. Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Saxo Bank
10. Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi all same time.
British
45. Chris Froome (GB) Barloworld at 2-54
DNF Steve Cummings (GB) Barloworld

Related links
Spring Classics 2010: Cycling Weekly's coverage index
Climbs of Liege-Bastogne-Liege