Liège–Bastogne–Liège 2018
Bob Jungels' long-range raid wins the oldest Monument
- Sunday 22 April 2018
- Belgium
- 257 km
- 4,039 m climbed
- Won by Bob Jungels
The road
How it was won
- 35 km to go
The Redoute lights the fuse
With 35km to go the Côte de la Redoute signals the start of the dénouement. Gilbert lets off a rasping acceleration, and Nibali — brought up by his Bahrain-Merida train — is distanced shortly after.
- 18 km to go
Jungels forges clear on Roche-aux-Faucons
Bob Jungels sets a fearsome tempo on the Roche-aux-Faucons that only Woods, Henao and Fuglsang can hold. Rather than relent at the top he keeps piling on the pressure over the crest, and 18km from home a 20-second gap yawns open behind him.
- 6 km to go
Time-trialling over Saint-Nicolas
The Luxembourg champion doses his effort carefully on the Côte de Saint-Nicolas with 5.5km to run. Behind, a game of bluff and counter-bluff leaves nobody willing to lead the chase.
- 4 km to go
Alaphilippe's late probe
Under 4km to go Alaphilippe accelerates in pursuit, but Formolo and Valverde smother the move and the chasers fan uselessly across the road. Jungels' win is now certain.
- At the line
Jungels soloes to Ans
Jungels makes light work of the drag to Ans to win by 37 seconds, the biggest winning margin since Andy Schleck in 2009. Woods outsprints Bardet for second.
The result
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bob Jungels | Quick-Step Floors | 6:24:44 |
| 2 | Michael Woods | Team EF Education First - Drapac p/b Cannondale | +0:37 |
| 3 | Romain Bardet | AG2R La Mondiale | +0:37 |
The route on real terrain, every moment pinned to the kilometre it happened on — and the GPX to ride it yourself.