Liège–Bastogne–Liège 2021

The road

At the start

Alaphilippe's unfinished business

Liège, and the world champion has a ghost to bury: six months ago Julian Alaphilippe raised his arms too early on this line, was beaten by Primož Roglič and then relegated for good measure. He comes off victory over the Slovenian at Flèche Wallonne, and Roglič lines up to defend. Valverde, at 41, wants a record-equalling fifth. UAE's entry was in doubt all week after a COVID outbreak.

How it was won

1. 187 km to go

   The harrying begins on the Wanne

   With 90km left the break's cushion is down to five minutes and UAE, Deceuninck and Jumbo-Visma have taken over the front. Luis León Sánchez attacks near the summit, and from here the race never settles again.

2. 236 km to go

   Geoghegan Hart tears up La Redoute

   Ineos mass at the foot of the decisive climb and the Giro champion sets a ferocious, sustained pace up its steepest ramps. The line snaps behind him: barely a dozen riders are still on his wheel at the top.

3. 324 km to go

   Côte des Forges

   Geoghegan Hart goes again with Adam Yates glued to him, Yates kicks on, and Pogačar is exactly where he always seems to be — near the front, unbothered, willing to do the work.

4. 421 km to go

   Carapaz slips away

   The group hesitates and the Ecuadorean bolts, opening twenty seconds over the top and tucking into the low, banned position on the descent that will later cost him disqualification.

5. 514 km to go

   Woods lights the Roche-aux-Faucons

   Formolo's huge acceleration finishes Carapaz, and then Woods attacks on the steepest section of the last climb of the day. Only four riders can hold him: Pogačar, Alaphilippe, Gaudu and the 41-year-old Valverde. The Canadian presses again on the false flat above the summit and the gap becomes decisive — five men, thirteen kilometres, the oldest race in cycling.

6. 6At the line

   Pogačar takes the sprint

   They share the work all the way to the last kilometre and then Pogačar comes past Alaphilippe and Gaudu, a 22-year-old adding La Doyenne to his palmarès and succeeding his compatriot Roglič as champion.

The result