Gilbert wins Liege-Bastogne-Liege
Philippe Gilbert outsprinted Frank and Andy Schleck to win Liege-Bastogne-Liege and become just the second man in history to complete the Ardennes triple.
Having won the Amstel Gold Race and Fleche Wallonne in imperious fashion, the 28-year-old Belgian started as huge favourite to be the first rider since Davide Rebellin to win all three races.
He lived up to his billing, breaking clear with the Schleck brothers on the Côte de la Roche aux Faucons, and easily distancing them both in a sprint for the finish line.
Frank Schleck took second place with Andy third (both Trek-Leopard), while Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) led home a chasing group almost half a minute back.
All eyes were firmly fixed on Gilbert on the start line. He hails from the town of Remouchamps, the location of the Côte de la Redoute, one of the race's ten climbs.
Unconcerned at being marked out of the race by his rivals, Gilbert freely admitted the race was "the most important one of my career" and had dreamt of winning it since childhood.
His Omega Pharma-Lotto team, evidently keen to avoid the kind of manic chase that took place at Fleche Wallonne, had their work cut out for the first half of the race in keeping a group of 10 breakaway riders - featuring Fredrik Kessiakoff (Astana), Eduard Vorganov (Katusha), Jesus Herrada (Movistar), Mathias Frank (BMC), David Le Lay (Ag2r), Thomas De Gendt (Vacansoleil), Tony Gallopin (Cofidis), Mickael Delage (Française des Jeux), Sebastien Delfosse (Landbouwkrediet) and Yannick Talabardon (Saur-Sojasun) - to a tight four-minute leash.
Tiredness began to set in among the leaders on the Côte de Stockeu, and as their lead began to disintegrate, a high-quality group of nine counter-attackers - featuring Laurens Ten Dam and Juan Manuel Garate (Rabobank), Jerome Pineau and Dario Cataldo (Quickstep), Kanstantin Siutsou (HTC), Greg Van Avermaet (BMC), Enrico Gasparotto (Astana), Giampaolo Caruso (Liquigas), and Biel Kadri (Ag2r) - broke clear of the peloton.
With 65 kilometres to go they bridged the gap to the lead group, from which Le Lay, Delage, Talabardon, Delfosse and Herrada had in the meantime been dropped.
Despite the Trek-Leopard squad setting a punishing pace on the front of the peloton, the 13 leaders worked together remarkably well to extend their lead to a minute 45 seconds with 40 kilometres to go.
The pack began to make back time in earnest on the Côte de la Redoute, 30 kilometres from home, and by the time Frank Schleck and Jakob Fuglsang led the peloton over the crest of the hill, the gap had come down to just 50 seconds, while Gasparotto's pace at the head of the lead group saw Cataldo, Vorganov, Caruso, Gallopin and Frank dropped.
Andy Schleck then made his move at the foot of the Côte de la Roche aux Faucons, with brother Frank on his wheel along with Gilbert, while an increase in pace from Gasparotto blew the lead group to pieces, with only Greg van Avermaet and Jerome Pineau able to stay on his wheel.
The Schlecks and Gilbert charged up the Côte to bridge the gap to Gasparotto's group, before Pineau, and then Gasparotto himself, were dropped.
The two Schlecks and Gilbert then worked together well to distance the Astana and Katusha-led peloton to ensure the finish would be fought out between the group of four, which then became three as Van Avermaet fell back on the Côte de St. Nicolas, the final climb of the day.
Despite the Schlecks' pre-race acknowledgement that they were keen to avoid taking Gilbert to a sprint, it was the Belgian who launched the only attack on the St. Nicolas, immediately distancing Andy Schleck, though the younger of the two brothers fought back to his rival's wheel on the subsequent flat section.
It was to little avail, however, as neither brother posed much threat to Gilbert in the sprint, and when he launched his final kick just over 100 metres from the line, the race was settled.
Comment 3 - 22 of 22
its a good point pete makes post 8 "a good sign of clean cycling "regarding the schlecks not being able to do anymore in shaking off gilbert, maybe this is what we have to get used to in clean racing, the body just cant respond in the end, who knows, anyway great win for gilbert, definitely the strongest out there.
Forget tactics, this was simply the strongest rider winning. Schlecks would have lost out to Gilbert no matter what their tactic was.
Continuous comments on the Schleck's tactics is missing the trick that Gilbert out manoeuvred them both them both with superior tactics. Not only that, he was stronger than them both put together, which in essence they were at the end! Tactics always look poor (or a 'damp squib') when you are not so strong, or equally as strong, as your opponent. The Tourmalet is a nice example, he must've attacked Contador 10 times that day, when you realise your'e not going to kill off your opponent, you ride for the stage win. Had he not done so, he would've lost second on GC to Menchov in the final TT.
Jbandbetsymac - I think you hit the proverbial nail on the head . And I, too, was astounded by Andy 's lack of killer instinct on Tourmalet . And for those who here in their comments give us thumbs down for generating the debate on the Schlecks poor tactics , you are missing a trick . Gilbert may well have won come won may (he is that good currently) but it was a climax that never climaxed, for me at least. It was ultimately a damp squib , and that was down to the Schlecks not having a clue what to do . That is to take nothing away from Gilbert , who performed top drawer for three races in succession - extremely impressive !!!
I love the Schlecks and I will always be their fan. Having said that, that was a mistake, even amateur cyclists know how to react in that situation. Forget two brothers who do anything for each other, two team mates who dont like each other would have handled the situation different. I have seen it many times how two team mates destroy a better sprinter who is alone.
1- This is NOT a mountain stage in tour de france, you just dont make someone like Gilbert tired by letting one teammate do the work in the front.. You dont take someone like Gilbert in this kinda road and expect to outsprint him.
2. I remember I saw almost the same thing many yrs ago. Two team mates became very passive, (wasted like 12 valuable seconds), one went to the left and the other to the right, The guy who was followed started slowing down (letting his team mate go for the win). The guy with no teammate knew he has no choice but chase down the one who left. He did , but wasted a lot of energy. The two team mates did the same thing again, he had no choice but to let one of them escape.
3. Am I bitter cuz I like the Schlecks ? Absolutely not, Gilbert well done. Congrats!!!!
Some similarities with LBL 97 when Bartoli went head to head with Zulle & Jalabert, and Gilbert's comments post race suggest he was well aware of how to handle two opponents like that, in identifying which one is vulnerable, and attacking them. In this case it was Andy Schleck, who was then obliged to ride for Franck, which suited Gilbert perfectly. Its all well and good to say the Schleck's shouldve taken turns attacking him, but they'd know better than us viewers just how strong Gilbert was and how valid these remarks are. Even if they had done so, they would've risked their chances at winning (more chance winning from a group of 3 than 15) and possibly been swamped by the group behind when all cohesion between the three would be lost due to constant attack and counter attack. Remember the margin to the 2nd group was not much more than 20 seconds and had they been caught, Gilbert probably would have won the group sprint anyway. The best man won, simple as that.
P.S i did read about their hardest efforts and perfect tactics just think they got them wrong the time to do something was when he was on his own with just the two of them and Van Avermaet for company
don't know what tactics the Schlecks where trying but from past experience with team mate FC who i think is better than Gilbert i would have thought as soon as they got Gilbert on his own one would have attacked and one would have just wheel sucked Gilbert they still might not have beat him but we saw fabian cancellara loss a race because he did not like the idea so who knows
The Schlecks are not complete bike riders, they are poor bike handlers, poor tacticians and lack the killer instinct. They are without doubt great climbers and physically superior, and win races because of that, but seem to lack the ability to "bury themselves". That was also evident on the Tourmalet last year when Andy had ridden Contador to a point where he could barely speak when he crossed the line but Andy just didn't have the killer instinct to finish him off. If Andy had been able, or willing, to "bury himself" he would have won the Tour.
Ian, they were too tired.
Hats off to Gilbert, strongest man of the race won and the one who knows how to read a race and what tactics to employ. Always liked him - he can mix it, rides all the spring classics not just those that suit most, can hang in for a sprint, will go for breaks and long breaks and doesn't mind doing his tune - top rider, hats off to him and congratulations.
But dear oh dear, what were the Schlecks doing??? It was like watching schoolboy racing. Why didn't they attack, then attack, then attack. Very disappointing and very poor show! And please don't give me the 'they were too tired' story
Those who said that the Schlecks didn't have any tactics, can you elaborate a bit more about what kind of tactics that could have been applied to make Gilbert lose?
Paula, if you read their comments in "Velo News", the Schlecks did have a plan, but it didn't work. If you are as good as Gilbert, there's little that can be done to better him apart from knocking him off his bike!
The result was from about 10km was inevitable....as good as Gilbert is, and he is very good, the Schlecks just didn't seem to have a plan - even if they "blew up" trying ; it was disappointing.
The schlecks did their best guys ! They are not explosive riders like Gilbert. If they could have 'worked' Gilbert over they would have, it was not bad tactics or stupidity. Their bodies simply could not respond, a good sign of clean cycling I think. Hats off to Gilbert, top man.
can't understand the schlecks either it's like they have a chance for check mate and they can't even get stalemate. the only time they truly worked someone over was cadel and that was in sastre's favour.
andy and frank didnt have tactics, very poor from them, but they have done it beforeand gifted wins to others, one day they mite learn
The Schlecks tactics were strange indeed. Seem to hand it on a plate to Gilbert .
Excellent win for Gilbert and fully deserved, Supercool and super strong….
Slightly surprised it was made easier for Gilbert by Leopardtrek not having a man down the road .. and every time Andy attacked on Cote de la Roche, Frank was the one who closed the gaps instead of forcing PG to use energy and close.. not too say it would have changed the result from a super-strong PG but it would have made him use more energy and given more chance… saying that thanks to the Schlek’s for making the race happen..
Great Classic season for PG … luv the fact he is always prepared to ride aggressively and put in a turn… can you imagine the discussions going on in Quickstep offices right now.. ha aha ha
One mistake here, Roman Kreuziger is from Astana, not from Liquigas yet.
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