Liège-Bastogne-Liège, it’s a stellar challenge between Van der Poel and Pogacar. Longo Borghini favorite in the women’s race

Liège-Bastogne-LiègeMeaning what Mathieu Van der Poel against Tadej Pogacar. In the absence of the defending champion Evenepoel and Van Aert (and excluding Vingegaard, who is not a specialist in the Classics), it is the best that cycling today can express and a duel that will make the last of the Spring Monuments special. Mathieu chases a sensational and unprecedented trio: solo Merckx he won three Classics in the same season, but never Flanders, Roubaix and Liège together. But beat Pogacar on the ground of him, the climbs of the Deanery like the Redoute or the Roche aux Faucons, it is a difficult task even for someone like Vdp. In any case it will be a great show: “We saw at the Strade Bianche that Tadej doesn’t need races to immediately be in top form. A champion on his favorite route”. Tadej must exorcise the Doyenne, which last year cost him a broken wrist and the need to speed up his pace ahead of the Tour.

The precedents between the two

Pogacar won it in 2021, Van der Poel only raced it in 2020 (6th). The Slovenian hasn’t raced since March 24th: 9 days of racing and 6 victories this season. The Dutchman also ran little and won a lot: 6 days of racing and 3 very heavy victories. It will be the 69th time that the two put numbers in the same race. Van der Poel finished ahead 23 times, Pogacar 45. Mathieu won 10 times, Pogacar 8 times. Three times they finished first and second: the most memorable, Flanders 2023 won by the Slovenian. But nothing will match the World Championships in Glasgow, when Pogacar was third on one of the most extraordinary podiums in cycling history, with Van Aert alongside the two of them.

The others

It is difficult to imagine a winner other than the two. But there are others too. Starting with Mattias Skjelmose, who retired numb from the Freccia Wallone, but certainly in the game on the many climbs of Liège.

Bahrain has Pello Bilbao, in addition to the excellent Antonio Tiberi seen at the Tour of the Alps, there is Pidcock (a week ago the ring at the Amstel) and with him Bernal for Ineos, Simon Yates, the Vlasov-Hindley duo for Bora. Pogacar will also have Hirschi and Almeida on his side, Alpecin has the alternatives Laurance and Hermans. 17 Italians (and the last success in this race dates back to 2007, Di Luca then): the youngest is De Pretto (22 years old), the oldest Ulissi (34). In addition to Tiberi, Zana, Sobrero, Fortunato, Vergallito, Formolo can also do well.

Path

There are 259 km, with 11 cotes: the first is the Bomerue at km 89. Then, in the last 100 km, Wanne, Stockeu, Haute Levèe, Rosier and Desniè. Finally, the Redoute, 39 km from the finish (2 km at 9%). Then the Cote de Forges, 23 km from the finish line, the Roche aux Faucons, the last rough patch of the day 14 km from the finish. Followed by a short descent and plain until Liège.

The women’s race

More interesting, from the Italian point of view, is the women’s race. One of the great favorites is Elisa Longo Borghini, who is looking for a double with Flanders. Lidl-Trek also fields Gaia Realini. Reigning champion is the Dutch Demi Vollering. The fittest seems to be Kasia Niewiadoma, winner of the Freccia Wallone after more than 4 years of fasting. There is the eternal Marianne Vos, incredibly without the Doyenne in her infinite palmarès. The women’s Liège route starts from Bastogne and covers the last 153 km of the men’s race, with 10 cotes.

Time and TV

The starting time for the men’s race is 10.10am and the arrival is expected between 4.10pm and 4.45pm. Full live on Eurosport. Live in clear on Rai channels from 1.25pm. Followed by the arrival of the women’s race, around 6pm.