Alejandro Valverde denies Dan Martin another win in the sports oldest classic, Liège-Bastogne-Liège
![]() |
Report: Liège-Bastogne-Liège
Team Report: The first part of Alejandro Valverde’s outstanding 2017 season has come to an end in the best possible way, as he claimed his eleventh win of the year -108th of his 15-season professional-career at the 103rd edition of Liège-Bastogne-Liège, a perfect, early present for his 37th birthday next Tuesday.
Picture: PelotonPhotos.com
Valverde added another landmark success to his impressive palmarès by conquering ‘La Doyenne’, one of cycling’s five Monuments of the classics calendar, for the fourth time. The marvel from Murcia’s victory makes him the most successful rider ever (9) in the Ardennes duo (Flèche + Liège), and puts him just one win down on Eddy Merckx at the hills trio, also considering Amstel Gold Race.
Valverde also becomes the first rider in history to win both in Huy and Ans three times in the same year. The impressive action from the Movistar Team leader came at the decisive slope of Ans, where Valverde jumped away from the group of favourites with less than 500 meters to go.
Picture: PelotonPhotos.com
‘Bala’ caught Daniel Martin (QST), who had launched his own acceleration seconds before, and sprinted to the top of the podium, shared with the Irishman and third-place finisher Michal Kwiatkowski (SKY).
Before that decisive moment, the Movistar Team worked to perfection all over the 258km course in Wallonia, Belgium. A dangerous eight-man break, whose last survivor Stéphane Rossetto (COF) was caught only at the foot of the Côte de Saint-Nicolas, 6km from the finish, forced Erviti, Herrada, Soler and Sutherland to work hard from early in the race.
At the decisive climbs of Roche-aux-Faucons and Saint-Nicolas, Betancur continued to follow the moves he had been keeping hold of earlier, while Rojas and Dani Moreno controlled the race sensationally well, even after the last ascent, to set their leader up in perfect position to continue writing history.
Winning Liège for the fourth time -one short of Eddy Merckx, equal now to Moreno Argentin- rounds off a glorious spring campaign for ‘Bala’, who will now enjoy some rest before starting his build-up for the Tour de France, the next goal of his season.
Dan Martin attacks to try and win his second Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Photo: Tim De Waele
REACTION: Alejandro Valverde: “This victory is a tribute to Michele Scarponi. I was close friends with him and it made me really, really sad to see him go pass away so young, in such tragic circumstances. I just couldn’t believe it when I saw the news. It wasn’t just me, but the whole team, the whole cycling world. All prizes I get here today will go to his family.
“It’s a historical win – to be honest, it was a perfect week for us, even though it was so hard to get the victory today. Just like we did Wednesday at Flèche Wallonne, we took command of the race from the very beginning, yet there was a moment we left the front for other teams to take their turns, because the break was a big one and it would have been much more difficult to bring it back without help. Everyone was on the limit today.
Picture: PelotonPhotos.com
“At the final slope in Ans, Martin really went hard to win solo, but I was looking for my distance to sprint, and with 300 meters to go, I just went on full steam to chase him down. Even though I saw Albasini sitting on my wheel, I had no doubts about carrying on.
I was able to catch Martin, breathe for a few seconds and sprint to the line. Because of everything that happened yesterday, it’s undoubtedly my most special victory here. I want to thank my whole team, because they were incredible once again, and fulfilled their tasks perfectly so I could focus on pulling this off.”
… continued after advert
Dan Martin caps off Ardennes Classics with second at “La Doyenne” – The Irishman, a winner of cycling’s oldest Monument back in 2013, made a surprise move in the finale but was caught by Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) before the final left-hand bend, but held on to finish runner-up and take his second podium of the week, after the one in Flèche Wallonne.
“We had a young team here and the boys rode their heart out, giving everything and putting in an incredible display. On the final climb, which suited me, I bided my time and when I noticed Alejandro was a bit boxed in I attacked and rode full gas, but unfortunately he came back and it was another second place for me”, said Dan Martin, one of the most consistent riders of this year’s Ardennes Classics.
Photo: Tim De Waele
“I will return here in 2018 and try again to win, as I love Liège–Bastogne–Liège, it’s basically the race I watched on television since I can remember. I’m not sad after my second place, because I got beaten by the better rider. Instead, I am very satisfied with the fact the team showed once again how strong it is. Quick-Step Floors was a major player in the Spring Classics, we got many great victories and other good results, and I think we can look behind at our campaign with huge pride”, concluded the 30-year-old Irishman after bringing the squad’s 42nd podium of the season.
Michael Kwiatkowski: “I felt good at the finish, but at the end of the day I was too far back and I couldn’t fight for the victory. It’s a pity because I had really good legs and really great support from the team. Sergio (Henao) was amazing at the end.
“The breakaway got so much time very quickly. We expected Movistar to control it easily and they would bring it back before the real race started. But it was so difficult to chase them down, and we were trying to cooperate together with a couple of teams. The pace was so hard and nobody was really able to make the difference.
“Sergio was a real team-mate today. I told him that I was feeling good and he was there to support me at the end. I’m happy we worked so well together.”
Picture: PelotonPhotos.com
Picture: PelotonPhotos.com
Picture: PelotonPhotos.com
Result
1. Alejandro Valverde Movistar Team 6:24:27
2. Daniel Martin Quick-Step Floors
3. Michal Kwiatkowski Team Sky 00:03
4. Michael Matthews Team Sunweb
5. Ion Izagirre Bahrain Merida Pro Cycling Team
6. Romain Bardet AG2R La Mondiale
7. Michael Albasini ORICA-Scott
8. Adam Yates ORICA-Scott 0:07
9. Michael Woods Cannondale-Drapac Pro Cycling Team
10. Rafał Majka Bora – Hansgrohe
11. Van AvermaetGregBMC Racing Team
102. Geoghegan HartTaoTeam Sky
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- Barnsley Road Club Races This Sunday
- Result: Ravensthorpe CC 8m TT
- Result: Manchester & District TTA 25m TT
- Result: A3crg Glorious Goodwood TTs
- Result: Oulton Park (Youth)
- Result: Oulton Park (Seniors)
- Result: Castle Combe Summer Series 2
- Result: CDPP Sport Crit Series 4
- Result: Full Gas Spring Cup Series 3
- Result: Lea Valley Woman’s RR
- Result: Border City Whs 18m TT
- Result: Writtle University College Men’s RR
- Result: Santini Bovingdon Bomber Summer Series
- Result: VC Norwich 25m TT
- Result: Southern Counties CU 10m TT
- Result: Cliff Pratt Deca Community Crits
- Result: Mid Shropshire Wheelers 50m TT
- Result: Reading CC 50m TT
- Result: Bath CC 25m TT
- Result: Kent League Cyclopark Circuit Races
- Result: trainSharp Road Race
- Results: Halesowen A&CC Road Races
- Result: Aughton Road Races
- Result: Blackburn & District CTC 2up TTT
- Result: Zeus CRT 10m TT
- Result: Torvelo Racing Braes GP
- Result: Virtual CC 25m TT
- Result: Tri-Logic 10m TT
- Result: Lincolnshire Criterium Racing League
- Result: Goodwood Summer Series 3
- Result: Birdwell Wheelers 10m TT
- Result: Melton Olympic 25m TT
- Result: Totnes Vire Stage Race
- Result: Medway Velo Club 10m TT
- Result: Holt Racing Pembrey Crits 5
- Result: Crystal Palace Crits 3
- Result: Tameside Tuesday Night Races
- Result: Lotus Cars Race League 2
- Result: Spatzwear Rayner Foundation Series Racing
- Result: Portsmouth Evening Circuits 7
Other News on VeloUK
- Barnsley Road Club Races This Sunday
- Sunday: Proper Northern Road Race Series 2
- This weekend: 48th Totnes Vire Two Day
- 2022 British Road Championships Venues
- TOUR SERIES: Round 3 (Sunderland) (Men)
- Startlist: Tour Series Round 1 Guisborough
- 2022 Tour Series Rider Squads Revealed
- News: Simon Yates to Vuelta a Asturias
- Events: Shrewsbury Sports Village
- News: 2022 Women’s CiCLE Classic Saved!
- Startlists: 2022 Rapha Lincoln GP
- Startlist: Oakenclough RR
- News: ŠKODA DSI Cycling Academy
- News: UCI Track Nations Cup Day 1
- News: The Pedal Club April Lunch
- Startlists: BUCS 10m TT Championship
- News: Entries open for Handicap League
- News: Tour Series 2022
- CiCLE Classic StartList 2022
- News:2022 CiCLE Classic Returns this weekend
- News: Crowd Funding for Women’s CiCLE Classic
- News: Special Santini Collection for Roubaix
- News: Teams for the Women’s Tour Revealed
- News: Sponsors Needed for Womens/Junior CiCLE Classic
- 2022 Tour of Britain Route Revealed
- Entries needed: Hell of the North Runway
- News: GB for Nations Cup
- News: Road Champs head to Scotland
- News: Tour Series to Race Stranraer
- News: Tour Series heading for Clacton on Sea
- News: Tour Series/Tour of Britain
- News: 16th CiCLE Classic
- Feature: Moda Bikes Vivo Review
- News: Women’s Tour Finishes in Oxfordshire
- Startlist: RCR FatCreations Road Race
- Mini Preview: Ontur round of the Copa Espana
- Startlists: The Peaks 2 Day
- News: Edinburgh Road Club Youth Team
- News: Sigma Sports-Cannondale Race Team
- British Elite Development Teams for 2022