101st Liège–Bastogne–Liège - 2015 Fourth Monument - 253k

[Asero831]

Shorter but more selective finale as the organizers claim:
Vecquée climb is removed, Rosier and Maquisard return.

101st Liège–Bastogne–Liège - 253k

Liège–Bastogne–Liège Map

Climbs of the 2015 Liège-Bastogne-Liège:
Côte de La Roche-en-Ardenne (km 79.0 - 2.8km, 6.2%)
Côte de Saint-Roch (km 125.5 - 1km, 11.2%)
Côte de Wanne (km 169.0 - 2.7km, 7.4%)
Côte de Stockeu (km 175.5 - 1km, 12.5%)
Côte de la Haute-Levée (km 181.5 - 3.6km, 5.6%)
Col du Rosier (km 194.0 - 4.4km, 5.9%)
Col du Maquisard (km 207.0 - 2.5km, 5%)
Côte de La Redoute (km 218.5 - 2km, 8.9%)
Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons (km 234.0 - 1.5km, 9.4%)
Côte de Saint-Nicolas (km 248.0 - 1.2km, 8.6%)


Côte de Saint-Nicolas, 1.2 kilometre-long climb at 8.6%

2014 Top 10
1.GERRANS Simon 6:37:43
2.VALVERDE Alejandro
3.KWIATKOWSKI Michal
4.CARUSO Giampaolo
5.POZZOVIVO Domenico 0:03
6.SLAGTER Tom-Jelte
7.KREUZIGER Roman
8.GILBERT Philippe
9.MORENO Daniel 0:05
10.BARDET Romain 0:06

Current Odds

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re: 2015 Fourth Monument: 101st Liège–Bastogne–Liège - 253k

Hopefully someone like Wellens or Bardet will liven up the race and make it pay off, but most likely it's going to be decided between the main contenders in a rather dull sprint that Valverde or Kwiatkowski will win.

How is Gerrans' condition?

 

[Netserk]

Valverde will win a dull edition.

 

[DFA123]

Re: 2015 Fourth Monument: 101st Liège–Bastogne–Liège - 253k

Hopefully someone like Wellens or Bardet will liven up the race and make it pay off, but most likely it's going to be decided between the main contenders in a rather dull sprint that Valverde or Kwiatkowski will win.

How is Gerrans' condition?

I think every one of those contenders except Valverde and Kwiatkowski (i.e. Rodriguez, Matin, Nibali, Rui Costa) should try to get away before the final climb. Because they aren't going to be able to drop both Valverde and Kwiat on current form, and will undoubtedly lose to one of them in a sprint.

Obviously they will all wait until the end though.

 

[Asero831]

 

[Fernandez]

Valverde for president...... sorry, i mean for the win

 

[happytramp]

ABV......(Anyone...But...Valverde)

 

[Miburo]

Nibali isn't a favorite, he's too bad, he'll try something but sadly enough he's not good enough.

I expect a *** race in the hope that against all odds it'll be something worth watching.

 

[Leffe_Bruin]

Gasparotto has this one in the bag

 

[Pricey_sky]

I wonder if Matthews can win this? If it's as lame as last year he should get over the final climb in the lead group.

 

[Velolover2]

Re:

I wonder if Matthews can win this? If it's as lame as last year he should get over the final climb in the lead group.

He is not racing it, and no. Amstel is not Liege. It's too big of a mouthful. A real LBL is a climber's race.

But you are right about the final. Hopefully it will not end in a reduced sprint. I would love to see some action on the small downhill sections, not just on the climbs.

 

[Bushman]

Fuglsang is probably as strong as Nibali, but none of them are amongst the favourites. I just hope that Astana will attack like, what they lack in strengt they make up for in numbers.

 

[Bushman]

Re: Re:

I wonder if Matthews can win this? If it's as lame as last year he should get over the final climb in the lead group.

He is not racing it, and no. Amstel is not Liege. It's too big of a mouthful. A real LBL is a climber's race.

But you are right about the final. Hopefully it will not end in a reduced sprint. I would love to see some action on the small downhill sections, not just on the climbs.

I think Matthews on current form could have won last year, but I doubt the race will be that defensive again.

 

[murali]

looks like a reduced field sprint to me.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Re:

Fuglsang is probably as strong as Nibali, but none of them are amongst the favourites. I just hope that Astana will attack like, what they lack in strengt they make up for in numbers.

Pretty sure Nibali will attack at some point without much luck. Jakob will probably do the same too. Ofcourse he and Nibali could always wait for the last 2 climbs, but for that to happen the race needs to be raced much harder with more selection.

 

[SafeBet]

Don't forget Scarponi. He looked very good in FW and has always delivered in LBL. Astana sure has plenty of weapons to try and tear this race apart, and probably is the only team with the right mindset to do it.

 

[Eagle]

Anyone know how Dan Martin is after his crash?

 

[SeriousSam]

Hoping for a sprint from a very reduced group. Will be exhilarating.

I doubt there will be any of those beloved attacks from 100k out. I think it's because you can do the same pace doing less work riding behind another.

 

[SafeBet]

100 km out is nonsense.
35 km out can make a difference.

 

[Akuryo]

Alaphilippe to dominate everyone in a sprint to the line

 

[Bushman]

Re: Re:

Fuglsang is probably as strong as Nibali, but none of them are amongst the favourites. I just hope that Astana will attack like, what they lack in strengt they make up for in numbers.

Pretty sure Nibali will attack at some point without much luck. Jakob will probably do the same too. Ofcourse he and Nibali could always wait for the last 2 climbs, but for that to happen the race needs to be raced much harder with more selection.

That is what I hope they will do. Maybe set af hard pace before Redoute and then attack left and right from here.

 

[Bushman]

Re:

100 km out is nonsense.
35 km out can make a difference.

Exactly. Nibali, Scarponi and Fuglsang to go mental from the Redoute all the way to the finish.

 

[jens_attacks]

nibali or giampa caruso for me

 

[Bushman]

Katusha also has the riders for an aggressive race. The new route should suit the attackers also.

 

[Mr.White]

Re:

ABV......(Anyone...But...Valverde)

AVB.... (Alejandro Valverde Belmonte)