Liège - Bastogne - Liège 2025, 27th April

[Moose McKnuckles]

Happy to see Pog win this one, but I don't like the Remco hate. The guy just returned from 7 months recovery from a terrible crash. He's a brilliant rider, a former winner here, but expecting him to challenge Pog was probably unrealistic. I think that expectation reflected cycling fans' expectations and hopes of a showdown, which Remco's crash absolutely dashed.
I think the fact that Remco won his first race back somewhat blinded us cycling fans to the difficulty of Remco's recovery. He needs some time to get to 100%. He'll be flying by Tour time.

 

[Invicituz]

Another brilliant performance from Tadej Pogačar, winning Liège–Bastogne–Liège for a third time in terrific style. He is now level with Kelly, Coppi, and Girardengo, all on nine Monument victories, two behind De Vlaeminck on eleven, and nine behind Merckx on nineteen. At this rate of win, he should surpass Merckx's record by the time he's thirty.

A fine performance also from Ben Healy, taking his first Monument podium, and Giulio Ciccone in second.

 

[Samamba]

New parcours please, tired of these solo's + bunchsprints behind.

Not that we would have a different winner of course, but at least you get more interesting things behind in the final.

 

[danielzu]

Velasco had a puncture shortly before la redoute. Crazy that he gets 4th in the end. I wonder when champoussin dropped that far behind, he was in really good shape

 

[Samamba]

Velasco had a puncture shortly before la redoute. Crazy that he gets 4th in the end. I wonder when champoussin dropped that far behind, he was in really good shape

I mean not that crazy given how big the group got afterwards, more than 60 riders. Imo Astana got pretty lucky today with how it was raced, or well I guess that just how it goes in LBL nowadays.

 

[Pantani_lives]

When one guy is so much stronger than the rest, there isn't much that the others can do. Pogacar had one of the strongest spring campaigns ever (just behind Merckx in 1975 ). He can create a gap on a climb without leaving the saddle, and expand it in the valley. Healy and Ciccone did what they could, but a podium spot was the highest achievable.

It was apparent that Evenepoel had an off day when he was badly positioned on La Redoute and didn't gain any places. Expectations were too high. Some rest would do him good, but the Tour de Romandie starts the day after tomorrow. Several people will have to lick their wounds after a tough spring campaign that was dominated by a small number of riders.

 

[Leinster]

New parcours please, tired of these solo's + bunchsprints behind.

Not that we would have a different winner of course, but at least you get more interesting things behind in the final.

The riders make the race. The parcours was switched from the Ans finish because a Valverde sprint was becoming too predictable, and for the first few editions it worked; we got a small group sprint, or a late solo from a small group. We haven’t had a race like that the last few years because each time one rider has been too strong for the rest.

If Healy/Ciccone had been racing for the win, that finale would have played out very differently.

 

[AnotherArmChair]

Wasnt a bad race ...glad Healy got on the podium and Ciccone (best looking man in cycling along with WVA and Big Ganna) got his podium too

What can one say about Pogacar ...he is too strong and many fans tune out as he walks it again and again

Not been watching much cycling this season

But really up for the Giro which could be good as the field may be more evenly matched. I know Rog looks best on paper but this is Rog and who knows what may happen

 

[AmRacer]

Wasnt a bad race ...glad Healy got on the podium and Ciccone (best looking man in cycling along with WVA and Big Ganna) got his podium too

What can one say about Pogacar ...he is too strong and many fans tune out as he walks it again and again

Not been watching much cycling this season

But really up for the Giro which could be good as the field may be more evenly matched. I know Rog looks best on paper but this is Rog and who knows what may happen

Rog either wins or crashes.

 

[Samamba]

Just rewatched Redoute. Louis Barré thermonuclear! Behind Remco at the foot of the climb and 9th over the top, made it to the group behind Pog.

 

[Cycling111]

At what kilometer will Alaphilippe attack?

34km to go.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1916485244443902085

View: https://x.com/LeGruppetto/status/1916485244443902085



Didn't have a happy ending.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1916493829655368065

View: https://x.com/RNBWCV/status/1916493829655368065

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Just rewatched Redoute. Louis Barré thermonuclear! Behind Remco at the foot of the climb and 9th over the top, made it to the group behind Pog.

Yes, he starts moving up at a similar speed to Remco but just before the steep part he moves faster than Remco. Remco then gets boxed in well down while Barré can follow the attacks. Remco picks up speed again on the final part and overtakes a lot of riders but is only 11th over the top with a significant gap to Barré.

 

[Mayomaniac]

34km to go.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1916485244443902085

View: https://x.com/LeGruppetto/status/1916485244443902085



Didn't have a happy ending.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1916493829655368065

View: https://x.com/RNBWCV/status/1916493829655368065

Ironic since Ala apparently has more of an Obelix livestyle nowadays.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Also:
Ravioli, Ravioli, random good Monument performance by Bagioli!

 

[Bolder]

Wasnt a bad race ...glad Healy got on the podium and Ciccone (best looking man in cycling along with WVA and Big Ganna) got his podium too

What can one say about Pogacar ...he is too strong and many fans tune out as he walks it again and again

Not been watching much cycling this season

But really up for the Giro which could be good as the field may be more evenly matched. I know Rog looks best on paper but this is Rog and who knows what may happen

After investing way too much time in watching races only to see Pog breathing through his nose as he obliterates the field, i can only surmise that the entire peloton should just rip up their training plans and start again.

I enjoyed watching tour of the Alps more than any classic this season except the last two climbs of MSR.

 

[Lequack]

Just watched the replay, and although an expected result at the end, it was still great to see such a strong performance. Shame that Remco had an off day, if he was chasing with Healy and Ciccone, we might have had a repeat of Amstel.

 

[Didinho]

Pogi took the KOM on La Redoute. The testing the legs a little bit was even faster than it looked. The chasers also got in the top 10 so the pace was higher from the beginning I guess.

Louis Barré indeed with a fast time. Only 6” behind Pogi, the 2nd fastest today.

 

[Danskebjerge]

If Healy/Ciccone had been racing for the win, that finale would have played out very differently.

Healy wouldn't gain time on Pogacar on the flat sections even he had ten motorbikes right in front of him. He knows that, and that's why he spends most of his energy on attacking on the climbs. He did this in LBL as well as in Amstel.

 

[tobydawq]

Pogi took the KOM on La Redoute. The testing the legs a little bit was even faster than it looked. The chasers also got in the top 10 so the pace was higher from the beginning I guess.

Louis Barré indeed with a fast time. Only 6” behind Pogi, the 2nd fastest today.

Okay, that's surprising to me. But he did launch early.

Alaphilippe really needs to learn what his limits are, he could have been on the podium today if he didn't think he could close the gap to Pogi on the final third of La Redoute...

 

[Leinster]

Healy wouldn't gain time on Pogacar on the flat sections even he had ten motorbikes right in front of him. He knows that, and that's why he spends most of his energy on attacking on the climbs. He did this in LBL as well as in Amstel.

I think you misinterpreted my point; if there had been no Pogacar out front, the Healy/Ciccone duel would have been for 1st place, and played out differently than it did. The group behind them would also have been racing differently chasing a lead pair, and not podium places.

The whole race being unable to close Pog down is what took away from the race, not the route.

 

[Filippo_3467]

Okay, that's surprising to me. But he did launch early.

Alaphilippe really needs to learn what his limits are, he could have been on the podium today if he didn't think he could close the gap to Pogi on the final third of La Redoute...

Maybe a top 10 by sitting in with the group behind. The way he exploded compared to the others I don't thin he could have been a factor in the attacks in RaF. I think Tudor made a mistake singning him because he will absolutely not help them get to WT in the next cycle. They need riders that ride WT races smart to get a Top 10 here and there and then point farm the small race circuit. Alaphilippe won't do that.

As a viewer nothing to complain about trying today or in Amstel. Like with the ineos move I like people shooting their shot instead of defeatism like Lidl are showing across the spring. Or teams that basically don't show up all spring and make any effort like Red Bull.

 

[Oldman]

The riders make the race. The parcours was switched from the Ans finish because a Valverde sprint was becoming too predictable, and for the first few editions it worked; we got a small group sprint, or a late solo from a small group. We haven’t had a race like that the last few years because each time one rider has been too strong for the rest.

If Healy/Ciccone had been racing for the win, that finale would have played out very differently.

Healy and Ciccone were collaboratively racing for the win. They were there when the fun began on le Redoute so it appears the race might have played out differently if Pogacar crashed. Then the entire field would've been free of the great pack blocking of UAE and they'd chase. Then none of these finishers would've made the podium....
Another observation: which is scarier in a 4 man chase? Julian half-wheeling the last rider in the group and muscling his bike all over the road or having him on the front doing the same thing? Can't imagine how much energy he burns with his hyper-activity but it looks dangerous.

 

[Leinster]

Alaphilippe really needs to learn what his limits are, he could have been on the podium today if he didn't think he could close the gap to Pogi on the final third of La Redoute...

I think we did see Alaf’s limit today. I just don’t think he had the legs, a couple months shy of 33, to go with Healy and Ciccone. Besides which, i also don’t think he’s the kind of rider to settle for a podium, even at Liege; it’s win or blow up trying.

He finished 1 place ahead of Remco.

 

[hayneplane]

Y

Maybe a top 10 by sitting in with the group behind. The way he exploded compared to the others I don't thin he could have been a factor in the attacks in RaF. I think Tudor made a mistake singning him because he will absolutely not help them get to WT in the next cycle. They need riders that ride WT races smart to get a Top 10 here and there and then point farm the small race circuit. Alaphilippe won't do that.

As a viewer nothing to complain about trying today or in Amstel. Like with the ineos move I like people shooting their shot instead of defeatism like Lidl are showing across the spring. Or teams that basically don't show up all spring and make any effort like Red Bull.

Outside of Roglic winning Catalunya Red Bull Bora have been the most disappointing team of the year so far as they made some significant signings and none have really panned out yet.

 

[proffate]

I think Tudor made a mistake singning him because he will absolutely not help them get to WT in the next cycle. They need riders that ride WT races smart to get a Top 10 here and there and then point farm the small race circuit. Alaphilippe won't do that.

ASide from guaranteed entry to the tdf, the WT license is probably net negative. Alaphilippe gets them into the le tour without risking a WT promotion. Win win.