Press Release Tyler Hamilton Is The Boss! For the very first time did an American capture the oldest European cycling race: Liège-Bastogne-Liège. A great symbol, which proves that cycling is now a global sport, the likes of soccer, tennis and golf. But a fairy tale as well, as Tyler defeated his former team leader, Lance Armstrong, who was one of the race favorites. The decision to quit the US Postal Team was hard to take, because Lance was not only a team-mate, but a friend. When Tyler decided to gain his independance and to become the CSC Team leader, it was a gamble, which is today rewarded by a World Cup Win. In the press center, Tyler did not forget to thank Armstrong for what he learned from him. He was obviously a good student! See you both in July on the French roads... Newsflashes 16:39 - An American Win Hamilton wins! Mayo, second, and Boogerd, third, can’t catch up with him. Fabulous! For the very first time does an American add his name on the prestigious list of the Liège-Bastogne-Liège winners. 16:31 - Hamilton Takes His Chance Tyler Hamilton attacks in the last five kilometers and could win. 16:26 - Unbelievable! The three-man breakaway is over: the favorites group is back in the Saint-Nicolas climb. 16:18 - Armstrong So Strong! In the Sart-Tilman climb, Armstrong accelerates and outdistances all his rivals but two of them: Sanchez and Shefer. At the summit, the three escapees have a 30’’-lead over the chasing group. 16:08 - Armstrong Is The Boss Reaching the Sart-Tilman climb, Merckx has a 20’’-lead over a group where Armstrong seems undefeatable. 15:59 - Merckx attacks! With 25 km to go, Axel Merckx had attacked. He’s now alone at the front, pushing hard on the pedals… 15:53 - Things Are Cooking In the ascent of the La Redoute climb, Vicioso, Merckx, Moreni and Astarloa escape, as a few contenders, the likes of Hamilton, Boogerd or Armstrong, launch the chase. The gap is 48 seconds. 15:40 - Mattan Takes His Chance Nico Mattan has launched the chase beteween the escapees, who are already in the ascent of the daunting La Redoute climb. The gap with the pack is about one minute. 15:31 - Try Again! A new Attack launched by Merckx, Glomser and Moreni, followed by Vicioso, Astarloa and Wegmann, is welcomed by the rain. 15:07 - Regrouping At the top of the Rosier climb, a regrouping has cancelled every breakaway attempt. 15:05 - New Positions Four riders catch up with the escapees: Aerts, Shefer, Serrano et U. Etxebarria, as Paolini is outdistanced. 14:42 - The Big Dipper Begins! At the top of the Wanneranval climb, Marzoli, Bölts, Duma and the other escapees remain under the control of the pre-race contenders group, which reaches the summit 35 seconds later. Still seven climbs... 14:32 - Nine In Front Here are the nine riders who are now leading the race, 45 seconds ahead of the pack: Glomser, Paolini, Julich, Zberg, Marzoli, Bölts, Peron, Sorensen and Duma. 14:25 - A New Race In Hands After the end of the breakaway, a new attack was launched before the Stockeu Climb. 14:07 - The Pack Is Back! The pack has gathered pace... At the top of the Wanne Climb, the gap with the breakaway has dwindled to a mere 36 seconds. 13:41 - Belgians In Action The gap between the breakaway and the three Belgian (Van de Wouwer, Streel, Van Haecke) is now less than one minute. 13:12 - Nothing New... After 116 km, the situation remains unchanged: 1’50’’ between the escapees and the counter-attack and 7’ between the escapees and the pack. 12:30 - 9'45'' and growing After the crossing of Bastogne, the gap is 9'45''. The race is now on the way back to Liège. 12:19 - Still Four In The Lead At the top of the Saint-Roch climb, Pinotti, Pena,Vaugrenard and Elmiger retain a 7’40 lead over the pack. Three riders have counter-attacked and find themselves 3’30 behind the escapees. 11:49 - Four Minutes The gap is now four minutes between the pack and the 4 escapees. 11:46 - Hard To Predict! While the leading quartet steadily increases its advantage over a lackluster pack (50 sec), the final showdown promises to be thrilling, with a lineup packed with bonafide stars, up-and-coming talents and dark horses, all craving to add their name to the long list of prestigious winners of one of cyling’s marquee events. The overwhelming favorite is no doubt Peter Van Petegem, the winner of The Tour of Flanders & Paris Roubaix and the current leader of the UCI World Cup. But fellow countrymen Franck Vandenbrouck, Mario Aerts, Rik Verbrugghe and Axel Merckx may prove a force to be reckoned with. But a few stars will also be in contention, with the likes of Lance Armstrong, Alexandre Vinokourov (winner of the Amstel Gold Race), Michele Bartoli, Danilo Di Luca, Michaël Boogerd, not to mention several other team leaders, who will bitterly defend their chances: Francesco Casagrande, Sylvain Chavanel, Oscar Freire, Levy Leipheimer, and, why not, Jan Ullrich… All bets are open. 11:24 - New Forces Frenchman Vaugrenard has just caught up with the breakaway. But the pack gathers pace... 11:19 - 15 Seconds At the 50-km mark, the gap between the three escapees and the pack is stable: fifteen seconds 11:13 - Attacking Again! After one hour, the speed average is 42.500 kph: Pinotti, Pena and Elmiger find now themselves 12 seconds ahead of the pack. 10:55 - Courageous But... Despite a brave attack at Km 28, Kern, Clain and Rund surrender four kilometers further. 10:44 - Early Skirmishes At the 8km-mark, five riders attacked (Zanini, De Groot, Pinotti, Bortolami, Rund), but the pack caught up with them easily. At Km 19, a new attempt by Casero, Albasini et Poilvet, Lopez and Commeyne failed as well… 10:31 - Early Start Welcome to the official de Liège-Bastogne-Liège website, 5th leg of the UCI World Cup: 196 riders took the start this morning at 10am from the renowned St Lambert Square. Eddy Lambo (245) is the only rider not to have taken the start: was he frightened away by the black clouds that are looming over Liège?