Press Release

Hat trick for Super Rebellin!

What a week for Davide Rebellin! The Italian clinched a historical third win in a row in Liège-Bastogne-Liège after capturing the Amstel Gold race and the Flèche Wallonne in the same week. For his second World Cup success, the Gerolsteiner rider beat Boogerd in the final sprint while Vinokourov had to settle for third spot. Rebellin takes the overall World Cup lead.


Never had a rider triumphed in the famous three Ardennes Spring classics. Some like Merckx (Amstel + Liège; Flèche + Liège) and Argentin (Flèche + Liège) had managed the double in the same week, but cycling history was still expecting the one to clinch all three in seven days. On the finish line in Ans of this 90th edition of Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Davide Rebellin probably hadn’t yet in my mind what a tremendous performance he had only just accomplished.

It actually all started under a clear sky and bright sunshine as the 193 riders took off from the ‘Place Saint-Lambert’ in the city centre. 193 men but no Danilo Di Luca (SAE) who had decided not to start the race after suffering from fever all night.

The first serious breakaway started after 59kms of the race when five men (Tankink (QSD), Isasi (EUS), Strauss (GST), Van de Walle (CHO) and Lefevre (BLB)) took off from the bunched pack. A sixth escapee, Raivis Belohvosciks (CHO) rapidly caught up with the leading group 15kms later.
The six-man group, working perfectly together increased a gap that would ease up to close to ten minutes after the feeding zone in Bastogne.

On the way back up to Liège, their lead would slowly go down. The first to drop out of the group was to be Belohvosciks. In the climb up the Côte de Rosier (km194), Jaksche, Arvesen (both CSC) and Botcharov (CA) managed to break away and catch the leading men. Just after the famous Côte de la Redoute (km 223), all the leaders were eventually caught.

Surprisingly, at this stage of the event, a massive group of around 80 riders were bunched with under 30kms to go. In the last 15kms, as expected, the serious business really started.

The first round of the battle for victory was to be decided in the Côte de Saint Nicolas when Michael Boogerd (RAB) took off, rapidly followed by strong men Alexander Vinokourov (T-MOB) and Davide Rebellin (GLS). Despite an effort by Sanchez (EUS), Basso (CSC), Dekker (RAB) and Leukemans (MRB), the trio was never to be caught.

Three kilometres from the finish, Vinokourov tried his chance… in vain! In the last 200m, Rebellin powered to victory, exactly like a week ago when he managed to ease past Boogerd in the Amstel Gold Race. Third spot went to Vinokourov while Samuel Sanchez (EUS) and Erik Dekker (RAB) has to settle with 4th and 5th position.

“This week, I came to win a big one, I’ve now won all three… Ever since I was a child, my dream had always been to win Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Now, it’s a dream come true”, insisted the 32-year-old from San Bonifacio.

Adding: “Amstel came as a liberation, the Fleche Wallonne was a confirmation, today I’ve managed the maximum achievement.”

As well as his second World Cup win this year, the Italian naturally captures the leadership of the overall standing with 200 points. Second is Boogerd second with 146pts and Wesemann third with 131pts.


Newsflashes

17:15 - Top five
1-Rebellin (GST)
2-Boogerd (RAB)
3-Vinokourov (TMO)
4-Sanchez (EUS)
5-Dekker (RAB)

17:13 - Rebellin in command of the WC
With 200 points now, Rebellin takes the lead of the cycling World Cup. Boogerd is second with 146pts and Wesemann third with 131pts.

17:11 - Three in a row for Rebellin
After winning the Amstel Gold race last Sunday and the Fleche Wallonne on wednesday, Italy's Rebellin clinches his third win in a row. What a performance. He becomes the first rider to win these three wins in a row.

17:10 - Amazing Rebellin wins
A fantastic Davide Rebellin beats Boogerd ain the final sprint... Third spot for Vinokourov.

17:07 - Off goes Vinokourov
Vinokourov breaks away... but Boogerd and rebellin are back on him. 2kms to go.

17:06 - Three in the lead
With three kms to go, the three men still lead. 250m behind are Basso (CSC), Sanchez (EUS) and Leukemans (MRB).

17:04 - Strong trio in the lead
With 4kms to go, Boogerd is with Vinokourov and rebellin... a magnificent trio...with a 18sec lead.

17:02 - 3 men in front
Boogerd (RAB) has been caught by Rebellin (GLS) and Vinokourov (TMO)...

17:01 - Off goes Boogerd
In the St Nicolas climb, Boogerd (RAB) takes off in front...

17:00 - Two men caught
At the start of the Côte de Saint Nicolas climb (6kms to go), Landaluze (EUS) and Sinkewitz (QSD) are about to be caught. Behind the Fassa Bortolo team has taken command.

16:55 - Gap dropping down
With 10kms to go, Landaluze (EUS) and Sinkewitz (QSD) see their lead drop down to 10sec.

16:53 - 16sec for the leaders
The two leaders Landaluze (EUS) and Sinkewitz (QSD) have a 16sec lead now on the main group with 12kms to go.

16:50 - Two men in the lead
Landaluze (EUS) and Sinkewitz (QSD) have managed to break away from the pack with 13kms remaining.

16:45 - Zabel dropped
Erik Zabel (TMO) has been dropped by the main group with under 15kms to go. Not really a race for the German national champion. Also in trouble: Verbrugghe and Baguet (LOT).

16:42 - Puncture for Boogerd
With 21kms to go : puncture for Michael Boogerd (RAB). Bad news for the Dutchman. Luckily his car was right next to him and able to give him a spare wheel. Boogerd is now back in the group but unecessary efforts for one of the favourites and runner-up a week ago in the Amstel Gold race. Meanwhile Moreni (ALB) has given it a go in the lead. In vain...

16:35 - Large group in the lead
Around 80 riders are bunched with under 30kms to go. All the main favourites are present.

16:25 - Leaders caught
The three leaders (Botcharov, Jaksche and Arvesen) have now been caught by the favourites group in the downhill portion after the Côte de la Redoute (km 225). 33kms to go...

16:22 - Botcharov first at the top.
Botcharov (CA) makes it first at the top of la Redoute. Jaksche and Arvesen are about 100m behind.

16:21 - Off goes Botcharov
Russia's Botcharov (CA) has taken the lead of the race alone. Behind, Boogerd and Bettini lead the pack.

16:19 - Tankink dropped
Tankink (QSD) is also dropped in the climb... Botcharov has taken control of the leading group. In the peloton, Bettini, Garzelli, Vandenbroucke and Van Petegem are in excellent position.

16:17 - Strauss dropped
Strauss (GLS) dropped in the first part of the Côte de la Redoute climb... Jaksche (CSC) leads the group.

16:16 - Under 1min for the five
At the bottom of the famous Côte de la Redoute (1.9kms at 7.4%), the five men have 58sec on the pack. The real business starts now !!!

15:55 - Five in the lead
Now only five men in the lead in the climb: Tankink (QSD), Strauss (GST), Jaksche (CSC), Arvesen (CSC) and Botcharov (CA). The first escapees (Isasi, Van de Walle, Lefevre) have been dropped. The five have a 1min20 lead on the peloton.

15:53 - 8 men in the lead
In the climb up the Côte de Vecquet (km 202), we now have 8 men in the lead : Tankink (QSD), Isasi (EUS), Strauss (GST), Van de Walle (CHO), Lefevre (BLB), Jaksche (CSC), Arvesen (CSC) and Botcharov (CA).

15:51 - Aerts and Vainsteins quit
Aerts (TMO) and Vainsteins (LAM) take advantage of the feeding zone to retire from the race.

15:46 - 1min10 for the leaders
The five leaders (Tankink (QSD), Isasi (EUS), Strauss (GST), Van de Walle (CHO), Lefevre (BLB)) have 38sec on Jaksche, Arvesen (both CSC) and Botcharov (CA), and 1min10 on the peloton after 199kms (just before the second feeding zone).

15:39 - Off go Jaksche and Arvesen
Paris-Nice winner Jorg Jaksche and Arvesen (two CSC riders) break away from the peloton in the climb up the Côte de Rosier. Also breaking away is Botcharov (CA). Meanwhile the leaders have a 1min32 advantage on the pack at the top of the hill (km 194). 64kms to go...

15:26 - Under 3min for leaders...
As the leaders are climbing up the Côte de Rosier (4kms at 6%) at km 190, the gap with the peloton has dropped down to under 3min (2min59). Still 68kms to go... and all the main favourites are in the leading positions of the peloton (Bettini, Rebellin, Boogerd, Hamilton...)

15:15 - Arvesen caught...
Shortly after breaking away from the peloton Norway's Arvesen (CSC) has now been caught back.

15:13 - Off goes Arvesen
Just after the top of the Côte de Wanneranval at km 176, Kurt-Asle Arvesen (CSC) has broken away from the peloton. The five leaders still have 3min40 on the pack.

15:04 - Under 4min for the leaders
At the top of the Côte de Stockeu the pack is at 3min58 of the leaders. Meanwhile the five men are climbing up the Côte de Wanneranval (km 175)

14:53 - Gap increases again...
At the start of the Côte de Stockeu (2.7kms at 10%), the five leading men, Tankink (QSD), Isasi (EUS), Strauss (GST), Van de Walle (CHO), Lefevre (BLB), have increased their lead. The gap is now of 5min45.

14:37 - 5min30 for the leaders
Van de Walle (Cho) makes it first at the top of the Côte de Wamme (km 154). The five leaders have a 5min30 advantage on the peloton. 104kms to go...

14:28 - Belohvosciks back in the pack...
Just before the second climb of the day going up the Côte de Wamme (km 150), Belohvosciks (CHO) has just been caught by the peloton.

14:24 - Catching up...
The five riders in the lead see their advance drop down to 6min10 after 143kms of the race. Belohvosciks (CHO) is between the leaders and the peloton at 3min20.

13:58 - Now only 5 in the lead!
Belohvosciks (CHO) has decided to stop his effort among the six man group. We now only have 5 riders in the lead with a 8min15 advantage on the peloton.

13:51 - Gap going down
At km 116, the leading 6 men have a 8min40 lead. The gap is going down. In the leading positions of the peloton are the Rabobank team (Boogerd, dekker), the Ponak team (Hamilton, Camenzind) and T-Mobile (Vinokourov, Wesemann).

13:16 - Close to 10min for the leaders
The leading six, Tankink (QSD), Isasi (EUS), Strauss (GST), Van de Walle (CHO), Lefevre (BLB), Belohvosciks (CHO), now have close to ten minutes (9min40) on the peloton. Each rider is taking his turn to increase the gap.

13:05 - Moreau quits!
Just as the peloton made it to the feeding zone, Credit Agricole team leader Christophe Moreau has decided to retire from the race.

13:04 - Leaders in Bastogne
In Bastogne at km 95, the leaders have a 7min10sec advantage on the peloton (who has just made it to the feeding zone). The riders still have 165kms to go.

12:55 - Feeding zone
The leading six (Tankink (QSD), Isasi (EUS), Strauss (GST), Van de Walle (CHO), Lefevre (BLB), Belohvosciks (CHO)) have made it to the feeding zone of Foy-Bastogne at km 90.5 with a 5min55 lead on the peloton.

12:52 - Leaders increase gap
At the top of the Cote de Saint Roch at km 82 have a 4min05 lead on the peloton after a steep 1.5km climb at 7%.

12:32 - Interesting lead for the 6
The leaders have a 3min03 lead on the pack.

12:29 - Now 6 in the lead
Belohvosciks (CHO) has caught up with the leading five-man group. The leaders are now at km 74.

12:20 - Average speed....
Average speed for the first hour: 44,600 km/h.

12:14 - Five men in front...
At km 59, five riders have broken away: Tankink (QSD), Isasi (EUS), Strauss (GST), Van de Walle (CHO) and Lefevre (BLB).

12:09 - Bichot caught
Shortly after taking off, Bichot (FDJ) is immediately caught by the peloton. Not very easy for the moment to break away: the pack riding at a very high pace has no intention of leaving anyone take off. Meanwhile, riders and followers are enjoying fantastic weather conditions.

12:05 - Bichot in the lead
At km 55, Freddy Bichot (FDJ) takes off for a break away.

11:42 - The heat is on...
The peloton remains bunched despite quite a few attempts. Nothing serious however!

11:15 - Peloton bunched
At km 16, the escapee Van de Walle has been caught by the bunched pack.

11:11 - Off goes Van de Walle
At km 13, Jurgen Van de Walle (CHO) is the first man to attempt a solo break-away.

11:10 - World Cup standings
After winning the Tour of Flanders, Steffen Wesemann (TMOB) still leads the overall World Cup standings with 116 points (100 + 10 + 6). Second Oscar Freire (RAB - winner of Milan-San Remo) with 115pts. Third is Rebellin (GST) with the 100pts of his win in the Amstel Gold race last week. Of the top five riders, only Magnus Backstedt (ALB) is not starting this Liège-Bastogne-Liège event.

1. Wesemann (T-MOB)
2. Freire (RAB)
3. Rebellin (GST)
4. Backstedt (ALB)
5. Bettini (QSD)

11:00 - No problems...
Four teams have gone through anti-doping tests this morning at 7:00 (Alessio, Phonak, US Postal and La Boulangère). All of the riders have been allowed to start the race.

10:56 - Official start!
At 10h49, the 193 riders have officially started this 90th edition of Liège-Bastogne-Liège. The peloton is now heading south to Bastogne for 90kms before heading back up to Liège (Ans) for an extra 160kms.

10:49 - No Di Luca!
At 10:35, the riders took off from Liège. They are bunched before the official start. 193 riders have started the race without Saeco leader Danilo Di Luca, feverish all night.

10:08 - GOOD MORNING FROM LIEGE
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of Liège-Bastogne-Liège. In a few minutes (10:35), the riders will be taking off from the Liège city center for the 258.5kms of the race.