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Mikel Landa is aiming to lead Team Bahrain Victorious to a podium finish at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the last appointment of the Ardennes Classics following the Amstel Gold Race and La Flèche Wallonne.
La Doyenne, the oldest one, as its first edition dates back to 1892, will close the spring classics season tomorrow with its hilly course faithful to tradition, starting and finishing in Liège after 258.5km.
On the day’s menu, there is 4495m of elevation gain and 11 iconic côtes, packed in particular in the second part of the race, when the riders will be back towards Liège after crossing Bastogne. Among them are the two explosive climbs that usually correspond to the race’s key moment, La Redoute (1.3km at 10.3 per cent) and La Roche-aux-Faucons (1.3km at 11pc).
With such a demanding course, the classic is the most suitable for climbers, like Bahrain Victorious leader Mikel Landa, fresh from a strong podium place at Flèche Wallonne, following that of the Basque Country.
“Among the Ardennes Classics, the Liège is the race that I know more. It’s a tough race that suits riders that usually are GC contenders in a Grand Tour,” said Landa.
“I’m motivated and came to this Monument in good condition, as I could see at La Flèche. I’d like to do something good on Sunday and jump onto the podium again. I believe we can work well with the team to achieve a podium result.”
Bahrain Victorious sports director Roman Kreuziger agrees with the Basque champion: “Liège, it’s all about the legs. It suits riders with climbing skills, and we have a strong lineup for this. But we need to race as a team to achieve our goal: the top five is a realistic result, but we would love to see one of our guys on the podium.
“Our leader Mikel Landa emerged from Flèche stronger as he grew in confidence. He’s in shape, and we have a strong team to support and protect him. It will be essential to take advantage of the help of the teammate to not waste any energy in the first part of the race. Then he has the legs to stay with the strongest riders in the peloton and follow potential attacks. Everybody knows Pogacar’s strength, his way of racing, and how his team rides for him. I guess a couple of teams will control the race. Therefore, I’m expecting a clearer race to read and play: I think the race will explode earlier than in the past, already at 100km to go. We will be ready in that case. If we want to beat other contenders, we need to be prepared to follow strong moves from Km 155.
“Landa will have by his side our road captain Pello Bilbao, Matej Mohorič and Wout Poels, a former Liège winner. Both have significant experience in this race and can also try to anticipate the moves. Matej can be our joker too. Fran Miholjević at the debut and Yukiya Arashiro will give their support in the first part of the race, with the important role of helping Mikel in saving energy.
“Last but not least, we have in our lineup Santiago Buitrago, who is coming from Tour of the Alps. The Colombian will be free to follow the strong moves from La Redoute. Then with the expected wind in favour, I guess it will be a fast final towards the finish line. We really hope to see one of our guys contending the top places in Liège’s Quai des Ardennes.”
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