CYCLING – TEAM Bahrain Victorious are set to compete in the fourth Monument of the cycling calendar, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, also known as La Doyenne (the oldest).
The elite men’s road race is part of the 2025 calendar of the Union Cycliste Internationale World Tour, and it marks the grand finale of the Spring Classics and the closing act of the Ardennes week – with 4,400 metres of elevation gain packed into 252 kilometres.
The 2025 edition features the traditional out-and-back journey from Liege to Bastogne and back to Liege, but as always, the sting lies in the sequence of brutal climbs in the final third: Cote de Wanne, Cote de Stockeu, Cote de la Redoute, and the decisive Cote de la Roche-aux-Faucons at 13.3km to go. These climbs often decide the race and reward those who can hold their nerve and legs when the fireworks start.
The team in Belgium has a balanced squad: Pello Bilbao, Santiago Buitrago, Jack Haig, Edoardo Zambanini, Mathijs Paasschens, Roman Ermakov, and Rob Stannard.
Buitrago will lead Bahrain Victorious on a course that suits his climbing ability and experience in tough one-day races. Haig and Bilbao bring crucial support in the latter phases, while Zambanini and Stannard are tasked with staying active in the critical middle and final sectors. Ermakov and Paasschens will be key in keeping the team well-positioned in the early part of the day.
Bahrain Victorious sports director Roman Kreuziger commented: “We have a very good roster. We know there are some ‘lions’ on the start line – riders like Tadej and Remco – but we believe in our strength as a team.
“It’s great to have Jack back with us, he’ll be a valuable asset for our leaders. Santi is clearly in form, and Pello has a strong history at this race. Edoardo and Jack are both solid climbers who can either support or get into the moves. For Roman the focus is to control the race through the first 150km.
“Our target is a top five, but of course we’re aiming higher. A podium here would be the perfect way to close out the cobbled and Ardennes campaign. We did a recon today to fine-tune our approach, and we’re hoping for good weather to help us race aggressively.”
&uuid=(email))