April 27, 2014 (Ans, Belgium) – On the final straight in Ans, Simon Gerrans became the first ever Australian to claim Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Winner of Milan-San Remo, of stages on the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta, the Orica-Greenedge rider adds this 100th edition of La Doyenne to his already impressive list of victories. Gerrans made the best of his sprinting qualities to beat Alejandro Valverde and Michal Kwiatkowski to the line. After 6 men enjoyed a long breakaway, the main favourites ended up watching each other and Gerrans made the best of his speed to triumphantly lift his arms to the Belgian sky.

No Froome, no Betancur
For a very special edition, a very special guest was present at the start of Liège-Bastogne-Liège to launch the start of the 100th edition of the race. Indeed under the eyes of King Philippe of Belgium, the 197 riders took off just after 10:00 for a 263-km ride down south to Bastogne and back up to the finish line in Ans. A lot of big names were at the start of this special event but not Christopher Froome (SKY) having chosen to withdraw due to a mild chest infection. Also failing to start was recent Paris-Nice winner Carlos Betancur (AG2R), ill and feverish.

Six in the lead
At km 12, six riders bunched up at the front of the race. Lang (IAM), Koch (CAN) and Venter (MTN) were the first to take off and were rapidly caught by three other men: Bono (LAM), Jakobs (TSV) and Minnaard (WGG). After covering 39.5kms during the first hour of racing, their advantage over the pack reached 14’20. That gap grew to a maximum 15’50 at the top of the first climb of the day, the CÙte de La Roche-en-Ardenne (km 70). Just after entering Bastogne, the northernmost point of the race, the leading six battled it out for the 5000? up for grabs at the intermediate sprint symbolically placed at km 100. Meanwhile the pack remained 15’05 adrift.

Adios Purito
Making the best of the tailwind, and while riders from teams BMC, Movistar, Lotto-Bellisol and Garmin-Sharp moved to the front of the pack, the speed increased and the gap really started dropping on the way back up north. The first of the 6 escapees to be dropped was Minnaard on the climb up the CÙte de Wanne (km 167). On the following ascent, serious business started in the pack as the speed increased drastically. The likes of Rodriguez (KAT) and Van den Broeck (LTB) were among the few to struggle, the Spaniard even quitting several kilometres later. At km 177, a first serious upset shook the pack when World champion Rui Costa (LAM) hit the ground and was also forced to quit.

Bono, last man to survive
On the climb up the CÙte de la Redoute, the escapees started struggling and Matteo Bono pulled away. Just after reaching the top on his own, the Italian was eventually caught by Jacobus Venters, both men having a slim 1’05 over the pack. Meanwhile Warren Barguil (GIA) was the first to shake the peloton, taking off on a counter-attack and taking with him Arredondo (TFR) and Bakelants (OPQ). A vain effort however? In the Cote des Forges, Matteo Bono continued his effort alone, dropping Venters and reaching the top with a 40″ lead over the pack. The Italian was eventually caught by the pack of favourites just before the CÙte de la Roche-aux-Faucons.

Attacking in vain
The battle between the top guns started then, when Pozzovivo and Arredondo took off. Behind them Sanchez first, and then Nibali and Kreuziger gave it a go. But they were rapidly caught back. The leading two continued their efforts at the front but never managed to have a big enough gap. They were finally caught with 12kms to go.

All together in final kilometres
Close to fifty riders remained bunched together just before the last climb of the day, the CÙte de Saint-Nicolas where Gianpaolo Caruso (KAT) and Domenico Pozzovivo (AGR), again, tried their luck. An impressive move that almost paid off. After enjoying a 10″ lead with one kilometre to go. They were caught by title-holder Dan Martin (GRS). A fine move by the Irishman that ended up dreadfully as he crashed on the last left turn. Time then came for a sprint between the favourites.

Gerrans sprints to glory
Making the best of his qualities, Simon Gerrans (OGE) powered to the line, beating in style Alejandro Valverde and Michal Kwiatkowski. After winning Milan-San Remo in 2012, the Australian who had finished 6th of Liège in 2009 (his best position) claims this 100th edition.

Canada’s Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin Sharp) was 77th and Christian Meier (Orica GreenEdge) was 115th.

Results

1. Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica GreenEdge 6:37:43
2. Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Esp) Movistar Team
3. Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team
4. Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Team Katusha
5. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale 0:03
6. Tom Jelte Slagter (Ned) Garmin Sharp
7. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Tinkoff-Saxo
8. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing Team
9. Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Esp) Team Katusha 0:05
10. Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:06
11. Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Belisol 0:08
12. Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:10
13. Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Merida
14. Cyril Gautier (Fra) Team Europcar
15. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 0:12
16. Rudy Molard (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
17. Tiago Machado (Por) Team NetApp – Endura
18. Anthony Roux (Fra) FDJ.fr
19. Frank Schleck (Lux) Trek Factory Racing
20. Stefan Denifl (Aut) IAM Cycling
21. Przemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) Lampre-Merida
22. Sébastien Reichenbach (Sui) IAM Cycling
23. Pierre Rolland (Fra) Team Europcar 0:17
24. Simon Geschke (Ger) Team Giant-Shimano 0:19
25. Julian David Arredondo Moreno (Col) Trek Factory Racing
26. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana Pro Team 0:23
27. Mathias Frank (Sui) IAM Cycling
28. Chris Anker Sörensen (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo 0:31
29. Warren Barguil (Fra) Team Giant-Shimano 0:48
30. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:51
31. Samuel Sanchez (Esp) BMC Racing Team 0:56
32. Ben Hermans (Bel) BMC Racing Team 1:09
33. Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Team Katusha
34. Pieter Weening (Ned) Orica GreenEdge 1:11
35. Tony Gallopin (Fra) Lotto Belisol 1:27
36. Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team Europcar
37. Lars Petter Nordhaug (Nor) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 1:29
38. Guillaume Levarlet (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits 1:31
39. Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin Sharp 1:37
40. Ivan Santaromita (Ita) Orica GreenEdge 2:26
41. Simon Clarke (Aus) Orica GreenEdge
42. Jerome Coppel (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
43. Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto Belisol
44. Eduard Vorganov (Rus) Team Katusha
45. Paul Martens (Ger) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
46. Pieter Serry (Bel) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team 2:51
47. Mikael Cherel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
48. Jan Bakelants (Bel) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team
49. Thomas Degand (Bel) Wanty – Groupe Gobert
50. Angel Vicioso Arcos (Esp) Team Katusha 2:53
51. David De La Cruz Melgarejo (Esp) Team NetApp – Endura 3:33
52. José Joao Pimenta Costa Mendes (Por) Team NetApp – Endura
53. Arnold Jeannesson (Fra) FDJ.fr
54. Cesare Benedetti (Ita) Team NetApp – Endura
55. Daan Olivier (Ned) Team Giant-Shimano
56. Jarlinson Pantano (Col) Colombia
57. Iker Camano Ortuzar (Esp) Team NetApp – Endura 3:33
58. Sergio Pardilla Bellon (Esp) MTN – Qhubeka
59. Robinson Eduardo Chalapud Gomez (Col) Colombia
60. Fabio Felline (Ita) Trek Factory Racing 3:33
61. Louis Meintjes (RSA) MTN – Qhubeka
62. Bob Jungels (Lux) Trek Factory Racing
63. Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz) Astana Pro Team
64. Alberto Losada Alguacil (Esp) Team Katusha
65. Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Giant-Shimano
66. Diego Ulissi (Ita) Lampre-Merida
67. Jérémy Roy (Fra) FDJ.fr 3:47
68. Matteo Montaguti (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale 3:54
69. Amaël Moinard (Fra) BMC Racing Team
70. Nathan Earle (Aus) Team Sky 5:16
71. Marco Marcato (Ita) Cannondale
72. Carlos Verona Quintanilla (Esp) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team
73. Thomas Sprengers (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise
74. Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Garmin Sharp
75. Darwin Atapuma Hurtado (Col) BMC Racing Team
76. Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
77. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin Sharp 5:16
78. John Gadret (Fra) Movistar Team 6:19
79. Pierrick Fedrigo (Fra) FDJ.fr 7:10
80. WoutPoels (Ned) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team
81. Matthew Busche (USA) Trek Factory Racing 8:05
82. Alex Howes (USA) Garmin Sharp
83. Carlos Julian Quintero (Col) Colombia
84. Gustav Larsson (Swe) IAM Cycling
85. Gorka Izaguirre Insausti (Esp) Movistar Team 8:07
86. Jon Izaguirre Insausti (Esp) Movistar Team
87. Jesus Herrada Lopez (Esp) Movistar Team
88. Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing Team 8:28
89. Cameron Meyer (Aus) Orica GreenEdge 8:52
90. Jérôme Baugnies (Bel) Wanty – Groupe Gobert 9:20
91. Reto Hollenstein (Sui) IAM Cycling 9:26
92. Laurent Pichon (Fra) FDJ.fr
93. Francis De Greef (Bel) Wanty – Groupe Gobert 0:11
94. Jonathan Hivert (Fra) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 0:10:12
95. Michael Albasini (Sui) Orica GreenEdge 0:10:43
96. Rafael Valls Ferri (Esp) Lampre-Merida 0:11:41
97. Mirko Selvaggi (Ita) Wanty – Groupe Gobert
98. Luis Angel Mate Mardones (Esp) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
99. Mattia Cattaneo (Ita) Lampre-Merida
100. Pieter Jacobs (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise
101. Dennis Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Belisol
102. Bartosz Huzarski (Pol) Team NetApp – Endura
103. Nathan Haas (Aus) Garmin Sharp
104. Miguel Angel Rubiano Chavez (Col) Colombia
105. Rory Sutherland (Aus) Tinkoff-Saxo 0:11:41
106. Ben Gastauer (Lux) AG2R La Mondiale
107. Kévin Reza (Fra) Team Europcar
108. Jaco Venter (RSA) MTN-Qhubeka
109. Edward Beltran (Col) Tinkoff-Saxo
110. Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) FDJ.fr
111. Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica GreenEdge 0:12:01
112. Romain Sicard (Fra) Team Europcar
113. Alessandro De Marchi (Ita) Cannondale 0:12:08
114. Matteo Bono (Ita) Lampre-Merida 0:12:11
115. Christian Meier (Can) Orica GreenEdge 0:12:15
116. Eliot Lietaer (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise
117. Leonardo Fabio Duque (Col) Colombia
118. Frantisek Padour (Cze) Team NetApp – Endura
119. Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Astana Pro Team
120. Peter Velits (Svk) BMC Racing Team
121. Romain Zingle (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
122. Martijn Keizer (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling
123. Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Astana Pro Team
124. Imanol Erviti Ollo (Esp) Movistar Team
125. Daniel Teklehaimanot (Eri) MTN – Qhubeka
126. Tanel Kangert (Est) Astana Pro Team
127. Matej Mohoric (Slo) Cannondale
128. Karsten Kroon (Ned) Tinkoff-Saxo
129. Perrig Quemeneur (Fra) Team Europcar
130. Pirmin Lang (Sui) IAM Cycling
131. Daniele Ratto (Ita) Cannondale
132. David Tanner (Aus) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
133. Davide Villella (Ita) Cannondale
134. Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise
135. Bram Tankink (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
136. Thomas Damuseau (Fra) Team Giant-Shimano 0:13:27
136. Thomas Dekker (Ned) Garmin Sharp 0:13:47
DNF Ramunas Navardauskas (Ltu) Garmin Sharp
DNF Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Esp) Team Katusha
DNF Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana Pro Team
DNF Dmitry Kozontchuk (Rus) Team Katusha
DNF Fabio Andres Duarte Arevalo (Col) Colombia
DNF Juan Esteban Arango Carvajal (Col) Colombia
DNF Benat Intxausti Elorriaga (Esp) Movistar Team
DNF Jérôme Gilbert (Bel) Wanty – Groupe Gobert
DNF Sébastien Minard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
DNF Rui Alberto Faria Da Costa (Por) Lampre-Merida
DNF Marco Minnaard (Ned) Wanty – Groupe Gobert
DNF Nelson Simoes (Por) Lampre-Merida
DNF Björn Leukemans (Bel) Wanty – Groupe Gobert
DNF Michel Kreder (Ned) Wanty – Groupe Gobert
DNF José Ivan Gutierrez Palacios (Esp) Movistar Team
DNF Fumiyuki Beppu (Jpn) Trek Factory Racing
DNF Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) IAM Cycling
DNF Julien Simon (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
DNF Jérôme Pineau (Fra) IAM Cycling
DNF Alberto Bettiol (Ita) Cannondale
DNF Michel Koch (Ger) Cannondale
DNF Jean-Marc Marino (Fra) Cannondale
DNF Michal Golas (Pol) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team
DNF Tony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team
DNF Serge Pauwels (Bel) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team
DNF Richie Porte (Aus) Team Sky
DNF Daniel Navarro Garcia (Esp) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
DNF Cheng Ji (Chn) Team Giant-Shimano
DNF Andy Schleck (Lux) Trek Factory Racing
DNF Calvin Watson (Aus) Trek Factory Racing
DNF Victor Campenaerts (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise
DNF Edward Theuns (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise
DNF Arthur Vanoverberghe (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise
DNF Otto Vergaerde (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise
DNF Yukiya Arashiro (Jpn) Team Europcar
DNF Natnael Berhane (Eri) Team Europcar
DNF Erick Rowsell (Gbr) Team NetApp – Endura
DNF Edwig Cammaerts (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions Credits
DNF Bruno Pires (Por) Tinkoff-Saxo
DNF Jay Robert Thomson (RSA) MTN – Qhubeka
DNF Laurent Mangel (Fra) FDJ.fr
DNF Jussi Veikkanen (Fin) FDJ.fr
DNF Songezo Jim (RSA) MTN – Qhubeka
DNF Jack Bobridge (Aus) Belkin Pro Cycling Team
DNF Ian Boswell (USA) Team Sky
DNF Joshua Edmondson (Gbr) Team Sky
DNF David Lopez Garcia (Esp) Team Sky
DNF Michael Valgren Andersen (Den) Tinkoff-Saxo
DNF Thomas Peterson (USA) Team Giant-Shimano
DNF Michael Rogers (Aus) Tinkoff-Saxo
DNF Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto Belisol
DNF Sander Armee (Bel) Lotto Belisol
DNF Bart De Clercq (Bel) Lotto Belisol
DNF Ignatas Konovalovas (Ltu) MTN – Qhubeka
DNF Andres Torres Agudelo (Col) Colombia
DNF Tosh Van Der Sande (Bel) Lotto Belisol
DNF Jacques Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) MTN – Qhubeka
DNS Christopher Froome (Gbr) Team Sky
DNS Carlos Alberto Betancur Gomez (Col) AG2R La Mondiale