April 28, 2007 – The Spring Classics season enters its last lap with Sunday’s Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the oldest of cycling’s five “monuments”. Kim Kirchen spearheads the T-Mobile Team challenge at the hilly Classic.

For the looping 262-km north-south trek through the Ardennes, the Luxembourg Champion will backed by almost the same cast as he was for Wednesday’s Flèche Wallonne – with Patrik Sinkewitz, Michael Barry, Axel Merckx and the Aussie duo of Michael Rogers and Scott Davis are all in action.

After the disappointing outcome for the team at Flèche, sporting director Valerio Piva is hoping that Kirchen, Sinkewitz or Rogers can bounce back and get themselves in contention for a top-ten place in Liège. “Michael is no longer hampered by the knee injury he suffered at the Pais Vasco, and is back to his old form,” says Piva who believes the race parcours should play into Sinkewitz’s hands.

“Of the five biggest cycling monuments, Liege is certainly the toughest. The climbs are not as steep as at Flèche, but they are longer. That suits Patrik,” says Piva.

Rounding out the eight-man roster in Belgiumare the Ukrainian veteran Serhiy Honchar and Aussie newcomer Adam Hansen, who replace Marco Pinotti and Thomas Ziegler from Wednesday’s selection.

Liège-Bastogne-Liège is the hilliest of cycling’s great one-day races and the peloton will have to show it the respect it deserves. Though the first 100km cover flat terrain, the final 150 kilometres from Bastogne back to Liege’s hill-top suburb of Ans cover constantly undulating terrain that turns the race into a real battle of attrition. As the race intensity builds, the riders hardly have time to stretch their aching backs.

“You are always at the limit and need to stay alert, or you’ll be instantly dropped on some of the climbs,” says Patrik Sinkewitz, who last year placed fourth and knows how to handle the “˜Old Lady’. (gl)

The T-Mobile Team in brief:
– Michael Barry (31/Canada)
– Scott Davis (28/Australia)
– Adam Hansen (25/Australia)
– Kim Kirchen (28/Luxembourg)
– Axel Merckx (34/Belgium)
– Serhiy Honchar (36/Ukraine)
– Michael Rogers (27/Australia)
– Patrik Sinkewitz (26).

Sporting director: Valerio Piva (48/Italy)

Winners since 1980:

2006 – Alejandro Valverde
2005 – Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz)
2004 – Davide Rebellin (Ita)
2003 – Tyler Hamilton (USA)
2002 – Paolo Bettini (Ita)
2001 – Oscar Camenzind (Swi)
2000 – Paolo Bettini (Ita)
1999 – Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel)
1998 – Michele Bartoli (Ita)
1997 – Michele Bartoli (Ita)
1996 – Pascal Richard (Swi)
1995 – Mauro Gianetti (Swi)
1994 – Evgeni Berzin (Rus)
1993 РRolf Șrensen (Den)
1992 – Dirk De Wolf (Bel)
1991 – Moreno Argentin (Ita)
1990 – Eric Van Lancker (Bel)
1989 – Sean Kelly (Ire)
1988 – Adrie Van der Poel (Ned)
1987 – Moreno Argentin (Ita)
1986 – Moreno Argentin (Ita)
1985 – Moreno Argentin (Ita)
1984 – Sean Kelly (Ire)
1983 – Steven Rooks (Ned)
1982 – Silvano Contini (Ita)
1981 – Josef Fuchs (Swi)
1980 – Bernard Hinault (Fra)