The last Spring Classic of the year goes down Sunday. Just like so many races this year, there is a large Canadian contingent–with several of them being candidates for a big result.
Men’s race
As world champion and defending winner, Pogačar has turned this spring into a procession. When he’s like this, Liège stops being tactical and becomes a war of attrition. The climbs — Wanne, Stockeu, Haute-Levée, then La Redoute, come in relentless waves, usually blowing the race apart before Roche-aux-Faucons.
Double Olympic champ Remco Evenepoel, a two-time winner, looms as the obvious challenger.
Then there’s Paul Seixas, no longer just a wildcard after a sharp Ardennes showing.
Behind them, riders like Mattias Skjelmose and Kévin Vauquelin wait for cracks. Still, this feels like it runs through three names: Pogačar, Evenepoel, and maybe the French prodigy Seixas. Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team’s Tom Pidcock has just returned to racing and snagged a win at the Tour of the Alps. If he’s recovered from the stage race that finished Friday, count him in for some fireworks.
Canada has a few options in the men’s race. Michael Leonard has been riding well with his new EF Education – EasyPost squad, and is racing. Alpecin-Premier Tech’s Hugo Houle is the other Canuck racing La Doyenne.
Women’s race
Defending winner Kimberley Le Court is absent as she recovers from injury after a crash at Tour of Flanders. The spotlight shifts to on-form Demi Vollering and Puck Pieterse, the latter emerging as a genuine rival after a breakout spring. Pieterse almost caught the European champ on the line at Flèche Wallonne, after it seemed like Vollering had ridden away with it on the Mur de Huy.
The 156-km route is relentless. Early changes bring in the Col de Haussire before the familiar run of climbs, Wanne, Stockeu, Haute-Levée, softening legs before La Redoute. From there, it’s the usual finale: pressure builds into Roche-aux-Faucons before the run to Liège.
Several Canadian women representing
There are even more Canadians in the women’s race. Visma- Lease a Bike’s Sarah Van Dam has been flying this spring, and if she can make a final selection, her kick might give her a great result. But the top Canadian favourite has to be world champ Magdeleine Vallières Mill (EF Education-Oatly) who has targeted the Ardennes as a big goal. She took a solid sixth at La Flèche Wallonne, on a course which, despite the hills, isn’t totally suited for her. LBL is even better as it’s grittier, longer and a race of attrition–perfect for the tough as clous Sherbrooke native.
Lidl-Trek’s Isabella Holmgren also knows pretty damn well how to go fast up climbs–she’s another one that will definitely be in the mix. She looked good at Flèche, fading a bit at the end on the Mur de Huy, but the repeated climbs at Liège could result in a big day for her as well. And guess who else is racing? Mara Roldan (Team Picnic PostNL) is back after suffering a concussion just days after finishing Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. She was hit by a driver and had another setback after a long recovery from her crash at the Tour of Britain. Finally, the St Michel – Preference Home – Auber93 duo of national champ Alison Jackson and Clara Émond complete a stellar Canadian line up for Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
Racing is being broadcast on FloBikes.com. Men’s coverage starts at 6:10 a.m. EDT, and women’s at 10:40 a.m. If you’re out for a Sunday ride, then just check back here at Canadian Cycling Magazine for reports on both races. Allez!
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