Unfortunately, this Sunday marks the time for the very last race of the classic spring season: Liège-Bastogne-Liège. La Doyenne is traditionally the fourth monument on the cycling calendar and has produced several spectacular editions throughout history. IDLProCycling.com delved into the archives and selected the three most memorable editions from recent history.
2016: Wout Poels secures the biggest victory of his career in harsh conditions
In 2016, the riders were presented with the traditional route, featuring the Cote de Saint-Nicholas as the decisive climb and an uphill finish in Ans. Similar to this year's Flèche Wallonne, they endured brutal weather conditions with snow, rain, and wind playing a significant role. However, it was on the Cote de la Rue Naniot that a young Julian Alaphilippe broke the field apart, but the Frenchman ultimately fell short of keeping up with the quartet that would sprint for victory in Ans.
On paper, Michael Albasini was the fastest, but he, along with Samuel Sanchez and Rui Costa, had to admit defeat to Wout Poels. For the Dutchman, who was racing for Team Sky at the time, it was the biggest victory of his career, and he remains the last Dutchman to have won La Doyenne.
Read more below the video.
2021: World Champion Julian Alaphilippe outmaneuvered by Tadej Pogacar
The conditions in the 2021 edition were a stark contrast to those from five years earlier. The riders faced a warm day in the Walloon province, but unlike today's race, the decisive moment came on the final climb of the day. On the Roche aux Faucons, Michael Woods pushed the pace, and he was joined by world champion Alaphilippe, Tadej Pogacar, Alejandro Valverde, and David Gaudu — all tough competitors. Valverde started the sprint from the front, but was soon surpassed by Alaphilippe, who seemed to have the victory secured. However, in the very last meters, the world champion was overtaken by a surge from Pogacar, who clinched his very first monument victory.
Read more below the video.
2022: Remco Evenepoel solos to his first Monument Victory after an incredible attack on La Redoute
The 2022 edition was marred by a severe crash sixty kilometers from the finish. World champion Alaphilippe crashed into a ditch and was taken away with serious injuries, making team mate Remco Evenepoel the undisputed leader for Quick Step-AlphaVinyl. The young Belgian launched a formidable acceleration at the summit of La Redoute, leaving everyone behind in a solo break of over thirty kilometers. Quinten Hermans and Belgian champion Wout van Aert eventually completed an all-Belgian podium. Evenepoel would go on to win again a year later in an equally impressive manner.
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