Good afternoon all! Tom Owen here, standing in for Felix Lowe and we're live with text commentary of the 104th edition of the world's oldest bike race, Liege-Bastogne-Liege. We'll have live pictures for you on Eurosport from 1pm, but until then I'm afraid you're stuck with me.

Liège - Bastogne - Liège Men

Men | 22.04.2018

Completed

Road race

Live

Live Updates

ByTom Adams

Updated 22/04/2018 at 15:13 GMT

49km

For my money, some of the other teams need to start throwing some attacks in this last 50km. A steady pace suits the favourites, while the more disruption there is the better it'll play out for the others.

50km

We have seen absolutely nothing of Julian Alaphilippe today, which is almost always a sign of a rider keeping his powder dry.

Could the young Frenchman do the double and win Liege after Fleche Wallonne? No rider has done that since, well, last year when Valverde did.

53km

We have the Col du Maquisard up next, followed by the Cote de la Redoute. Redoute would be the tougher of the two, averaging 8.5% over 2.1km. We'll see the peloton whittled down further there for sure.

56km

A bit of peace in the peloton now as they go down the other side of the Col du Rosier.

60km

Rory Sutherland has opened his mouth everybody, he could be about to blow up in an hour or so.

An interesting point. Is a bunch finish really to the advantage of Martin? Or should UAE be working harder to drop the puncheur-sprinters like Matthews?

61km

This breakaway is cooked. Four men left of the original nine now and 3'12" ahead.

Here are your vital statistics for the Col du Rosier.

62km

As the gap comes down to around three minutes, Sutherland remains impassive on the front. He has the look of someone wondering what to have for dinner, not splintering a WorldTour bike race into bits.

63km

It would be very, very bad if Dan Martin were to get dropped about 10km from the finish after Rory Sutherland has spent the better part of two hours grinding out this savage pace. Imagine the atmosphere on the team bus this evening...

Gorgeous weather for a bike race this, but we heard reports earlier today that there may be rain in the finale.

65km

With a little under 65km to go, things are pretty much 'as you were'. UAE still driving on the front, the breakaway still yo-yoing around 3 minutes of advantage. We have five more classified climbs and the next one, the Col du Rosier, is a bit of a beast.

Will we see the race come to life on its slopes, or will the teams keep watching each other that little bit longer?

72km

Movistar massing their forces near the front of the bunch. They have five men there, with Winner Anacona scooting up the side of the peloton to complete an impressively-strong quintet.

Michael Albasini was one of the ones dropped from the peloton on that last climb. The Swiss journeyman was excellent in the Ardennes last year, so that's a bit of a surprise.

75km

There's only five men left in the breakaway now. They caught and dropped Pedersen, who no doubt enjoyed his 10 minutes in the spotlight, and will enjoy the ensuing 75-kilometre slog even more.

77km

They're tackling the Cote de la Ferme Libertat now and this is causing major damage in the peloton. Rory Sutherland, meanwhile, remains impassive on the front of the bunch. He loves putting a bit of hurt on when he can.

UAE Team Emirates' presence at the front has not gone unnoticed today. There are four of their jerseys in the front five riders on the peloton.

81km

Casper Pedersen leads the race solo as he soars through the sun-drenched streets of Malmedy.

85km

And Casper Pedersen has attacked the break, one of those Aqua Blue riders we just mentioned. Does he feel so strong he thinks can outrun the peloton for 85km, or has his DS told him to get up the road and his jersey on the TV cameras?

86km

The break is really splintering now as the hills come in quick succession.

And two riders have lost touch with the break. Van Gompel and Warnier are adrift of the leaders as their erstwhile companions push on.

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