Blazin' Saddles: Alaphilippe and Fuglsang to renew rivalry in Liège-Bastogne-Liège

ByFelix Lowe

Published 26/04/2019 at 14:18 GMT

The 105th edition of Liège-Bastogne-Liège will pit the two most successful teams of the season – Deceuninck-QuickStep and Astana – against each other once again as in-form Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe renews his rivalry with Denmark's Jakob Fuglsang following their latest duel in La Flèche Wallonne. Felix Lowe previews Sunday's fourth monument of the season, La Doyenne.

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When the season starts back in January at the Tour Down Under it is hard to imagine this day creeping up so fast. But here we are: the eve of the fourth Monument of 2019 and the last hilly one-day classic before the Grand Tour season starts.

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Just where did the last four months go?

In the pockets of Deceuninck-QuickStep and Astana – that's where. To date, the Belgian team has notched 25 wins to the Kazakh outfit's 22: although the shoe could be on the other foot had Jakob Fuglsang got the better of Julian Alaphilippe in Strade Bianche, Amstel Gold and last Wednesday's Flèche.

WATCH - Alaphilippe takes victory in dramatic Fleche Wallonne finish

In each of those races, Alaphilippe and Fuglsang found themselves going shoulder to shoulder in the finale, with the Frenchman taking the spoils in Siena and Huy, while both of them had their pockets picked by Mathieu van der Poel at Berg en Terblijt.

Following their latest duel in the Ardennes, the scene is now set for a final showdown on Sunday as the experienced Fuglsang continues his quest for a maiden major classics win and Alaphilippe bids to become the first Frenchman in 39 years to win Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

The finish: See how Alaphilippe claimed Strade Bianche crown

But they are by no means the only riders who will feature on Sunday. Seasoned Ardennes riders such as Alejandro Valverde, Enrico Gasparotto, Michal Kwiatkowski and Wout Poels will look to have their say, while a new flatter finish in Liège could play into the hands of fast finishers Peter Sagan, Michael Matthews and Greg Van Avermaet.

The route

With roughly 4,500m of vertical ascent over 254km Liège-Bastogne-Liège is a tactical and brutish war of attrition through the punchy hills of the Ardennes. A total of 11 sharp climbs over persistently undulating roads pepper the course, most notably in the final 95km which throw a succession of nine ascents at a pack which becomes gradually whittled down by this bottomless onslaught.

The ride south to Bastogne is easy enough, with just the one leg-stretcher – the Côte de La Roche-en-Ardenne – before the riders swing back north on the fearsome return leg.

The Côte de Saint-Roch in Houffalize (1km at 11.2%) is the first real amuse-bouche for what's in store, before the riders hit the third climb, the Côte de Mont-le-Soie, which kicks off the relentless succession of peaks towards the finish.

The climbs then come thick and fast with the Côte de Wanne (2.7km at 7.4%), the Koppenberg-esque Côte de Stockeu (1km at 12.5%) and Côte de Haute-Levée (3.1km at 7%) before the longest climb of the day, the Col du Rosier (4.4km at 5.9%).

With the race entering its final decisive 40km, the riders face the infamous Cote de la Redoute (2km at 8.9%), followed by the Côte des Forges and, then, the final climb, the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons (1.3km at 11%), which tops out 15km from the finish.

Put that in your pipe and smoke it!

Julian Alaphilippe (C) of Deceuninck - Quick-Step celebrates as he wins ahead of Danish Jakob Fuglsang of Astana Pro Team, during the 83rd edition of the men's race of 'La Fleche Wallonne'

Image credit: Getty Images

The finish

There's been a shake up with the finish returning to the centre of Liège for the first time in 27 years in an agreement that will run until 2024.

The shake-up means the finale switches away from the hilltop showdown at Ans and back to the centre of Liège on the wide Boulevard d'Avroy. This will no doubt alter the dynamic of the finale and perhaps play into the hands of the fast finishers – although less elevation towards the finish does not necessarily imply a bunch sprint scenario.

The favourites

Given their form, all eyes will be on Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-QuickStep) and Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) but it may not be as clear cut as that: both riders are fatigued after a hefty Ardennes programme, and this is a Monument which everyone wants to win.

The new finish could well hinder the punchy riders such as Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott), Dan Martin (UAE Team Emirates), Michael Woods (EF Education First) and Romain Bardet (Ag2R-La Mondiale).

But the flatter approach to the line could have played into the hands of one rider who really needs a win: the Slovakian former world champion Peter Sagan has not stood atop a podium since January and was set to make his debut in La Doyenne. But poor form has seen the 29-year-old pull out, opening the doors instead to team-mate Max Schachmann (Bora-Hansgrohe).

Other fast finishers who could profit include Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb), Greg Van Avermaet (CCC Team), Michael Kwiatkowski (Team Sky), Philippe Gilbert (Deceuninck-QuickStep) and four-time champion Alejandro Valverde (Movistar).

Powerhouse riders in the vein of Tom Dumoulin (Team Sunweb), Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal), Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain Merida), Alexey Lutsenko (Astana) and defending champion Bob Jungels (Deceuninck-QuickStep) could try to pile the pressure on during the final descent before riding clear on the flat.

And then there's the opportunists like Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates), Davide Formolo (Bora-Hansgrohe), Lilian Calmejane (Total-Direct Energie), Wout Poels (Team Sky) and Michael Valgren (Dimension Data) who are worth mentioning.

The weather

The brutality of La Doyenne often depends on the weather, and while there's no snowstorms on the cards like in the infamous Hinault-dominated 1980 edition, heavy rain on Sunday could put a cat among the pigeons – and we all know how our feline friends feel about water.

Last year's race

Twelve months ago, Luxembourg champion Jungels rode clear at the top of Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons before soloing to glory in Ans for the first solo-win in Liège-Bastogne-Liège since 2012.

WATCH: Jungels wins after incredible ride

Former winners

Five former winners will take to the start on Sunday in the form of Alejandro Valverde (2006, 2008, 2015, 2017), Philippe Gilbert (2011), Dan Martin (2013), Wout Poels (2016) and Bob Jungels (2018).

Spanish veteran Valverde needs just one more victory to draw level with Eddy Merkcx at the top of the all-time winners' charts – although given his patchy form (only 11th on the Mur de Huy!) this is probably unlikely.

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