Liege-Bastogne-Liege preview

After several weeks of hard racing in the season-opening Classics, the action moves to one of the oldest races in the calendar, Liege Bastogne Liege. Often called the La Doyenne (the old lady), the race marks the end of three races in one week in the Ardennes area and, like the Tour of Flanders, the race is depicted by many short but steep climbs.

Can Cunego make it a second win? - Pic fotoreporter sirotti

The race marks the end of the races around the Ardenne Classics, and with Damiano Cunego and Kim Kirchen, winners of the Amstel Gold Race and the Fleche Wallonne respectively, having entered the exclusive club of Ardennes winners; this Sunday's race will be hotly contested.

There's many riders capable of winning, such as Alejandro Valverde, Davide Rebellin or Frank Schleck. Paolo Bettini too, the World Champion will show up with the ambition to catch up a start to the season troubled by physical upsets.

Other than the confrontation between the different generations of Ardennes specialists in which Cadel Evans hopes to find his place, the change established in the final part of the event could also have its importance. Added to the program of difficulties, the Côte de la Roche aux Faucons, with a climbing gradient close to 10%, could add some riders to the circle of contenders able to conquer the 'Doyenne'.

The main contenders

Davide Rebellin, Stefan Schumacher, Cadel Evans, Paolo Bettini, Frank Schleck or Andy Schleck, Alejandro Valverde, Kim Kirchen, Philippe Gilbert - you'd be hard pushed to pick a winner from this line-up. Who's your money on? Let us know in the forum below…

Previous winners
2007 Danilo Di Luca
2006 Alejandro Valverde
2005 Alexandre Vinokorouv
2004 Davide Rebellin
2003 Tyler Hamilton
2002 Paolo Bettini
2001 Oscar Camenzind

Date/Website - April 29, Liège Bastogne Liège BEL (ASO), - www.letour.fr/