Liege Bastogne Liege is cycling's oldest classic. This year's race takes place Sunday and airs in the US on tape delay Sunday night on NBC Sports Network. Those who are brave can navigate the world of streaming video from Europe and watch live. steephill.tv has many options if that is your preferred method.
Ranking of the most likely to win cycling's oldest classic. Simple and easy. If only that was so. Counting down from 10 to 1.
10 Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Barracuda) – Has shown well with top 10-15 finishes here in the past and earlier this week. His best chance is to attack from a distance and make it stick (like Andy Schleck did in 2009) as he won't be able to climb explosively with the top guys at the end.
9 Roman Kreuziger (Astana) – Kreuziger has skipped the other Ardennes races in favor of Giro d'Italia prep at the Giro del Trentino. That said, he is on the startlist for Sunday's race and has had good results here in the past. I expect him to be in the final selection, just not to win.
8 Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) – With Peter Sagan not here, Nibali is the unquestioned captain here for once. Of course, other than being a great all-around rider, he has one great skill: descending. And that skill doesn't win races like this without some sort of finishing sprint. And Nibali has no sprint.
7 Damiano Cunego (Lampre) – Cunego is also at the Giro del Trentino, but he has won the similar fall classic Giro di Lombardia three times and seems to be on good form as his stage win over Kreuziger earlier today would suggest.
6 Frank Schleck (RadioShack-Nissan-Trek) – The Schelcks always target this race. That said, Andy has looked like he doesn't care about anything except the tour since winning this in 2009 and Frank has some form (12th at Amstel) meaning the Schleck double punch plus Chris Horner could get one of them to the top step. I expect Frank is the most likely of the three (though don't discount Horner).
5 Jelle Vanendert (Lotto-Belisol) – Great form thus far in the Ardennes with a runner up finish at Amstel and a 4th place today at Fleche Wallonne. He is certainly a threat to win, but, in his first season as a leader, he still had a bit to learn before he can win these type races. I expect him to win Liege in the future, just not this year.
4 Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) – Former two-time winner has not had great form thus far, but cannot be written off. I suspect he will be at the front of the field and if this turns into a 100m sprint and he's there, its over.
3 Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) – It certainly appears as though Mollema has displaced Robert Gesink as Rabobank's new hope. With top ten finishes in both Amstel and Fleche Wallonne and a deep team of climbers, Mollema should have a good chance in this race. The question is if he is explosive enough to finish off a race like this. He hasn't been at Amstel or Fleche Wallonne.
2 Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) – The winner today at Fleche Wallonne. That said, his results in this race have been surprisingly average given his two previous runner up finishes at Fleche Wallonne and a previous top 10 at Amstel. Seems to be in great form, only his lack of past success here keeps him from the number one spot.
1 Philippe Gilbert (BMC) – Defending champion of the entire Ardennes season, this year has not been great compared to last year. Gilbert has yet to win, but he seems to be rounding into form after a 3rd place finish at Fleche Wallonne. I suspect his form is getting back to where it needs to be meaning he will be the overwhelming favorite on Sunday, especially if Rodriguez can't find his form once again.
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