Many spectators hope for a great cycling event. Especially the final 100km are hard and will divide the punchaurs and their helpers. The weather is pretty well, so we can expect a great battle for the win.
Most fans obviously hope for their Belgium stars Bakelants and Gilbert can win their home monument.
But top favourite surely is Schleck as he proved to be the most consistent in this classic winning it the last 2 seasons.
And not to forget all the other great puncheurs in especially Cunego, who celebrates his season debut here, so there is a big question mark over his form.
Sys attacks first directly after the start.
Several riders want to follow him. Starting with wild card team Cardoso.
Also Wetterhall Semple Rodriguez Segarra Stalder Rohregger
want into the group.
Similar picture as in the Amstel Gold Race. Vesuvio and Pearl are doing most work with Bacardi supporting them. All riders are caught again.
Interesting to see Vesuvio working hard again. Obviously they still have trust in Schleck`s abilities.
Stalder, Rohregger and Cardoso immediately go again not happy with the quick catch.
There goes the next group. Edet initiates this 2nd attack. Ardila Cano, Ortega and Mayo follow.
With Ardila and Ortega two of the successful break in the Fleche are very active once again. Unlucky for them as both got caught in the final the last time different to the first three there.
But more riders attack and so the catch isn`t taking long. Similar start as in the first two Ardennes so far.
Vesuvio and Pearl really do everything to avoid an early break.
More than 35km are done and no group has formed yet. Therefore still several attacks. Sys McEvoy Ivars Porte
Some kilometers later they are joined by more riders. With so many attacks again the catch can`t be too far away.
+ Zingle & Khalilikhosroshani Mayo Fuglsang & Edet Rodriguez Segarra Lelay Vital
1min behind but already 2min ahead of the peloton Ortega and Semple are trying to join the breakaway.
The peloton really slowed down now although the big group.
The abstinence of the 5 big teams Vesuvio, Pearl, Sony, Bacardi and B&O obviously made the difference.
Columbia and UPS as examples are in this group and can "relax" behind.
After 120km the two followers were able to join the group. The advance is almost 6min now but some teams are not too happy with such a huge breakaway as Jack Wolfskin, UPS and Milka more or less avoid any work in this group.
Although we haven`t even reached the most difficult part. we already have some splits with 105km to go. In especially they luxury teammates haven`t been concentrated, while theleaders are in the first group.
Pearl`s Vastaranta and Kangert and Sony`s Anza are in the 2nd group, while Vesuvio`s Mehr-Wenige and Paterski even felt back into a 3rd group.
The hardest climbs are coming in the final 95km. So still a pretty long way to go. The climbs are long and steep and will surely split the still big peloton again a few times. So all favourites must be attentive not to be on the wrong side.
Bad news for UBS. Team leader Schumacher crashed with the hills starting. Luckily all helpers waited for him very quick and the German isn`t looking too injured.
With their work all 3 groups came together again. Good for Schleck, Bakelants and Trofimov, who got their helpers back.
They immediately come to the front seeing that the gap is becoming too big for such a huge group.
90km - 6`40.
On one of the hardest hills another split. Biggest name in here surely Rodriguez Oliver.
Still 80km to go. The peloton is down to 88 riders and has already a gap of 3min to Rodriguez, who seems to have given up for today as the pace is just too fast. But also the break is still 6min ahead, so it won`t become slower for sure.
Next crash. It`s Kangert. Not the best day for him today, but at least he can stay in the peloton being able to come back to the front again.
The break is working great together. On the last 20km they just lost 1min. if this continues they will make it today. The peloton really needs to accelerate another time. All riders are working now realizing their big chance.
Back in the peloton the strongest helpers are doing the pace now. Hugenhaben / Anza Mehr-Wenige / Paterski / Hoogerland Vastaranta / Kangert
Pure strenght now in especially by Sony Ericsson as they are the most fresh riders doing lots of work for Trofimov.
With 40km to go another split. And this time some bigger names are left behind.
Biggest name surely Pozzato, whos manager can`t be happy at all now being already disappointed by his riders in the recent races.
Other riders being behind: Diggle Lopez Garcia Abal
With 31km the group is already caught as the hard work made them gaining 5min in 20km. Zingle is trying to avoid the fusion and tries it solo.
At the same time some more riders fall out of the group. While most favourites are still within the first group another big victim. Van Garderen lost contact and joins Pozzato in the 2nd group.
LL Sanchez had even more problems being behind the Pozzato group. Luckily one team mate is waiting for him trying to bring him back.
Even further behind the group around Abal, Lopez and diggle, where also Kashechkin and Ghisalberti are now. Bad luck for Webeffect, who obviously just had a brilliant ride in the Amstel classic.
Great effort by the duo Pozzato & Van Garderen. Together they come back with 27km to go. Most other riders left behind including LL Sanchez already have a too big gap and won`t be able to come back seeing that the pace becomes even higher in this first.
With 19km the solo try by Zingle is over. At least he is the most attacking rider of the day. Just 48 riders in this group around the big favourites.
Van Garderen coming back to the front on the right side. This was definitely an unnecessary energy loss by the American.
But obviously he still feels well. Was it just a "bluff"? He attacks with some riders following. Efimkin Sinkewitz Ulissi are following.
But they are caught again by the two strongest teams Vesuvio and Pearl.
Ulissi and Van Garderen immediately try again.
This time it`s Gesink and Schumacher following with 15km to go.
More riders are falling back not being able to follow the high pace. Surprising Fleche Wallone winner Chavanel won`t be able to repeat his great results as also Murcia winner Zabriskie.
Also Levarlet is falling back but therefore they nominated Taaramae today, who is still in the first group.
Also this 2nd try was not successful. All riders are back in the still 31 rider group. Lucky for the favourites that there haven`t been mid-stage attacks today although the Fleche proved their possibility.
With 10 km to go Vesuvio and Pearl show their real strength. both teams still have 4 riders each, who are all pulling hard for Schleck and Bakelants. They surely have to show something today if they don`t want to disappoint there team again.
It`s already the last hill before the final climb. Schumacher is the first of the big favourite attacking here. Obviously his crash was not that bad. Caruso and Taaramae follow him directly.
Also Van Garderen and Ponzi attack.
Van Garderen once again proves to be one of the most active in these classics while Wiggle has two riders in this attack now.
This really puts lots of pressure on Schleck and Bakelants, who must react now.
There the expected attack comes. With 5km to go Schleck attacks seeing that Schumacher already has a decent gap.
Belgium Champion Gilbert follows under a loud cheering by his fans. Bakelants is still sitting back pulling the favourite group now by himself.
A long stretched favourite group now. All the Vesuvio and Pearl helpers did their job today and fall back not being able to follow.
Also Albasini and Schreurs fall back now, so that the first group only contains all the big favourites.
2km to go and Schumacher already sees the Flamme Rouge ahead of him. 19s behind all the favourites are within one group trying to chase him down.
With the German being under the 1km banner, Gilbert attacks behind with Schleck being able to find a better position today although he is leading the whole group now.
Schleck still leading behind Gilbert ahead of Bakelants and Cunego with Ricco. Trofimov, Hagen and Ponzi.
Again the Festina duo and Sinkewitz can`t perform as good as expected by their managers.
Gilbert surely went too early as he is overtaken by the first riders now and also Schumacher starts to struggle now.
What a pity for the German. With 300m left Schleck, Bakelants and Cunego join him. Still Schleck is in front being surely the strongest of them not letting Bakelants a chance to overtake him.
The Luxembourgian continues his series of 3 consecutive wins in Liege now. He wins ahead of Bakelants, who can`t be too unhappy with two 2nd places in the Ardennes and Schumacher, who was so close today to win the first ever Ardennes.
Cunego not being able to podium today but 4th in a monument is a good way to start a season.
At least a good Ardennes end for Vesuvio, who did lots of work and today Schleck really proved his strength sprinting from the front.
Trofimov leads the next group over the line as 5th with Gilbert holding a good 6th ahead of Boasson Hagen, Ricco, Ponzi and Ulissi. At least a top10 for Festina today.
Gesink and Sinkewitz with another disappointing result just outside the top10 ahead of Efimkin and Van Garderen, who tried a lot again but without success.
Pozzatto has 18th with another weak result but maybe the effort to come back into the group costed him too much energy.
LL Sanchez almost lost 4min today and wasn`t able to repeat his great ride from last year, while Rodriguez even lost more than 9min as best of his team. Surely the biggest disappointment.
