So here we are in Liège, venue of the fourth monument and conclusion to the spring classics season: Liège - Bastogne - Liège!
The riders are ready, so is the organisation and yours truly, the reporter. The weather plays along, blue skies sprinkled with clouds, perfect conditions for an exciting race.
And off we go: Lotto's Phil Lavery is the first to attack. The Irish didn't hesitate long!
Of course he isn't alone in trying to get away. Quite a few riders follow ...
... 13 riders struggle to stay clear on the first ascent of the day ...
... but that's too big of a group to be let go. The peloton ups the pace and a few escapees try to force another selection at front. Leading the charge is Tom Leezer, with Bystrom, Moreno, David Rosch, Stybar and Meron Amanuel following.
And while they didn't get away from their fellow attackers, their increased speed was enough to establish a notable gap to the peloton, which eventually slows down. After 50kms, the 13-men-group has an advance of two minutes. These are the names:
Tom Leezer Mathieu La Lavandier Javier Moreno Phil Lavery Pavel Brutt Björn Thurau Fabio Aru Gatis Smukulis Zdenek Stybar Meron Amanuel Sven Erik Bystrom Ruben Zepuntke David Rosch
The advance increases steadily, but there are still many teams without a rider up front. Bouygues Telecom, Vesuvio and Swisscom, along with Bacardi and Good Energy, control the pace in the peloton.
100kms into the race and the break has built up a solid 8 minute lead. The group works well but it won't be long until the peloton is going to start to reel them back in.
In fact it's only 20 kilometers later that numerous teams decide that 9 minutes are enough: Swisscom, Bacardi, Bouygues and Tinkoff are the driving forces, but the escapees will put up a hard fight.
This chase continues to drag on for a few dozen kilometers with various teams taking turns at the front of the peloton. With 70 kms to go, the gap is down to around four minutes. The riders are facing some serious gradients now and the first ones are droping back.
Festina has been doing some major work over the last kilometers. Riccardo Ricco is gunning for his second monument of the year and he seems to feel pretty good.
As Tinkoff and Bouygues take over, we see world champion Edvald Boasson Hagen up front. Having a team mate in the break, Aker didn't have to work at all so far.
We're in the final 50 kilometers now and here's what the riders are up against. Four major hills with the steepest of ramps, plus three smaller but nevertheless intense ascents including the final sprint.
On the flat plateau, 45 kilometers from the finish, we see the first major attack from the peloton! It's Jay McCarthy who gives it a shot, maybe preparing a later attack of his leader Tejay Van Garderen.
And then, all of the sudden, the big guns come out to play! Yuri Trofimov attacks towards the downhill, and Boasson Hagen follows!
Meanwhile, up front, it's Gatis Smukulis who gives it one last try. The pack is only about a minute behind them.
Trofimov's and Hagen's attack seemed to only have been a short attempt to test the legs or the opposition, and McCarthy is caught soon as well. 35 kms to go!
Good Energy does the pace and probably the final effort to bring back the breakaway, as Smukulis' attack didn't succeed. Hagen is positioned well again and Bakelandts is close, too.
While the break is still struggling to stay away, the next riders attack from the peloton. Initiated by Ben Gastauer, the move also consists of Boasson Hagen, Jan Bakelandts, Trofimov, Diego Ulissi, Riccardo Ricco, McCarthy, Van Garderen, Simone Ponzi and Frank Schleck. This could be a decisive selection!
Meanwhile, Zdenek Stybar went solo. He has about a minute to the attacking favorites behind, with the rest of his former companions still in between. 28 kilometers left.
The Hagen group has an advance of about 25 seconds on the peloton. Several teams are trying to catch up as their leaders missed the move: Pokerstars, Vueling, Swisscom and Bpost above all.
But the favorites keep pushing: As they merge with part of the former breakaway, Van Garderen sets an attack and the others follow.
As the advance stays at a solid 30 seconds, the chasers change their tactics and try to bridge the gap with an attack. Flèche Wallonne winner Francesco Ginanni is countered by Peter Sagan, Alejandro Valverde, Stefan Schumacher and Nicholas Roche.
And they somewhat achieve their goal: Everything is back together ...
... except for 8 of the original break that are still having about a minute of advance under the 20 km banner! Amazing effort from the guys around Zdenek Stybar, who again tries to get away.
At the foot of the second to last, and probably toughest combination of the day, the pack has slowed down significantly. That is not only shown by the advance of the break, which is further increasing, but also by the large number of 136 riders that are still within the main group.
But in a race like this, periods of rest are seldom seen. With 19 kilometers to go, Simone Ponzi starts the next attack, the first on a proper ascent. Boasson Hagen is on his wheel immediately.
In one of the steepest sections with a gradient of 16%, Hagen sets the counter attack. Ponzi tries to follow as well as Philippe Gilbert and Riccardo Ricco. Meanwhile, the break is finally caught. 18 kilometers to go.
Merging with the break has caused a little chaos at the front of the peloton and Hagen and Ponzi try to use that to increase their advance.
Tejay Van Garderen is the first to leave said chaos behind. He is followed by a number of other favorites.
That small descent was enough to bring everything back together, but now it's Yuri Trofimov who attacks!
A few riders try to follow ...
... but only Hagen and Ponzi can stay with him!
But Bakelandts attacks and bridges the gap.
And these guys finally cause a selection! In no time, they create a gap of more than a minute!
That attack seemingly took everyone else by surprise. 11 riders are in the chase group:
Stefan Schumacher Philippe Gilbert Francesco Ginanni Nicholas Roche Alejandro Valverde Tejay Van Garderen Diego Ulissi Riccardo Ricco Frank Schleck Aleksandar Flügel Jelle Vanendert
A further 40 seconds behind, Peter Sagan leads a smaller group, also containing Rasmus Guldhammer, Jay McCarthy and Ben Gastauer.
Lotto, Bpost and Rothaus, all without a rider in one of the groups, lead the pack.
Hagen leads the first four into the final 10 kilometers. With 1'20 of advance, it'll be hard to take this one from them.
Still, the win is anything but safe. Hagen knows that and increases the pace! His companions counter easily, though.
Behind them, Frank Schleck takes a shot. The advance of the Hagen group just dropped under the one minute mark, so there's hope!
In the meantime, the Sagan group was caught, so only two groups are in front of the peloton. As they pass under the 10 km banner, the gaps are:
P < 1'09 > Chasers < 53' > Hagen group
As a result of Schleck's attack, Jelle Vanendert drops from the chasing group. He now has to stay in front of the peloton to secure a Top 15 for his team!
7 kilometers to go and the leaders enter the slopes of the penultimate ascent of the day. Still led by Frank Schleck, the chasers are coming closer and closer, but are still 38 seconds behind. It's going to be close!
The chasers themselves have about a minute on the pack, as Riccardo Ricco launches the next attack!
He comes dangerously close with his companions in tow, but Simone Ponzi still has something in his tank. He attacks! Hagen, Trofimov and Bakelandts all try to counter.
A quick look behind: Bpost and Rothaus are still leading the pack but it doesn't look too good. Still 30 seconds on Vanendert, and another 35 on the chasing group. It seems like they are only going to fight for the positions 16 and below.
But let's concentrate on the fight for the win! Ponzi couldn't get rid of his fellow leaders but he put some valuable seconds between them and the second group. The gap grew to almost 40 seconds again.
But the attacks keep coming! It's Valverde this time, countered by Ginanni and Gilbert.
But to no end. Top of the Hill, and only 5 kilometers left! Still around 30 seconds for the four riders in front.
The peloton finally recognises that they won't bring anyone back. Consequently, Robin van der Hugenhaben attacks in an attempt to gain what's left.
A few riders follow. They include:
Ben Gastauer Peter Sagan Jay McCarthy Dmitri Claeys Rasmus Guldhammer Luis Leon Sanchez Gil
But far more interesting is what's happening up front! The leaders are slowing down, almost coming to a halt, wasting about half a minute! As they enter the final ascent with 2,5 kms to go, the chasers are close to catching up, and they certainly carry the momentum. Ginanni, Valverde and Gilbert are leading them closer and closer to the front!
Finally, and possibly in the nick of time, Hagen reacts and launches his sprint. 2 kms to go, it's not the best starting position for the world champion!
Closing in on the final flat-ish kilometer, Hagen slows down again. None of the others are taking over. A risky move.
Then, the sprint is on! Ponzi takes the lead, and Hagen is trying his best to hold on. All four of them are strong sprinters, with the Italian usually the fastest, at least on the paper.
Behind them, Valverde holds a small advance over Frank Schleck. The Spaniard is one of the fastest men in the group, along with Van Garderen and Ulissi, who are both further behind.
Jelle Vanendert puts in an impressive effort but van der Hugenhaben is coming closer and closer!
The Dutch himself is chased by Ben Gastauer and the group around Claeys and Sanchez Gil.
In the sprint for the win, Ponzi is looking well. Hagen is starting to fade, it seems like victory is gone for him. On the inside, Bakelandts is going strong.
Valverde still looks good for fifth, but Van Garderen and Nicholas Roche are very fast! Diego Ulissi is also advancing.
Around the final corner, it's a duel between Ponzi and Bakelandts! The Belgian wants this win badly, after two podium positions in the last two years.
Valverde is fading now, Van Garderen takes over with Ulissi in his wheel. Aleksandar Flügel on the other side of the road looks good as well!
Behind them, Vanendert looks set for 15th. A brave effort!
But it's time for the decision now! Bakelandts and Ponzi are still close, but the Bouygues rider is faster!
Or - could it be? Yuri Trofimov rushes from behind, taking over Ponzi! What a tight finish!
It is impossible to have a closer finish! The unaided eye can't be sure, but the photo finish decides: Trofimov's attack came too late, the 2014 winner of Liège - Bastogne - Liège is Jan Bakelandts!
Diego Ulissi eventually takes over Tejay Van Garderen to claim a strong fifth place for wild card team Bacardi. Flügel convinces on seven ...
... Roche takes eigth, his team mate Ginanni on 13 makes for a good Pokerstars team result. Ricco and Valverde complete the Top 10, while Frank Schleck and Stefan Schumacher will surely be disappointed. Gilbert, as the last of the group, comes in 14th.
Vanendert finishes 15th, in front of van der Hugenhaben.
Sanchez Gil ends up 17th, a disappointing result. Ben Gastauer and Rasmus Guldhammer follow ...
... while another major disappointment, Dmitri Claeys, concludes the Top 20, followed by Peter Sagan, Anthony Roux, Gianluca Brambilla and a very active Jay McCarthy. The peloton follows around three minutes later.
