Hello and welcome to the hardest classic around, it’s time for the 2023 GP Liechtenstein. You should all be familiar with this legendary route by now but just in case there is a reminder of what it looks like above. Without much further ado lets get right into the action!
We have barely gotten 100 meters away from the start zone as the first attack is launched by Habimana. He is followed by Vader, Stojnic, Lyu and Khederi. They make up the first wave of attackers.
Menicucci and Mestric launch attacks themselves after missing the first attack. After 3kms the gap from the peloton to the front 5 is already at over a minute.
After the first descent, neither Meniucci nor Mestric gets contact to the front group that did splinter a few times on the ascent. The gap to the pack is a down to around a minute.
The front group splinters again going over the mountain but as they begin their second descent the gap is all the way up to 4’29”. The three riders that have put distance into the other breakees are Khederi, Vader and Lyu. Although it looks like the Hungarian is struggling to keep up with the other two.
With around 170kms to Vader is reeled in by the peloton. Lyu and Khederi are the only two remaining riders in the break. Their gap stands around 9 minutes.
Nothing happens for 70 kms, but we’re still here to check in with 100kms to go! The gap to break is down to a little over 5 minutes. The pack has however been reduced just 60 riders as the pressure has been put on by the big teams that all have their captains here, and most of them are at the very front of the peloton on this descent!
On the flat we finally get some more action! Parra Bustamente starts a chain of attacks together with Carcueva, Bernard and Rikunov. They however do not manage to get a gap. The pack is being controlled with an iron fist by Evonik and Puma.
As we get closer and closer to the 50km mark it is slowly becoming curtains for the break as the peloton now has visual contact with them and their gap is down to under a minute. They must ensure that they don’t reel them in too early to fend off strong counter moves!
With 41kms to go the curtains come down on the break and it’s now time for the final act! It starts with Padun launching the first attack! He quickly gets a gap above 30 seconds!
With 37kms to go the Ukrainian’s gap is increased to 1’31”. Meanwhile the pack has been reduced to 21 riders led by Kudus with Lecuisinier, Latour and Herklotz in his wheel.
As Padun starts the last ascent of the circuit climb the group has regained visual contact but the gap still stands at 1’18”.
First bigger captain to lose contact with the main favourite group is Carapaz who now has his eyes set on securing a top 25 finish. The main pack stands at 17 riders.
As we enter the last 15 kilometres Padun is caught by the group that now consists of 15 riders these are: Lecuisinier, Kudus, Morton, Phinney, Herklotz, Tenorio, Bernal, Wellens, Sivakov, Pogacar, Barguil, Meintjes, Preidler, Latour, Warchol. From a pure climbing perspective the only big omission would be Quintana who is currently 40 seconds behind this group. As we prepare to start the final ascent him and Kirsch manage to get back into the group.
First rider to make a move in the final is Herklotz Lecuisinier replies instantly! 8,5 kms to go!
The attack doesn’t stick, but it does weed out the group a bit as it reduces in size to 14. The most surprising of the bunch is that Phinney is in very surprising trouble! As he is currently almost a minute behind the front group, but he does have visual contact!
Herklotz goes again! He instantly creates a gap with 5kms to go! Kudus makes it his responsibility to bring the German back!
And as they enter the final stretch of the race a group of 5 joins Herklotz. Off the back of an attack launched by Morton, Lecuisinier, Kudus, Wellens and Bernal bridges the gap!
First Wellens and then Bernal are dropped from the group as they are not at the level of the others. 3.2 kms remain and it looks like the race will be decided between Morton, Lecuisinier, Kudus and Herklotz!
The Aussie and the Frenchman look drained as they are dropped 1 by 1. The Eritrean also looks to be in trouble as Herklotz looks like he’s cruising with 2kms to the finish line!
However as we’re entering the final 1.5kms of the race the incline is at 17.5% so anything can still happen as it looks like Lecuisinier has gotten a second wind!
Under Flamme Rouge there’s contact for a brief second for all four before Herklotz gets a gap again!
600 metres to the finish line and no one has launched a sprint, they’re so drained that it’s just about getting a consistent stride and not go over your limit!
With 100 metres to go it’s Herklotz that has the lead and he seems to be out of reach for everyone else!
HERKLOTZ WINS THE 2023 GP LIECHTENSTEIN! The podium is rounded out by Kudus and Lecuisinier. But they were never in the running for a win here as the German monster looked absolutely unsatiable today!
The collapse is absolute for Phinney as he finishes in 15th position. Not what he would have wished for as the start of the day. Maybe age is starting to take its toll on the legend?
Thanks for tuning into this year’s race, here’s the full results of today:
GP Liechtenstein 
