92nd Liège-Bastogne-Liège Preview Part 2
The contenders Photos from today as the teams prepare by Bart Hazen.
As the teams wake up to prepare for their final stage in the 5th Tour de
Georgia; Riders in Belgium will be well on their way to finishing the six and
half hour sufferfest at in Ans at the Belgian Ardennes Classics. Which can also
boast to hosting the departure of the Gir d'Italia in May.
Danilo DiLuca "the Killer" photo Bart Hazen
Last years winner, Alexandre Vinokourov makes the race his first goal of the
year as he prepares for an assault on the Tour de France. Vino added Le Doyenne
to his credits last year, his second classics victory after winning the Amstel
Gold race in 2003.
Confident and fit the man from Kazakhstan will meet his rivals of July on the
roads from Liege to Ans. Pretenders or contenders in July they are a group that
include 3 previous winners Paolo Bettini who has won twice, Davide Rebellin, and
of course Vino.
Ivan Basso and Frank Schleck part of Bjarne Riis's CSC powerhouse team
Photo c. Bart Hazen
http://www.cyclingfx.nl/
A star studded list of contenders will test the 262 kms including CSC's Ivan
Basso winner in March of the Criterium International, But Basso is not the only
arrow in Bjarne Riis's quiver to select.
A list of contenders could be drawn from the CSC roster Frank Schleck, Karsten
Kroon and not to forget Jens Voight who fought for line honors with Vino last
year. Jens attacked with 50 kms to go and only Vinokourov had the strength to
follow; with Voight second at the finish.
A look at last years top 20 might be give one an inkling of who the "usual
suspects" will be as the race approaches the finish. Boogerd the perennial
podium presence finished third, nipping Bettini.
Cadel Evans was 5th, David Etxebarria, Martin Perdiguero, Mirko Celestino,
Damiano Cunego, and Angel Vicioso were all within seconds of victory on the 262
km race.
This year Danilo Di Luca is coming late and fresher to the classics and the
former ProTour winner can't be left out of any discussion of possible winners.
Results 2005
1 Vinokourov Alexandre Kaz Tmo 6h29'09"
2 Voigt Jens Ger Csc m.t.
3 Boogerd Michael Ned Rab 00'14"
4 Bettini Paolo Ita Qst 00'24"
Cadel Evans photo c. Bart Hazen
http://www.cyclingfx.nl/
5 Evans Cadel Aus Dvl m.t.
6 Etxebarria David Esp Lsw 00'27"
7 Martin Perdiguero M. Angel Esp Pho 00'28"
8 Celestino Mirko Ita Dom m.t.
Damiano Cunego photo c. Bart Hazen
http://www.cyclingfx.nl/
9 Cunego Damiano Ita Lam m.t.
10 Vicioso Angel Esp Lsw m.t.
11 Rebellin Davide Ita Gst m.t.
12 Kessler Matthias Ger Tmo 00'31"
13 Jaksche Jörg Ger Lsw 00'54"
14 Brochard Laurent Fra Btl 00'59"
15 Wegmann Fabian Ger Gst 01'02"
16 Brandt Christophe Bel Dvl 01'04"
17 Sorensen Nicki Den Csc 01'10"
18 Basso Ivan Ita Csc m.t.
19 Kirchen Kim Lux Fas 01'18"
20 Pereiro Sio Oscar Esp Pho 01'33"
In a star studded cast of characters there are others who have weighed in
well this year that deserve mention as cameo roles on the podium or to steal the
top step: Alejandro Valverde, Iban Mayo, Contador, Weseman, Sinkewitz, Carlos
Sastre, Jaksche, The Dekkers, Thomas and Eric, Alesandro Ballan, Perdiguero,
Chavanel, Sammy Sanchez, Gibo Simoni, Azevedo, Mancebo, Paolini, Kirchen, Gusev,
Ivanov and three time world champion Oscar Freire.
Chris Horner photo c. Bart Hazen
http://www.cyclingfx.nl/
Add in a first ride in the classic for Chris Horner of Davitamon/Lotto team, a
guy who likes the distance and favors a parcours of this type.
Its like one of those old Hollywood all star extravaganzas!
Franco Pelizotti Liquigas photo c. Bart Hazen
http://www.cyclingfx.nl/
Daily Peloton Archives
2006 Start
List and Photos
Alexander
Vinokourov's Press Conference
2006
Liège-Bastogne-Liège Team Announcements
92nd
Liège-Bastogne-Liège Preview Part 2
2005:
2005 91rst
Liège-Bastogne-Liège Live Report
91st
Liège-Bastogne-Liège Preview
2004:
90th
Liège-Bastogne-Liège Live Coverage
2004 Liege-Bastogne-Liege:
The Contenders
2004 Liege-Bastogne-Liege:
Preview
2003:
2003
Who will win La Doyenne?
2003 U23
Liège-Bastogne-Liège (1.7.1) Results
2002:
2002
LIEGE - The main contenders
2002 Mapei's
Masterpiece Paolo Bettini wins 2nd LBL (Live)
Liege - Rebellin
Interview 2002
History:
History: Liege-Bastogne-Liege
Approaches...
How the Cup was
Won: Parts One and Two
Who are the
Best 20 Classics Riders in History
Who are the
Best 20 Classics Riders in History? Part Two
The Key Riders of the 25 teams per Le Tour website:
Germany
Gerolsteiner : Rebellin (Ita), Totschnig (AUT), M.Zberg (SUI)
T-Mobile Team : Rogers (AUS), Sinkewitz (ALL)
Belgium
Chocolade Jacques Topsport : Renders (BEL)
Davitamon/Lotto : Evans (AUS), Horner (USA),
Van Summeren (BEL)
Quick Step/Innergetic : Bettini (ITA), Vasseur (FRA)
Landbouwkrediet/Colnago : Cummings (GBR)
Unibet.com : Vandenbroucke (BEL)
Denmark
Team CSC : Basso (ITA), Sastre (ESP), Jens
Voigt (ALL)
Italy
Lampre – Fondital : Commesso (ITA), Petrov (RUS)
Team Milram : Den Bakker (HOL), Grivko (UKR),
Iglinskiy (KAZ)
Liquigas : Di Luca (ITA)
Spain
Euskaltel/Euskadi : Mayo, S.Sanchez (ESP)
Caisse d’Epargne/Illes Balears : Garcia Acosta,
Valverde (ESP)
Liberty Seguros/Würth Team : Vinokourov,
Kashechkin (KAZ), Contador, D. Extebarria (ESP)
Saunier Duval/Prodir : Simoni (ITA)
United States
Discovery Channel Team : Azevedo (POR), Devolder (BEL),
Noval Gonzalez (ESP), Gusev
France
AG2R Prevoyance : Mancebo (ESP), Moreau (FRA)
Agritubel : Mercado (ESP), Salmon (FRA)
Bouygues Telecom : Fedrigo, Rous (FRA)
Credit Agricole : Caucchioli (ITA)
Cofidis Le crédit par téléphone : Sylvain Chavanel (FRA),
Marichal (BEL)
Française des Jeux : Gilbert (BEL), Lövqvist (SUE),
Casar (FRA)
Great Britain
Barloworld : Astarloa (ESP)
Holland
Rabobank : Boogerd, E. Dekker, T. Dekker, Posthuma
(HOL), Menchov (RUS), Freire (ESP)
Switzerland
Phonak Hearing Systems : Martin Perdiguero (ESP),
Merckx (BEL), Moerenhout (HOL)
| 
