La Doyenne

Liege-Bastogne-Liege

What do you see?

If you answered a young woman then your mind is in the wrong place cause this weekend it's all about "La Doyenne".  The "old lady" is back again to test the climbing legs of the WFL classics riders.  It seems like everyone is here and they are all on form.  But why wouldn't they be?  Liege can make a career.  The oldest of all Monuments, Liege has an unparalleled history.  This year's race has a slightly altered course, but one thing we are coming to learn is that courses change, people bitch, time moves on and another course will take it's place.  So, will it be a whole different race without Falcon Rock?  Probably not, but a "less selective" course can lead to a more wide open race.  But another thing we are learning is that every course is selective if they go fast enough and that the riders not the course make the race.  As I said we have lots of riders here, every team is well represented.  It's hard to say whose team is the strongest. Do you go with quantity?  Team Fujarky has 6 riders here and all of them are contenders.  Do you go with past results?  Forza, Volpe and Taco all have past winners.  Or do you go with recent form?  Kreuziger, Nibali, Valverde, Dan Martin, Gerrans and JRod have all had recent victories or high finishes.  So how will it go down?

How it could go down:
Its a climby course and most of the peloton suffer early. Most that is except for the Colombians.  Henao and Uran hook up with a streaking Betancur and quickly put two minutes into the peloton.  In a pre race agreement Uran rides for Henao who sits on until the gap is cut to one minute.  He takes off and just stays away as the rest of the breakaway are swallowed up on the final climb.  Sky takes their first Monument.

How it might go down:
Its a climby course and most of the peloton suffer early.  The new course proves to be even less selective then many had suspected.  A fairly large group make it to the bottom of the last climb.  A few attacks are reeled back in and as they approach the finish it becomes clear that it's going to be a group sprint.  Gilbert goes way early and Valverde, Gerrans and Danny Martin have to open their sprint earlier than they would have wanted too.  Gerrans shows strong mnn roots pipping Gilbert right on the line.  The Aussies take their first Ardennes Monument.

How it will go down:
Its a climby course and most of the peloton suffer early.  With so many favorites in the race several teams take up the work and it's a fast race.  Early breakaways never really pose any threat.  The favorites are all protected as expected and most make it to the penultimate climb ready to rumble.  Who needs Falcon Rock?  The Sky train ramps it up to mach one and the peloton is blown apart.  Only a hand full of riders make it to the final climb.  Nibali goes and Gilbert leads the chase.  Henao, Martin, JRod and Valverde are the riders left to claw their way back into it.  Who has saved enough for the final turn?  The man with the most experience has sat on just enough.  Valverde takes yet another Monument.