Videos

HTC Highroad rider hopes that Tony Martin will get chance to win LiègeThe HTC Highroad team started Liège-Bastogne-Liège today with two leaders. The first is Paris-Nice winner Tony Martin, with the second being last year’s Tour of Britain victor Michael Albasini. While the Swiss rider plays down the dual role a little, others on the team have said that that a dual approach will most likely be followed. Martin’s strong palmares mean that he is the more likely to get the nod if it ends up that one or other must sacrifice themselves. “I think we are going to ride for Tony. He is in very good shape…I train with him at home, and I saw he is good,” Albasini said in an interview with VeloNation. “But for sure, out on the road, they can let me go so the others can chase me down. For Tony, it is maybe [...]

Stresses need to prevent Belgian from using his explosive strength Many will regard his brother Andy as a more likely contender, due to the fact that he took the race in 2009, but Franck Schleck’s palmares and strong 2011 form show that he too is a possible winner of today’s Liège-Bastogne-Liège. He’s won the Amstel Gold race in the past and, with a victory in the Criterium International under his belt this season, is in good form heading into the race. Like many of the contenders, Schleck has identified Philippe Gilbert as the man to watch. In the past week the Belgian has won Brabantse Pijl, the Amstel Gold Race and Flèche Wallonne, and is in the form of his life. Schleck recognises the difference between those courses and that of today’s race, though, and believes that this could tip things in Leopard Trek’s direction. “The longer climbs are better [...]

Big battle in final Ardennes ClassicTalking shortly before the start of Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Garmin-Cervélo’s Cameron Meyer said that he was anticipating a lot of attacks prior to the finale of the Classic. Like many others, he predicted that the contenders and their teams would seek to make things tough for the big favourite, Philippe Gilbert. “I think it is definitely going to be a hard race,” he told VeloNation. “The Stockeau is going to be come a lot more important this year. Last year when we got over the Stockeau, there was a re-breather to get the group back together. But this year you go straight up another climb, and straight over another one. “It is going to be a lot harder early on, and it is going to be a bit of a war of attrition.” The Tour Down Under winner said that Garmin-Cervélo would throw its weight behind Ryder [...]

Team Sky rider ambitious in La DoyenneThird in the Amstel Gold race, Simon Gerrans will have Sky Procycling’s full backing in Liège-Bastogne-Liège and said this morning that he was hoping that a special day is in store. “I am feeling good. Amstel went really well, Fleche not so good, but I am feeling good for today. So I am hoping for the best.” The Australian looked tense at the start, but appearances were deceptive; he was in good form, happy to talk about his chances. When asked how he would like to see things play out, he gave a literal answer rather than a more general assessment of what way he’d like to see the race unfold. “I’d like to cross the line first, a few seconds in front,” he smiled. When pressed for a prediction of the tactics that will be used, he indicated that Philippe Gilbert and his [...]