Cycling: Andy Schleck has arrived Today was just such a moment for 23-year old Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) as he launched his move to victory with 20km to go in the 95th Liège-Bastonne-Liège.
Photo: www.siol.net - Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) as he launched his move to victory with 20km to go in the 95th Liège-Bastonne-Liège.
Every young rider hopes for a break-through moment in his career, a moment where all the hours on the bike, the time in the gym, the travel, the diet….where it all comes together in a big win to officially announce the arrival of a promising career. Today was just such a moment for 23-year old Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) as he launched his move to victory with 20km to go in the 95th Liège-Bastonne-Liège, marking the biggest win of his career. Behind him were Joaquím Rodriquez (Caisse d’Epargne) and Davide Rebellin (Serramenti PVC).
With 11 climbs ahead on a long day of racing, a break didn’t manage to stay away until mile marker 60 when a group of four finally established a gap. Working well together the quartet of Hubert Dupont (AG2R La Mondiale), Cyril Gautier (Bbox Bouygues Telecom), Marcel Wyss (Cervélo TestTeam) and Nico Sijmens (Cofidis) eventually built an advantage of eight minutes with Saxo Bank controlling the front of the peloton. At 50km to go Chris Anker Sørensen (Saxo Bank) put in an attack and was joined by Linus Gerdemann (Milram) and Dries Devenyns (Quick Step). The three rode steadily in pursuit of the four still off the front, allowing Saxo Bank to ease off the front and give some legs a rest in the team as they prepared for their next move.
Team Astana’s Maxim Iglinskiy put in a strong attack on the climb of La Redoute as the groups in front merged into one and were picked off by the peloton on the steeps of the climb. Next Karsten Kroon (Saxo Bank) put in a dig with Robert Gesink (Rabobank) quick to respond and a new group was away, with Philippe Gilbert (Silence-Lotto) on the move to bridge across at less than 30km to go. Looking very strong when he caught the group, he didn’t slow enough to pick up any helpers and was soon out front on his own. Gilbert quickly established a gap and by 20km to go held a 45-second time advantage.
Andy Schleck made his move on the Côte de la Roche aux Faucons with 20kms to go and chased down Gilbert. He paused long enough to evaluate what help he might get from the Belgian rider but sensing Gilbert was winding down and probably wouldn’t give much, the Luxemburger carried on solo, continuing to show the good form he had mid-week with his second-place finish in Fleche Wallonne. By 15kms to go Schleck held 35 seconds to a chasing group that included the pre-race favorites of Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Rebellin, Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d’Epargne), Damiano Cunego (Lampre), and Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto). At 10km to go the gap was 58 seconds and Schleck was flying down the descent of the next-to-last climb, taking tight lines around the curves and using every inch of road to his advantage.
