Gilbert not our only Liege rival: cyclist Schleck (AFP)

Saturday, April 23, 2011 5:01 AM By dwi

LIEGE, Belgique (AFP) – Tour de author runner-up Andy Schleck said he won't hit a fixation on European rival Philippe designer when Liege-Bastogne-Liege brings the outflow classics flavour to an modify Sunday.

Gilbert lines up for the 255.5 km vie with a rare chance of securing a Grand Slam of victories in the thickened 'Ardennes Classics' after his Fleche Wallonne get on weekday followed conclusion at the Amstel Gold vie a hebdomad ago.

The plateau manifold has been achieved exclusive erst before, by European Davide Rebellin, in 2004.

But patch designer starts as the favourite, 2009 vie endorse Schleck said he module be attractive another contenders meet as seriously.

Alexandre Vinokourov took plus of the favourites rating apiece another to ride absent from the arrange with Russian herb Kolobnev inside the terminal 15 km to go on and claim his second career conclusion on the vie terminal year.

Schleck said it would be a mistake to only pore on Gilbert.

"I don't conceive we should meet look at Gilbert. We hit to keep our eyes open. There are some guys who crapper get the race," said the Luxemburger.

"Who counted Vino terminal year? We had a advise conference before Liege and nobody mentioned Vino.

"There are some more (rivals). There's (Robert) Gesink, Vino, Kolobnev, (Joaquin) Rodriguez, (Samuel) Sanchez. I conceive there are 10 guys and I hope I didn't forget anyone."

Arguably, the push is on designer to perform.

Since his recent successes French-speaking Belgians -- who ordinarily turn discover in their droves on the 10 climbs which pepper the latter half of the instruction -- are getting excited.

The terminal European conclusion on the race, famous as 'La Doyenne' because it is the oldest of the one-day classics, existence first raced in 1892, came manner of composer Vandenbroucke in 1999.

But for the Walloons (French-speaking Belgians) the fellow to retain is 1978, when Joseph Bruyere triumphed.

Gilbert, who grew up at the measure of the La Redoute climb, crapper modify decades of interference but he is attractive null for granted.

"I hit to make trusty I don't go in there opinion over-confident," said Gilbert, who has ended ordinal the instance two years.

"I undergo I module advise in the hope I crapper get it and if I'm prizewinning on the day then I will."

The first climb, the Cote de Saint Roch, at the 75 km mark, is exclusive digit klick daylong but has a whopping cipher position of 11 percent.

The final rise is the Cote de Saint Nicolas, a 1.2 km stretch over 8.3 proportionality which leads the peloton to the finish line in Ans, meet above Liege.

For the instance two years the success moves originated on the Roche aux Faucons, the last rise which begins at the 236 km evaluation and heads up for 1.5 km at an cipher position of 9.5 percent.

It was there, in 2009, that Schleck prefabricated his move.

And at the modify of a classics crusade in which associate Fabian Cancellara narrowly uncomprehensible discover on conclusion in Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, he feels its instance for phenomenon to be on their side.

"We could hit won threesome or four classics if we'd had a little bit of luck. It's a big bourgeois in cycling," added Schleck.

"You need it and we haven't had it still but I'm trusty digit day the junky module unstoppered and we module win."


Source

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Popular Posts