Liege - Bastogne - Liege 2021
It’s a wrap. The classic season 2021 is over, and we are gearing up for the multi-stage tours. It was therefor fitting that Tadej Pogacar, winner of the epic 2020 Tour de France, won this year’s La Doyenne. “Get ready to see me a lot more!”
The reworked route for this race is an improvement. Several years ago, Cote de la Redoute was only an amuse-bouche. You had to wait a long time for the main course. The real race only used to brake open on the St Nicolas. And then it was over before it really got started.
The new route brought a bit more of cat and mouse games. Carapaz attacked on the Cote de la Roche-aux-Faucons. Then, the other big boys woke up, and went in the counter attack. It wasn’t at all clear whether he would be caught. Ultimately, a group of the strongest handful riders went to the finish line to sprint. It was an exciting last 20 kilometers. The last part of the course also has gotten a lot nice, as they wind through the greener areas around Liege, rather than the industrial area of Seraing.
Wat een nagelbijter! Alaphilippe komt er als een kanonkogel uit, maar wordt nog net voor de streep geremonteerd door Pogacar #lbl #lbl21 pic.twitter.com/qu8BNV7cg5
— Sporza 🚴 (@sporza_koers) April 25, 2021
What do I expect from the upcoming Giro and Tour de France?
First of all, I wish all the best for Remco Evenepoel. He has to impress nobody. Not every recovery will result in the stellar year as Wout had last year. So, it is better it keeps building in the Giro. And if he really wants to win a top tour, save it for the Vuelta.
The Tour de France will be a lot more tactical. Jumbo won’t make the same mistake as last year, and expect UAE to do their role. Of course UAE has a stronger team than last year. Ineos will be back, yet they seem to lack great coaching from the car. The Wolfpack of DeCeuninck-Quickstep will pick their stages, though will probably use this as a practice year to build out their very young tour team.
It will also be time again to dial into The Move podcast with Lance and the gang.