This was not supposed to happen, but then again, cycling is unpredictable. (Which is why it is so fun to watch, but not always to ride.)
Liège-Bastogne-Liège has blown apart early, with a giant group of more than 50 riders getting clear after the opening shake-up, and Canadians Hugo Houle and Michael Leonard are right in the mix alongside Remco Evenepoel.
The split has caught out some of the biggest names. Tadej Pogačar and Paul Seixas are both behind, forcing UAE Emirates XRG and Decathlon CMA CGM to take control of the chase. Egan.
The advantage has quickly grown to around four minutes, turning what’s usually a slow burn into something far more aggressive with 180 km still to go.
Sarah Van Dam already delivering at Visma — Dutch ties aside
The gap is slowly coming down…and there’s a ways to go. But what happens if/when the group is caught? Surely Evenepoel will soften things up and try and create a smaller selection. If that group works well then both Pogi and Seixas will have a helluva time.
It’s also very good for Houle and Leonard. Houle has two Alpecin-Premier Teammates in the move, and Leonard has one Ef-Education First mate. Every team is represented in the move…except UAE and Decathlon.
That’s a big ole whoopsie!
Coverage for both men’s and women’s is on Flobikes.com.
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Canadian Cycling Magazine…