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The cycling classic Liège-Bastogne-Liège is 257.20 kilometers long: the field of riders on the Côte de Saint-Roch climb
Photo: Eric Lalmand / dpa
The Belgian young star Remco Evenepoel has won the 108th running of the spring classic Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
The 22-year-old, already celebrated in his home country as the new Eddy Merckx, clinched his first victory in the difficult spring classic Liège-Bastogne-Liège on Sunday after 257.2 kilometers and ten climbs.
He won single-handedly in front of his two compatriots Quinten Hermans and Wout van Aert.
Evenepoel was only supposed to help Julian Alaphilippe at his Liege premiere, but the French world champion was injured so badly in a pile-up 62 kilometers from the finish that he had to be taken to the hospital.
Alaphilippe, 29, fractured a shoulder blade and two ribs.
He also sustained a lung injury.
This was announced by his team Quick Step in the evening.
His condition is stable.
Alaphilippe will remain in the hospital for observation for the time being.
It was not announced how long he would be out.
Alaphilippe's Belgian teammate Ilan Van Wilder was also involved in the accident.
He broke his jaw and is also being treated in a clinic.
Last year's winner
Pogačar
had to pass at short notice
Evenepoel made the preliminary decision on the Côte de la Redoute, the penultimate climb, when he broke away with a powerful attack and, in the manner of a time trialist, drove towards his greatest success to date.
On the last climb he then left France's Bruno Armirail behind and crossed the finish line by 48 seconds.
»That was my best day on the bike, a perfect day.
It's incredible," said Evenepoel, adding: "I've suffered a lot mentally and physically in the past year and a half and finally I feel like everything is going well, everything is becoming stable and I'm getting back to my old self," said Evenepoel.
In August 2020, he broke his pelvis in a serious fall on the Lombardy Tour and had to take a nine-month break.
The two veteran stars and ex-winners Alejandro Valverde (Spain) and Philippe Gilbert (Belgium), on the other hand, were denied a place on the podium when they last competed in Liège.
Last year's winner Tadej Pogačar (Team UAE Emirates) was absent in Liège.
He returned to his Slovenian homeland on Thursday to support his partner after the death of her mother.
German drivers played no role after Maximilian Schachmann, who finished third in Liège in 2019, canceled due to illness.
ngo/dpa
