90th Liège-Bastogne-Liège - CDM

Belgium, April 25, 2004

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Photography

The Race

For a thumbnail photo gallery of these pics, click here.

Images by AFP Photo

Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) claims his third race in a week and takes the World Cup lead at Liège

Images by Gunnar Mjaugedal/Cyclingnews.com/www.catchlight.no

Tyler Hamilton (Phonak) was last year's winner, and didn't disappoint this year with a 9th place
Peter Van Petegem (Lotto-Domo) was 'business as usual' at the start
Paolo Bettini (Quick.Step-Davitamon) looks thoughtful at the start
Paolo Bettini (Quick.Step-Davitamon) signs an autograph at the start
Jorg Jaksche (CSC) was OK with his broken elbow once the race started
Kurt-Asle Arvesen (CSC) ready for action!
Michele Bartoli (CSC) didn't quite have it when it mattered
Frank Vandenbroucke (Fassa Bortolo) had to be content with a top 20, rather than a podium place
The peloton roll out of Liege's Place Saint Lambert for the start
Raivis Belohvosciks (Jacques) was part of the early break of six, but later dropped off. Here he leads on the Cote Saint-Roch (km 82
Steffen Wesemann (T-Mobile) slipped to third in the World Cup standings after finishing 11th
Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) had a good race, but his victory chances were cut short by Michael Boogerd
Jorg Jaksche (CSC) didn't seem to be suffering too much from his broken elbow
Jorg Jaksche and CSC lead on the Wanneranval
Michele Bartoli (CSC, R) keeps an eye on things on the Cote de Wanneranval
Kurt-Asle Arvesen (CSC) did a great job for his team, as promised
Bram Tankink (Quick.Step, L) and Jan Van Velzen (Chocolade Jacques, R) driving the break on the Cote de Wanneranval with 83 km to go
Yaroslav Popovych (Landbouwkrediet-Colnago) finished 25 seconds down in 28th place
Stefano Garzelli (Vini Caldirola) was right there on the Cote de St Nicolas, but couldn't handle the pace and finished 2 minutes down in the end
Peter Van Petegem (Lotto-Domo) leads Michael Boogerd on St Nicolas with 6 km to go
The podium (L to R): Michael Boogerd (Rabobank, 2nd), Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner, 1st) and Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile, 3rd)
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) is the new World Cup leader as well
Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) lets us know what it's like to be beaten by Rebellin again
Kurt-Asle Arvesen (CSC) after a tough race

Images by Elmar Krings

Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) knows he has lost it with Rebellin on his wheel
Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) gives one last try
Matthias Kessler (T-Mobile) rounds the final corner with 6th place in sight
Oscar Freire (Rabobank) rounds the final corner
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) salutes from the podium with his flowers
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) on the podium with his L-B-L trophy
That's three wins this week for those who haven't been keeping track
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) is the new leader of the World Cup
A happy Davide Rebellin gives a post race interview
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) with team director Christian Henn

Images by Mitch Clinton/www.clintonphoto.com

Serge Baguet (Lotto-Domo) puts the power down
Manuel Beltran (USPS-Berry Floor) in Houffalize
Markus Zberg (Gerolsteiner) in Houffalize
Laurent Lefevre (Brioches) suffering
The main peloton on the Cote de Stockeu
Eddy Mazzoleni (Saeco) on the Stockeu
Niki Aebersold (Phonak) suffers on the Stockeu
Guennadi Mikhailov (USPS-Berry Floor) not looking happy
Where will it end? No joy for this rider on the Stockeu
The break comes in to the village of Ruy
Bram Tankink (Quick.Step) takes a breather
Didier Rous seems very happy toward the back of the pack
Patrice Halgand (Credit Agricole) still looking cool

Images by Olympia Photo

There's a bike race in there somewhere - LBL always gets a huge turn-out
Three contenders - Vinokourov follows Garzelli as Rebellin keeps watch
Michael Boogerd tries to shake Rebellin
Davide Rebellin powers round Boogerd and takes the win
The podium -Michael Boogerd, Davide Rebellin and Alexandre Vnokourov

Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

The peloton early in the race
The peloton at Houffalize
Inaki Isasi (Euskaltel) leads Jurgen Van De Walle (Jacques) and Bram Tankink (Quick.Step)
Phonak did a lot of chasing to bring the break back
Frank Vandenbroucke (Fassa Bortolo) takes the lead as Michael Boogerd watches
Giusseppe Guerini (T-Mobile, R) in front of Bartoli, Vinokourov, Kessler, and Boogerd
Steffen Wesemann (T-Mobile) looking calm
Bram Tankink (Quick.Step-Davitamon) and Marcel Strauss (Gerolsteiner)
Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) leads on La Redoute
Peter Van Petegem (Lotto-Domo) follows Boogerd
Stefano Garzelli (Vini Caldirola) and Mattias Kessler (T-Mobile) on La Redoute
Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) suffers on La Redoute
Michele Scarponi (Domina Vacanze) on La Redoute
Steffen Wesemann (T-Mobile) sits in the pack
Andreas Kloden (T-Mobile) doing some damage
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) celebrates
The sprint for fifth is won by Erik Dekker (L)
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) now leads the World Cup
Steffen Wesemann (T-Mobile) acquitted himself well
Paolo Bettini (Quick.Step-Davitamon) in a post race world of pain
Vinokourov leads Rebellin and Boogerd on the Cote de Ans
Rebellin, Vinokourov and Boogerd in the final 5 km
Rebellin takes the lead with 2 km to go

Images by Mani Wollner/www.foto-grafik-satz.de

The leading group climbing between the crowds at Houffalize
The peloton climbing between the crowds at Houffalize
The peloton climbing between the crowds at Houffalize
The leading group passing by on the Côte de Stockeu
The peloton at Stockeu
Giuseppe Guerini (T-Mobile, L) and Paolo Bettini (Quickstep, R) leading the peloton
The leaders approaching the finish
Boogerd, Rebellin and Vinokourov battling it out
Michel Boogerd forces the pace
Davide Rebellin stays cool
Alexandre Vinokourov is already beaten
Manuel Beltran with 300m to go
A group led by Didier Rous
Stefano Garzelli suffering in the final climb
Erik Zabel comes in with a small group
Those faces show the effort
The gruppetto on the Côte de Ans
Bert Grabsch (Phonak) leads a group home with Pinotti and Jaksche
The last riders approaching the finish

Pre-Race

Images by Jeff Jones/Cyclingnews.com

Peter Van Petegem (Lotto-Domo) is focused as usual
Christophe Brandt (Lotto-Domo) with a young fan
Stefano Garzelli (Vini Caldirola) is very capable of winning this race
Marco Serpellini (Gerolsteiner) is one of Rebellin's key men
Patrice Halgand (Credit Agricole) looks serious
Crowds of fans anticipating the start
Laurent Jalabert talks to Miguel Angel Martin Perdiguero (Saunier Duval)
David Etxebarria (Euskaltel) avoiding the crowds
World Cup leader Steffen Wesemann (T-Mobile) will have a tough time keeping his jersey today
Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) is one of the big favourites
Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) rolls up to the start, wired for sound
Juan Antonio Flecha (Fassa Bortolo) was all smiles
Jorg Jaksche (CSC) will race with a broken elbow
Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Team CSC) will do his best for the team
Erik Dekker (Rabobank) discusses his chances
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) was relaxed and chatty at the start
Oscar Freire (Rabobank) looking removed from the situation
Matthias Kessler (T-Mobile) has his race face on