91st Liège-Bastogne-Liège - PT

Belgium, April 24, 2005

Photography

Race Day

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Luc Claessen/www.actiefotos.be

Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas-Bianchi) rolls up in the ProTour leader's jersey
Jens Voigt (CSC) comes up with a cunning plan: Go hard!
Yep, that's what I'll do
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) looks slightly worried
Bjarne Riis the CSC mastermind
Alejandro Valverde (Illes Balears) interviewed by Cyclingnews' Hedwig Kröner at the start
Erik Dekker (Rabobank) looking expectant
Michael Boogerd reckons he has a good chance of making the podium today
Michael Boogerd might have got Karsten Kroon's helmet by mistake
Karsten Kroon (Rabobank) ready for another day
Maarten den Bakker is one of Rabobank's most experienced domestiques
Paolo Bettini (Quick.Step) not laughing!
Quick.Step's Patrick Lefevere interviewed at the start
Patrik Sinkewitz (Quick.Step) was one of his team's main men today
Gerben Lowik (Rabobank) looks for the sign on
Addy Engels (Quick.Step)
Local boy Rik Verbrugghe (Quick.Step) at the start
Roberto Petito (Fassa Bortolo)
Davide Bramati (Quick.Step) has a job to do
And they're off! For the 91st Liege-Bastogne-Liege
Oscar Freire (Rabobank) smiles as he rolls out
The peloton rides through Aywaille at full speed
The peloton through Aywaille
Manolo Saiz and Jean-Marie Leblanc in conversation
Dario Frigo (Fassa Bortolo) waits for the start
Steffen Wesemann (T-Mobile) in the lead after his early attack
The peloton on La Roche-En-Ardenne
The peloton on La Roche-En-Ardenne
The crowd awaits at the Côte De Saint Roch
The break climbs the Côte De Saint Roch
The peloton swarms up the Côte De Saint Roch
Paolo Bettini (Quick.Step) and a small group
Are we there yet?
Eric Dekker (Rabobank) on the Côte De Stockeu
Oscar Freire (Rabobank) carries the world champion stripes up Côte De Stockeu
Phillipe Gilbert (Francaise des Jeux) on the Côte De Stockeu
Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) leads the peloton on Côte De Stockeu
Climbing Côte De Stockeu
Climbing Côte De Stockeu
Mikel Astarloza (AG2R) suffering on the Côte De Stockeu
Kim Kirchen (Fassa Bortolo) rolls home to finish 19th
Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) finished 27th but retained the ProTour jersey
Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) claims his first Liege-Bastogne-Liege victory
The podium - Jens Voigt (Team CSC), Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile Team) and Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) 0.14

Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas-Bianchi) looking o-so-cool at the start in Liège.
Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas-Bianchi) makes his way to the start line.
Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas-Bianchi) waves to his supporters.
Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas-Bianchi) acknowledges the crowd.
Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas-Bianchi) thinks about the day ahead, and isn't sure whether he likes it.
The peloton during the earlier stages of the race.
Gruppo compatto for now...
... before the obligatory EB (early break) goes.
And here comes the peloton.
The early break containing Stefen Wesemann (T-Mobile).
Scenic shot #1.
Scenic shot #2.
The obligatory Liège-Bastogne-Liège shot.
And another one. Well, it is a cool photo...
The peloton en masse.
Celestino, Bettini, Dekker and Boogerd at the head of affairs.
Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) hoping for not another second place. He got his wish.
Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom) finished in 37th place.
Jens Voigt (CSC) didn't hang around in the bunch for long.
Mirko Celestino (Domina Vacanze) grimaces in an effort to stay with the lead group.
Laurent Brochard (Bouygues Telecom) rode well to finish 14th.
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) paid the penalty for not enough aggression today.
Jens Voigt (CSC) and Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) forge their lead.
Jens Voigt (CSC) enjoying riding the only way he knows how - off the front.
Jens Voigt (CSC) stretches his legs.
Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) showed great strength and tactical cunning today.
Liège is very much a race of constant ups and downs.
The chase group on La Redoute.
Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) digs deep.
Cadel Evans (Davitamon-Lotto) rode a great Liège.
Mirko Celestino (Domina Vacanze) leads last year's winner, Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner).
Ivan Basso (CSC) is coming back into good form, just in time for the Giro.
Paolo Bettini (Quick.Step) was in the moves, but didn't pick the right one today.
Kim Kirchen (Fassa Bortolo) grits his teeth.
Alejandro Valverde (Illes Balears) wasn't at his best.
David Etxebarria (Liberty Seguros) was predicted to finish on the podium, but only managed sixth place.
Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Cafitta) is returning to top form.
Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Cafitta) likes it when the road goes up.
Axel Merckx (Davitamon-Lotto) broke his pedal earlier on, requiring a bike change.
ProTour leader Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas-Bianchi) wasn't in top form today.
Danilo Di Luca's winning streak finally came to an end today.
Leonardo Bertagnolli (Cofidis) finished just outside the top 20.
Erik Dekker (Rabobank) attacked, but not at the right moment.
Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) comfortably outsprints Jens Voigt (CSC) to take the 91st Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
Now, chest out, arms raised...
Arms down...
Air punch...
... and follow through while yelling, rubbing it in for the second-place getter.
Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) comes into Ans for third place.
No-one can say Paolo Bettini (Quick.Step) didn't suffer today...
Mirko Celestino (Domina Vacanze) takes a top 10 finish.
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) finishes just outside the top 10, in eleventh spot.
Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Cafitta) satisfied with ninth place.
Double L-B-L winner Paolo Bettini (Quick.Step) looking a little less satisfied with his fourth.
Job well done, Vino.
Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) salutes the crowd.
Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) kisses his first L-B-L trophy.
This one isn't worth a smooch.
Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) showed plenty of heart today.
Maybe next time, Jens.
The podium.
And again.
You don't want to forget that trophy, Vino...

Images by Christine Grein/www.capture-the-peloton.com

Paolo Bettini (Quick.Step)
Damiano Cunego (Lampre - Caffita)
Damiano Cunego and Daniele Righi (Lampre - Caffita)
Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas)
Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas)
Francisco Mancebo and Alejandro Valverde (Illes Balears)
Aitor Osa (Illes balears) and Inigo Landaluze (Euskaltel)
Sergio Paulinho and Carlos Barredo (Liberty Seguros)
Filippo Pozzato (Quick.Step)
Filippo Pozzato (Quick.Step)
Alejandro Valverde and Vicente Garcia (Illes Balears)
The podium - Jens Voigt (Team CSC), Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile Team) and Michael Boogerd (Rabobank)
Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) on the podium as ProTour leader

Images by Régis Garnier/www.velofotopro.fr.st

Danielo Diluca the leader of the UCI Pro Tour.
Franco Pelizzoti during the pre-race presentation.
2004 winner Davide Rebellin at the start.
Cedric Vasseur
Damiano Cunego
Special glasses for the eventual winner, Alexandre Vinokourov...
Santiago Botero
Hey boy! what do you want?
Benjamin Noval (Discovery) leads the escape.
Dutch rider Koen de Koert.
Oscar Freire in the bunch...
Noval and Weseman on the Côte de Stockeu
Followed by Jens Voigt, Mirko Celestino and Santiago Botero
Stockeu is very hard
Alexandre Vinokourov is congratulated by his team-mates
Alexandre Vinokourov after his victory
Alexandre Vinokourov
Davide Rebellin finished 11th.
Liège is a hard race for the young rider Damiano Cunego.
Ivan Basso
The podium

Images by Andrea Hübner/www.velo-photos.com

La Francaise des Jeux at the team presentation
Jens Voigt (Team Csc)
Oscar Pereiro and Santiago Botero (Phonak)
Cédric Vasseur and David Moncoutié (Cofidis)
Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile)
Marco Serpellini and Andrea Moletta (Gerolsteiner)
Stéphane Goubert (Ag2r) before the start
Walter Beneteau (Bouygues Telecom)
Davitamon-Lotto's Johan Vansummer at the finish in Ans
The poduim: Voigt, Vinokourov, Boogerd
Alejandro Valverde (Illes Balears) at the finish
Santiago Botero (Phonak)
Danilo DiLuca (Liquigas) gets the ProTour jersey presented to him by Eddy Merckx
Stijn Devolder (Discovery Channel) was the second last rider to finish today
Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Team Csc)

Pre-race

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Elmar Krings

A panoramic shot of the start in Place St Lambert
Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) signs on with teammate Franco Pellizotti
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) signs on, as the defending champ
Paolo Bettini (Quick.Step) looking chirpy as always
Patrik Sinkewitz (Quick.Step) is his team's man for the day
Jens Voigt (CSC) salutes the crowd at the sign on
Steffen Wesemann (T-Mobile) with Schmitz (L) and Vino (R)
Waiting… for the start in Liege
Rolling out for the start in Liege