94th Liège-Bastogne-Liège - 1.HC

Belgium, April 27, 2008

Pre-race press gathering

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Images by Gregor Brown/Cyclingnews

Ryder Hesjedal (Slipstream) will be hoping for better luck than he had at Flèche Wallonne.
Kim Kirchen (High Road) is relaxed after winning Flèche Wallonne..
Damiano Cunego (Lampre) is hoping to add another Monument to his palmarès.
Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) was in good spirits on the eve of Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
Oscar Freire (Rabobank) was fairly non-committal about his chances .
CPA president Cedric Vasseur meets Quick Step rider Carlos Barredo.

Photography

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Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net

Pavel Brutt (Tinkoff Credit Systems) leads the early escape.
Christian Pfannberger (Barloworld) leads home the main chase.
Spaniard Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) leads Christian Pfannberger (Barloworld).
Christian Pfannberger (Barloworld) climbs in the Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
Italy's Damiano Cunego (Lampre) finishes.
Francesco Gavazzi (Lampre)
José Angel Gomez Marchante (Saunier Duval-Scott)
Alexander Gottfried (Tinkoff Credit Systems)
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) climbs.
Andrea Tonti (Quick Step)
Steffen Wesemann (Cycle Collstrop) races in his last Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
French Champion Christophe Moreau (Agritubel)
Yaroslav Popovych (Silence-Lotto)
Australian Champion Matthew Lloyd (Silence-Lotto)
The many colours of the 2008 professional peloton
Australia's Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto) finishes.
Philippe Gilbert (Française des Jeux) digs hard on the Redoute.
Pavel Brutt (Tinkoff Credit Systems) awarded for the climb competition.
Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) during his impressive attack on the Redoute, with Aussie champ Matthew Lloyd (Silence - Lotto) chasing.
Damiano Cunego (Lampre) on the Redoute climb where the cards got shuffled anew.
Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) rides next to team-mate Franco Pellizotti.
Bettini was impressive as he passed Gilbert on the Redoute climb.
The peloton was cheered on by many spectators on a beautiful day in Belgium.
Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) launched a strong attack, showing the World Champ is back!
The peloton together on Le Cote St. Roche
Leonardo Piepoli (Saunier Duval) in the main chasing group
Mauricio Soler (Barloworld) crashed
Rebellin leads the winning move ahead of Schleck and Valverde.
The final three men watch each other in the final kilometres.
Rebellin was again a contender.
Inside the final kilometre Valverde (l), Rebellin and a hidden F. Schleck were waiting for someone to move.
Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Caisse d'Epargne) sprints to victory ahead of Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner).
Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) takes the last Spring Classic of the 2008 season.
The podium with Rebellin, Valverde and Schleck from left to right.
The final Spring Classics flowers were handed out in Ans.

Images by AFP Photo

Fränk Schleck (R) gives brother Andy a helping hand.
Valverde makes his move in the finale.
Fränk Schleck (Team CSC) was super strong today but couldn't shake Valverde.
The trophy is bigger than the man himself.
Valverde didn't target the Ardennes Classics, but came away a winner all the same.
Valverde with the coveted Liège-Bastogne-Liège winner's trophy.
The podium in Liège: David Rebellin (Gerolsteiner), Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) and Fränk Schleck (Team CSC)

Images by Elmar Krings

Kjell Carlström (Liquigas) during his attack but the Finnish rider couldn't hold Gilbert's fast wheel.
Ji Cheng (Skil-Shimano) crashed today which was one of only a few incidents.
The remnants of the break of the day with Rolland leading Brutt and Fothen.
Thierry Hupond (Skil-Shimano) takes the musette and will soon eat away.
CSC at the feed zone and realising that
Philippe Gilbert in his quest to beat the favourites to the top of the Redoute climb.
The loneliness of the long distance biker.
The peloton when it was still intact and the Rabo guy throwing his musette skillfully to the side of the road.
200km covered and still 60 to go.