25 Apr 2021
Grenadiers enliven Liege-Bastogne-Liege
Liege-Bastogne-Liege, 259.1km
The INEOS Grenadiers put in an attacking performance to enliven the finale of Liege-Bastogne-Liege.
The team placed impressive numbers to the fore heading into the final 30 kilometres, with Tao Geoghegan Hart splitting the peloton with a powerful turn on the famed Cote de La Redoute.
Adam Yates, Michal Kwiatkowski and Richard Carapaz were all buzzing around the front of the peloton, with Yates putting in a pair of accelerations. After Yates and Geoghegan Hart had shown themselves on the Cote des Forges, Carapaz took advantage of a lull to launch an attack.
The Ecuadorian opened up a gap of 20 seconds in his first Ardennes campaign, but was eventually hauled back with 13.5km to go.
The team were unable to place a rider in the decisive counter-attack that followed, with Tadej Pogacar winning the five-up sprint in Liege.
The team placed impressive numbers to the fore heading into the final 30 kilometres, with Tao Geoghegan Hart splitting the peloton with a powerful turn on the famed Cote de La Redoute.
Adam Yates, Michal Kwiatkowski and Richard Carapaz were all buzzing around the front of the peloton, with Yates putting in a pair of accelerations. After Yates and Geoghegan Hart had shown themselves on the Cote des Forges, Carapaz took advantage of a lull to launch an attack.
The Ecuadorian opened up a gap of 20 seconds in his first Ardennes campaign, but was eventually hauled back with 13.5km to go.
The team were unable to place a rider in the decisive counter-attack that followed, with Tadej Pogacar winning the five-up sprint in Liege.
Kwiatkowski was the top Grenadier across the line in 11th.
Reaction
- Michal Kwiatkowski
"We executed the plan pretty well and we raced aggressively at the end. We made La Redoute famous again. We were trying to force everyone to work hard up there. Tao was pushing all the way up La Redoute. We ended up with 13 guys over the top. I think if some guys had not missed it maybe the second group might not have come back. The plan was to go pretty much full gas there and not really look behind. Later on we had Adam and Richard. Richard was riding with a big gap and it was up to us to follow the main contenders over the Roch-aux-Faucons. Everyone saw that I missed a little bit. We tried our best and I left everything that I had there on the road.
"No regrets because we did our best - everyone was committed to have a go and to have a win today. Thanks to all of the guys - from Golas and Luke Rowe at the start and Eddie. All of the guys were doing an amazing job. For me it's one of the most enjoyable Ardennes campaigns over the years. We had a really good group and atmosphere. We didn't stop believing we could take that win today. It was a great week and I'm proud of these boys."
- Gabriel Rasch
"We wanted to go out there and race the way we did - attacking and trying to make the race. The guys really committed to the plan and we did everything we could. It was exciting to watch. Ultimately then it's about how the race pans out. In the end we lacked that little bit to be in the first group in the final kilometres.
"The guys can be proud of the way we raced. When we have riders with these qualities, and we know we can have multiple guys up there in the final, then it's always good, fun racing. We definitely showed the Grenadier spirit during these Ardennes."
- Michal Kwiatkowski
"We executed the plan pretty well and we raced aggressively at the end. We made La Redoute famous again. We were trying to force everyone to work hard up there. Tao was pushing all the way up La Redoute. We ended up with 13 guys over the top. I think if some guys had not missed it maybe the second group might not have come back. The plan was to go pretty much full gas there and not really look behind. Later on we had Adam and Richard. Richard was riding with a big gap and it was up to us to follow the main contenders over the Roch-aux-Faucons. Everyone saw that I missed a little bit. We tried our best and I left everything that I had there on the road.
"No regrets because we did our best - everyone was committed to have a go and to have a win today. Thanks to all of the guys - from Golas and Luke Rowe at the start and Eddie. All of the guys were doing an amazing job. For me it's one of the most enjoyable Ardennes campaigns over the years. We had a really good group and atmosphere. We didn't stop believing we could take that win today. It was a great week and I'm proud of these boys."
- Gabriel Rasch
"We wanted to go out there and race the way we did - attacking and trying to make the race. The guys really committed to the plan and we did everything we could. It was exciting to watch. Ultimately then it's about how the race pans out. In the end we lacked that little bit to be in the first group in the final kilometres.
"The guys can be proud of the way we raced. When we have riders with these qualities, and we know we can have multiple guys up there in the final, then it's always good, fun racing. We definitely showed the Grenadier spirit during these Ardennes."
Final result:
1. Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Team Emirates) 6:39:26
2. Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) s.t.
3. David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ)
4. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar)
5. Michael Woods (Israel Start-Up Nation)
11. Michal Kwiatkowski (INEOS Grenadiers)
1. Tadej Pogacar (UAE-Team Emirates) 6:39:26
2. Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) s.t.
3. David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ)
4. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar)
5. Michael Woods (Israel Start-Up Nation)
11. Michal Kwiatkowski (INEOS Grenadiers)
