As it happened: solo attack on La Redoute decides men’s Liège-Bastogne-Liège

As the now very familiar tune of the Slovenian national anthem plays on the podium, we’ll wrap things up. 

Thanks for joining us today, and for the whole Spring classics season, which has served up a mixture of stunning individual rides and thrilling battles. Be sure to switch over to the women’s race, which is ongoing as we speak, and come back again for more live coverage as we enter the next phase of the season.

Lidl-Trek complete a very successful Ardennes campaign which most notably included victory for Skjelmose at Amstel Gold by placing no less than 3 riders in the top 6 - Ciccone in 2nd, Nys 5th and Bagioli 6th.

In terms of spectacle the race really needed Remco Evenepoel firing on all cylinders and taking on Tadej Pogačar, but the Belgian was clearly lacking something today. Was he ill? Or maybe the additional length of Liège-Bastogne-Liège compared with Brabantse Pijl and Amstel Gold was too much for him, as he still brings himself up to full fitness following his long injury layoff. We’ll find out when he talks to the press.

For Ben Healy, this is a first monument podium having knocked on the door for a couple of years now. Third-place beats his previous highest finish of fourth, two years ago, and firmly establishes him as one of the top puncheurs in the world.

Enough about Pogačar - what of the podium finishers? Giulio Ciccone was a bit of a surprise in second-place, but adds a Liège-Bastogne-Liège to the other monument podium he managed at Il Lombardia last year. The Italian seems to have found a niche for himself in the hilly monuments.

Less historial but still unprecedented in recent years, he also becomes the first man to do the Liège-Bastogne-Liège / La Flèche Wallonne double since Alejandro Valverde in 2017.

He also becomes the first rider in cycling history to make the podium in six successive monunets. With Il Lombarida to come later this season, he has the chance to become the first man to podium in all five during the same year. These are achievements not even Eddy Merckx ever accomplished.

With another win, Pogačar makes yet more history. This is his ninth monument win, putting him joint-third on the all-time list - only Eddy Merckx and Roger De Vlaeminck have more.

And this is his third career Liège-Bastogne-Liège title, which only Merckx, Moreno Argentin and Alejandro Valverde have bettered.

Pogačar’s winning margin of 1-03 wasn’t quite as big as last year’s 1-39, or Evenepoel’s 1-06 a couple of years ago, but it’s still a massive, comfortable win that never really felt in doubt the moment he made his move on La Redoute.

Remco Evenepoel rolls in behind the peloton, a long way down. We await to hear what the explanation is for his off colour showing today.

Simone Velasco edged out Thibau Nys in the sprint for fourth-place in the peloton.

Ciccone comes around him in the sprint to take second, Healy third.

Healy is leading the Italian out.

Ciccone and Healy are going to be good the podium spots, but in which order?

POGACAR WINS

He's done it again!

There's doubt about who the winner is going to be though.

Meanwhile Ciccone and Healy's gap has come down to under 20 seonds. This could be a tense finish for the podium spots. 

1KM TO GO

He's gone under the kilometre to go banner.

Just 2km left for Pogačar. He's going to end his spring campaign just as he began it at Strade Bianche - winning by a huge margin.

In terms of the podium places, it’s looking good for Healy and Ciccone. They’re working together well, and are maintaining a lead of over 20 seconds.

5KM TO GO

1-30 remains Pogačar's lead as he enters the final 5km. That's only 9 seconds less than his winning margin from last year.

Ciccone and Healy only have 20 seconds on the peloton. Jayco are leading the chase, trying to set up Michael Matthews, who is still present. 

Martin and Schmid have were caught by the peloton earlier.

10KM TO GO

Pog's gap has gone up some more, to nearly 1-30.

There looks to be at least 30 riders still in the peloton, which is chasing down Healy and Ciccone.

Alaphilippe has been dropped out of the peloton, after his earlier efforts. Again, he seems to be paying for going deep. 

Meanwhile Guillaume Martin and Mauro Schmid have attacked out of the peloton and are in pursuit.

Healy and Ciccone are working together, but the peloton behind is only 10 seconds adrift. 

Pogačar reaches the top, his lead still at 1-15.

Healy has grabbed onto Ciccone's wheel, but Pidcock and Alaphilippe are distanced. 

Ciccone has attacked on the climb.

Evenepoel is struggling. He's been dropped out the peloton on the climb. Clearly something is up for him today.

CÔTE DE LA ROCHE-AUX FAUCONS

Pogačar leads the race onto the final climb of the race, and the final climb of this year's Ardennes Classics.

Already on La Redoute, Pogačar was out of sight. His lead has since grown to 1-15, with 15km to go.

Pidcock, Healy, Ciccone and Alaphilippe are working together, but unable to make any inroads They're 1-08 adrift. 

20KM TO GO

With just one climb to go, Pogačar leads the chasing four by 1-06, and the peloton by 1-22.

Pog's lead is over a minute for the first time.

Those five riders have now been caught by the next group on the road, being led by Evenepoel.

Behind them is a 5-man group about 20 seconds behind: Carlos Rodríguez, Baudin, Schmid, Powless and Pog's teammate McNulty.

Healy, Pidcock, Alaphilippe and Ciccone are all back together again.

CÔTE DES FORGES

Pogačar starts the penultimate climb of the day, Côte des Forges, with a lead of 47 seconds.

If that group wants to have any chance of catching Pogačar, you sense they have to work together rather than attack each other. That attack has coincided with another increase in the gap, to 45 seconds.

Ciccone and Pidcock have attacked and gone clear of Healy and Alaphilippe.

Here's the World Champion attacking on La Redoute.

Ciccone and Alaphilippe have joined Pidcock and Healy, having attacked out of the chase group behind. That'll give this group strength in numbers as they try to chase Pogačar.

It’s difficult to see Pog being brought back from here - but then again we said the same thing at Amstel Gold, so it’s still all to play for.

30KM TO GO

Pogačar's lead is growing. It's up to 30 seconds on Healy and Pidcock.

So, to summarise: Pogačar leads; Pidcock and Healy are 19 seconds behind; Alaphilippe, Ciccone, Nys Tulett, Romain Grégoire Louis Barré at 36 seconds; the Evenepoel group at 38 seconds.

Pidcock and Healy have struck out and are ahead of the other chasers.

Evenepoel is in a group about 10 seconds behind these chasers.

A chase is forming behind Pog, featuring: Pidcock, Healy, Alaphilippe, Nys, Ciccone, Tulett,  Grégoire and Barré.

Alaphilippe and Pidcock lead the chase.

Pog reaches the top with a lead of 10 seconds.

Pogačar isn't out of sight yet. He's about ten seconds ahead of Alaphilippe.

Alaphilippe is 2nd on the road, followed by Ciccone, then Healy.

Nobody tried to follow him initially, but now some moves are being attempted.

Pog has a gap of several seconds already.

Evenepoel is well out of position.

POGACAR ATTACKS

He's made his move already!

UAE lead onto the climb with Sivakov and McNulty.

CÔTE DE LA REDOUTE

Here we go, they're climbing Côte de la Redoute!

Evenepoel is further down the peloton that Pog. He'll want to move up before the start of the climb.

Tudor lead the peloton with Marco Brenner. Alaphilippe must fancy this chances again.

 Pogačar is about 10th in line as they near the start of the climb.

40KM TO GO

Where nearly there now. The pace is up and there's a big battle for positioning from multiple teams. 

The’ye riding along a plateau right now following the top of Côte de Desnié. Soon they will descend for a few kilometres, at the end of which they will arrive at the foot of the famous Côte de la Redoute.

They reach the top of the climb, with no attacks being made. It seems La Redoute will once again be the race's key moment.

Pogačar also has two teammates with him in addition to Novak.

Novak takes over again, and this time he has Pogačar right on his wheel.

CÔTE DE DESNIÉ

Tudor take over at the front as they begin climbing the Côte de Desnié.

50KM TO GO

Still Lidl lead, with Decathlon-AG2R up close to them too. Things are getting tense as we enter the final, and decisive, fifth of the race.

For now though it’s Lidl-Trek who have taken over at the front of the peloton, a long line of riders bringing it towards the foot of the next climb, Côte de Desnié.

Pogačar’ UAE team have this race under control. Now, we await his attack.

60KM TO GO

Novak leads the peloton over the Col du Rosier. There are just four categorised climbs left to complete. The fireworks will commence soon!

It’s all moot now though - all three have been brought back by the peloton.

Løland and Sepúlveda have bridged up to Haig.

Haig has accelerated on the climb and has a gap.

At 5.6%, the Col du Rosier they’re currently negotiating isn’t the steepest, but it is among the day’s longest, lasting 4.5km.

Domen Novak is back on the front for UAE. He's done a huge shift today working for Pogačar.

Crash for Warren Barguil in the peloton. He’s on his feet, but looks hurt.

After this climb, there’s only one more before the famous Côte de la Redoute, where in recent years the decisive attacks have been made. Will anybody try to get ahead of Pogačar and Evenepoel by attacking them before? 

COL DU ROSIER

Time for the next climb, Col du Rosier. Lidl-Trek lead the peloton onto it, still 40 seconds behind the lead group.

 Boulahoite has been dropped out of the front group.

70KM TO GO

The race has settled down a little, and the gap steadied at 40 seconds.

The rest of the riders who had been in the break originally have been swept up by the peloton, who are also bearing down on the leaders. The gap now is just 40 seconds.

Meanwhile up ahead, Haig has been caught by the four chasers.

Bilbao was one of the riders, but they've knocked the pace off again and UAE have resumed control.

Interesting move in the peloton, as a couple of Bahrain-Victorious rides suddenly accelerate. 

CÔTE DE LA HAUTE-LEVÉE

They're climbing again already, up Côte de la Haute-Levée

Boulahoite, Le Berre, Sepúlveda, and Løland are the four riders together behind Haig.

Jack Haig has attacked them, and is now clear alone by about ten seconds.

The break has split up on that climb, with only about five riders staying with Boulahoite.

The peloton reach the top of the climb, 1-05 after the leaders.

Rayan Boulahoite has attacked the break on the climb.

Stan Van Tricht has been brought back into the peloton, having been dropped from the break earlier.

Domen Novak leads the peloton on the climb. The Slovenian has done much of the work for the past kilometres, helping to bring back the Ineos pair.

CÔTE DE STOCKEU

We're climbing again, and it's a steep one. The Côte de Stockeu climbs for 1km at 12% - a potental launchpad for a bold long-range attack?

80KM TO GO

So there's now the 12 leaders up the road, who are 1-10 ahead of the peloton, and no more groups in between.

The Tudor pair haven't pressed on, and are back in the peloton.

Foss and Jungels have been caught by the peloton.

There’s a move from Tudor Pro Cycling on this descent, with Marco Brenner taking off the front and Julian Alaphilippe on his wheel.

Evenepoel's teammate Pieter Serry was also dropped, but is making his way back on on the descent.

Both Pogačar and Evenepoel are down a man after that climb, the former losing Florian Vermeersch and the latter Louis Vervaeke.

Stan Van Tricht is dropping out of the break on the climb, struggling with the pace.

Foss and Jungels have been out there for a while, but are struggling to make progress since the peloton started seriously chasing. They've only got 30 seconds on them now.

CÔTE DE WANNE

As promised, the climbs are now coming thick and fast. The break have started the next one, the Côte de Wanne.

90KM TO GO

The peloton too are over the climb and descending, 2 minutes behind the leaders and 30 seconds behind the Ineos duo.

The peloton is mostly still together, but some riders are being dropped on this climb. One victim is Stevie Williams, who clearly still isn't feeling good after his difficult Flèche Wallonne title defence on Wednesday.

The break reaches the top of the climb, their lead 1-30 over Jungels / Foss, and 2-15 over the peloton.

CÔTE DE MONT-LE-SOIE

The break has begun the climb, while the favourites have moved towards the front of the peloton as they near it.

The race is about to seriously heat up. The riders are nearing the Côte de Mont-le-Soie, after which the climbs come thick and fast all the way to the finish - there will be 9 in the final 95km.

Ciccone, his teammate Julien Bernard, and Magnus Cort are all back in the peloton again.

100KM TO GO

The peloton have the leaders to within 2-30 now, while Foss and Jungels have been brought back to 45 seconds.

Giulio Ciccone has been held up with a mechanical. He's one of Lidl's protected riders today, as evidenced by the fact a rider waited for him while he got it fixed, and is in good form having won a stage at the Tour of the Alps.

Magnus Cort has had a mechanical. He’s riding for Uno‑X Mobility who are, for one day only, competing as 7-Eleven.

The women's race is about to get underway - you can follow all the action here.

110KM TO GO

The gap continues to come down. The leaders have just 3-30 on the peloton, and 2-05 over the Ineos duo.

Here's Jungels jumping out of the peloton, before being joined by Foss.

Bit of a mishap from the Ineos riders, who go different ways around a roundabout. The one who went the wrong way managed to bunny-hop over to ensure he didn’t lose any ground. 

120KM TO GO

It's all change since the Jungels / Foss attack. The peloton is travelling much quicker now, and have brought the break’s lead down to four minutes, while the Ineos duo are 1-30 ahead.

Lidl-Trek are also contributing to the pace-setting in the peloton now - a sign of faith in their leader and Amstel Gold winner Mattias Skjelmose, indicating that he's feeling good despite his Flèche Wallonne injuries.

Evenepoel is with the cars, grabbing a bidon from his team car. Things remain calm in the peloton, though the pace is up a bit, perhaps in response to the Ineos attack.

Foss and Jungels are doing a good job, and are already nearly two minutes ahead of the peloton.

 Meens still isn't happy, and has had another bike change. 

Tobias Foss has also jumped out of the peloton, and bridged up to his Ineos teammate Jungels. This move has become his trademark!

130KM TO GO

Jungels has built a lead of 45 seconds, with the peloton not worried about him. He's still 4-40 behind the leaders though.

Johan Meens from the breakaway has needed a bike change.

This has become a typical move from Ineos Grenadiers with Tobas Foss often embarking on these mid-race attacks out the proton despite their being a break much further up the road.

We have some activity in the peloton for the first time in a while, as Bob Jungels attacks.

Tudor’s leader is Julian Alaphilippe, who has already played a key role this Ardennes campaign by being the man who initiated Pogačar early - and ultimately unsuccessful - attack at Amstel Gold. That appeared to be a move from somebody trying to force themselves into better form than they really are, and he blew up later in that race, fading to finish down in 20th.

Liège-Bastogne-Liège is a race that eluded the Frenchman even during his peak years, once in 2020 celebrating in the belief he’d won before being pipped on the line. Deep down, does he still hope and believe he can still win it?

The peloton reach the climb about 5 minutes after the leaders, and there's a mild fight for position. Tudor Pro Cyling lead them onto it.

COL DE HAUSSIRE

The riders are on the day's second climb, Col de Haussire. This one's a new addition for 2025, but very much typically Liège-Bastogne-Liège, in that it's long for a hill in a one-day race (at 3.9km) while also being steep (7.2%).

140KM TO GO

As we approach the day’s second climb, the gap has come down, to about 5-15.

As well as UAE Team Emirates - XRG and Soudal-QuickStep, Bahrain-Victorious are the other most prominent team towards the front of the peloton. Santiago Buitrago is their leader, and has both a strong record here having placed third place last year, and is in good form with a sixth-place at La Flèche Wallonne on Wednesday.

Second-place at La Flèche Wallonne has demanded that attention is paid to Kevin Vauquelin. Though a distant second place behind Pogačar, he still defeated some serious opposition to seal that ranking, and is aiming for another high finish today.

Every time Tadej Pogačar competes, it seems he’s making some kind of history - today, it’s in relation to victories in the Ardennes Classics. A win today would be his sixth, surpassing Davide Rebellin and equalling Philippe Gilbert. Only Aljandro Valverde has more in the last 30 years.

150KM TO GO

That’s almost 100km completed already. For the first time in a while the gap has decreased a bit, down to 5-40.

160KM TO GO

We've been racing for over two hours now, and the gap is just shy of 6 minutes. 

The riders have arrived at Bastogne thus completing the first phase of the race’s name. Unfortunately for them the trip back into Liège is a lot longer, and features a lot more climbs. 

The pace is slow enough in the peloton for Pogačar to enjoy a chat with Bob Jungels, who won here in 2018. Along with Evenepoel and Jakob Fuglsang, they are the only four former winners riding today.

170KM TO GO

The gap's grown to 5-50, the biggest it's been all day. 

Often finishing as best of the rest behind Pogačar and Evenepoel is Tom Pidcock. The Brit has already finished second and third behind Pogačar at Strade Bianche and La Flèche Wallonne respectively this year, and was also second here behind Evenepoel in 2023. He’s not simply settling for another podium finish, however, saying before the race that he is ‘going into the race to try and win.’

The break of the day, who at this rate will out in front for a long time yet.

180KM TO GO

The break are over the climb, with their lead still at about 5-30.

COTE DE SAINT-ROCH

Having only had to deal with rolling roads so far, the break have now reached the first of the day's 11 climbs, Côte de Saint-Roch. The second climb isn't for about another 50km, but the wearing down process that makes Liège-Bastogne-Liège such a punishingly arduous race has begun.

The winner today won’t necessarily be either one of Tadej Pogačar or Remco Evenepoel - as Amstel Gold proved last weekend, the pair’s battle with one another can allow other riders to go under the radar and steal the glory from them. 

Mattias Skjelmose was the man to do so on that occasion, but may struggle to do so again today. He’s still nursing pain from a crash at Wednesday’s Flèche Wallonne. 

190KM TO GO

Still the gap between the break and the peloton continues to go in only one direction. It's now up to 5-45.

Evenepoel himself is feeling bullish, and is pleased with his shape going into today’s race, even if he believes that he is ‘certainly not at [his] best yet.'

Soudal-QuickStep are also making their presence known at the front of the peloton. Remco Evenepoel might not quite share equal status with Pogačar as race favourite, but he’s not far off.

200KM TO GO

5-40 is the gap, with just over a fifth of the race now completed. 

We have our first abandon of the day and it’s a big name - Max Van Gils. The Belgian was fourth here last year, but has been unable to find that form this spring.

Still the gap continues to grow, now as high as 5-30.

Here are the 12 riders in the day's break.

The gap’s still growing, now up to 4-15. There’s a long way to go, and therefore no need for the peloton to keep the break on too tight a leash.

Pogačar’s UAE Team Emirates - XRG have taken control at the front, but taking things easy. They’ve allowed the break’s lead to grow to 3-30.

220KM TO GO

Those twelve riders have a lead of over 2-30, and the race has settled down.

They've been joined by Mathis Le Berre (Arkéa - B&B Hotels) and Johan Meens (Wagner Bazin WB), so we now have a group of twelve riders leading the race.

Those ten riders are:

Jack Haig (Bahrain-Victorious)

Stan Van Tricht (Alpecin-Deceuninck)

Kamiel Bonneu (Intermarché - Wanty)

Eduardo Sepúlveda (Lotto)

Sakarias Koller Løland (Uno-X Mobility)

Rayan Boulahoite (Total Energies)

Valentin Retailleau (Total Energies)

Hannes Wilksch (Tudor)

Ceriel Desal (Wagner Bazin WB)

Henri-François Renard-Haquin  (Wagner Bazin WB)

The ten riders’ lead is growing - it looks like this could be the break of the day.

Mathis Le Berre and Johan Meens have also jumped out of the peloton in the hope of joining those ten riders.

This looks more promising - a large group of ten riders have a gap, the most notable name being Jack Haig.

230KM TO GO

Still the attacks keep coming, but still none manage to form a definitive breakaway. 

They too have been brought back.

Three riders have now managed to gain about ten seconds on the peloton - Sakarias Koller Løland, Simon Guglielmi and Valentin Retailleau.

240KM TO GO

Viegen has been brought back, and the peloton is still together. 

A first glimpse of the peloton today.

Loïc Vliegen has managed to go clear on his own and establish a small gap.

The weather is looking good, with blue skies greeting the riders at the start. 

Riders are using the uphill road that begins the race to try and get up the road but nothing’s stuck so far.

There's one non-starter today - George Bennett.

OFFICIAL START

And they're off!

They and the rest of the field will be racing soon. They’re currently in the neutralised one waiting for the flag. Anticipation is building!

The stage is set for what has been a long-awaited battle between these two riders at this race. Evenepoel was not present in either of the years Pogačar won, while Pogačar crashed out of the 2023 edition won by Evenepoel. If last weekend’s contest between the two at Amstel Gold is anything to go by, this has the makings of being a classic.

The one man most likely to stop Pogačar today is Remco Evenepoel. The Belgian has won on both his previous two Liège-Bastogne-Liège appearances, and between them Evenepoel and Pogačar account for all four of the last editions of this race.

The spring has been centred around one man above all others - Tadej Pogačar. Whether in victory, as at his dominant displays to take Strade Bianche, the Tour of Flanders and La Fleche Wallonne,, or in near defeat, at Milan-Sanremo, Paris-Roubaix and Amstel Gold, he’s been at the heart of all the drama, and is set to be again once more today.

What has been an especially thrilling spring classics season comes to an end today with Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the oldest and one of the most prestigious of them all.

Hello and welcome to the 2025 men's Liège-Bastogne-Liège!