“The team tactic was to animate the race. I think we did that."

Those were the words of Jakob Fuglsang after the final Belgian one-day Spring Classic Liege-Bastogne-Liege. Fuglsang’s attack in the last 30km came after teammates Michele Scarponi, Tanel Kangert and one other rider were caught following their own escape with 80km to go on the first serious climb of the day.

When the peloton caught Scarponi just after the Col de la Redoute, Fuglsang waited and then attacked solo to catch two new breakaway riders, and then stayed with them until the final selection of riders was reduced to just a dozen men with less than 5k to go.

Fuglsang led into Liege on wet roads after a brief but heavy rain at the finish, and arrived in the same time as race winner Alejandro Valverde of Spain.

"It was ok but I am a bit disappointed not to have achieved a bit more," he told Danish TV2. "If Giampaolo Caruso had contributed, Kreuziegr and I would probably have given a bit more and then we could maybe have made it to the finish.

"But of course that's just the tactical game. It was just another rider who didn't want to work," he added, referring to the Amstel Gold Race where he was on the attack with Greg Van Avermaet. "But yes, it is definitely my best classics week ever. I may have been fourth in Amstel Gold Race in the past but things have been working well here."

Fuglsang now focuses on the Tour de Romandie.

"We go there with almost the same team as we had here in Liege so there should be a chance that I can take my own opportunity. I hope that I will recover well before Tuesday."