On Sunday CULT Energy Pro Cycling will follow up on the Amstel Gold Race participation last week with another highly prestigious and final spring classic, Liege-Bastogne-Liege. Covering 253 hilly kilometers kicking off in Liege going south to Bastogne only to return north to finish in Ans, the peloton will be scattered along the way cresting climbs like Cote de Stockeu, Cote de la Redoute and Cote de Saint-Nicolas. This edition is the 101st version of the World Tour race, which history dates back to 1892.
The race suits the punchy climbers in the peloton well and historically the race has been dominated by the Belgian home turf favorites but in recent years, riders like Alejandro Valverde, Michal Kwiatkowski, Andy Schleck and Simon Gerrans have dominated the race. Philippe Gilbert is probably Belgium’s biggest favorite while Wednesday’s winner of Fleche Wallone Alejandro Valverde and Amstel Gold Race victor Michal Kwiatkowski are among the names to watch in 2015.
CULT Energy Pro Cycling are joining the race on a wildcard and are naturally far from being contenders to win the race. However, with riders like experienced Linus Gerdemann and rookie Rasmus Guldhammer in the race, it would be wrong not to have ambitions now and for the future in this race.
DS Michael Skelde says:
“After a satisfying World Tour debut in Amstel, we now look forward to one of the largest and most prestigious one-day races on the calendar. Liege-Bastogne-Liege will offer an amazing experience for the team and we're participating to both enjoy it but hopefully make our mark on it as well. Like in Amstel, Linus, Fabian and Rasmus are the riders aiming for a result. The race has been a major target for Linus but unfortunately and just like Fabian, he has struggled with illness prior to Amstel, which lower our expectations but I still hope he’ll be in the select group of riders cresting La Redoute,” says Skelde and adds:
“Rasmus delivered a promising effort in Amstel but there is no reason to expect the impossible on Sunday. I think Rasmus will be in the top-50, which should be his goal. I hope Linus will return from Giro del Trentino stronger than before and that he will be able to be in the finale in Ans.”
The CULT Energy Pro Cycling line-up:
Linus Gerdemann, Fabian Wegmann, Rasmus Guldhammer, Christian Mager, Romain Lemarchand, Michael Reihs, Martin Mortensen and Alex Kirsch.
Shinpei FUKUDA 37 years | today |
Elisa LUGLI 22 years | today |
Evgeniy KRIVOSHEEV 36 years | today |
Kevin MOLLOY 54 years | today |
Kevyn ISTA 40 years | today |
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