2014 Liège-Bastogne-Liège winner Simon Gerrans will lead a strong and confidentORICA-GreenEDGE in Sunday’s 102nd edition of the race with the team looking to maintain their history of good results in the Ardennes Classic.

Liège-Bastogne-Liège otherwise known as ‘La Doyenne’ (The Old Lady) is the world’s oldest bike race. The first edition took place way back in 1892 and 2016 is the 102nd time that the race has been held.

Gerrans returns to the race with a strong team in support, Paris-Roubaix winnerMathew Hayman continues to show good form after solid performances in Amstel-Gold-Race and Flèche-Wallonne alongside Chris Juul Jensen and Christian Meier. 2015 Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian winner Adam Yates and South African Daryl Impey will also provide support with Michael Albasini and Jack Haig completing the line up.

Sport director Matt White was upbeat about the team’s chances in Sunday’s race.

“We have a good history of results in the race especially with Simon Gerrans victory here in 2014,” said White. “The weather forecast for Sunday is not great and if the snow actually arrives it will make for an epic edition of the race.

“It is arguably the hardest one-day race on the calendar, the last 80kilometres are really difficult and this year we have an additional cobbled climb in the last three kilometres. It is short but steep and after 250kilometres of racing the climb could change the whole perspective of the finale.”

White said the team was feeling strong cominginto the final Ardennes classic.

“The atmosphere in the team is really positive,” he continued. “We have performed well in our last few races and we go into Liège-Bastogne-Liège with the aim of supporting Simon and protecting him until the final.

“We definitely have a plan to be competitive, we’ve got a nice mix of youth and experience in the team and we want to perform well in the big races. For the young guy’s like Jack (Haig) this is a great opportunity to experience one-day racing at the highest level.”

One of cycling’s five monuments the race follows an iconic route of around 260kilometres from Liège out to Bastogne and back to Liège covering the famous Cote de La Redoute climb along the way. This is part of the heartland of European cycling and ‘La Doyenne’ is possibly the most historic race on the calendar.

Liège-Bastogne-Liège takes place on Sunday the 24th of April. 

ORICA-GreenEDGE at Liege-Bastogne-Liege (Sunday April 24):

Michael Albasini (SUI, 35)
Simon Gerrans (AUS, VIC, 35)
Jack Haig (AUS, VIC, 22)
Mathew Hayman (AUS, NSW, 38)
Daryl Impey (RSA, 30)
Chris Juul Jensen (DEN, 26)
Christian Meier (CAN, 31)
Adam Yates (GBR, 23)