Despite missing BMC’s Liege recon ride, Samuel Sanchez says team leader Philippe Gilbert will be ready for today’s race, which he won in 2011.

“Philippe is one of the favourites, he’s won the race before,” Sanchez told Cyclingnews at the team hotel on Friday. “I think he is more or less good, and on Sunday I hope he will be near 100 per cent. He is the captain and I think he’ll be there in the final. Cycling is a different sport to others and it’s impossible to write down on paper what you think will happen in the race. It’s a surprise and that’s the beauty of cycling.”

Sanchez himself is hoping for recovery of his own, after falling in both the previous Ardennes races at Amstel Gold and Fleche Wallonne.

“I hope that I can recover to 100 per cent,” he said. “We rode the last 80 kilometres of Liège and on the bike it’s really good. It’s bad in bed and when I have to change side there’s a lot of pain, but on the bike I’m ok. I’ve had a good recovery, I’ve slept a lot before lunch and had eight hours every night. Training today was good and I just pray for no rain on Sunday.”