{"id":631675,"date":"2026-04-26T08:27:13","date_gmt":"2026-04-26T08:27:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/631675\/"},"modified":"2026-04-26T08:27:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-26T08:27:13","slug":"liege-bastogne-liege-men-live-pogacar-evenepoel-and-seixas-clash-in-the-last-spring-classic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/631675\/","title":{"rendered":"Li\u00e8ge-Bastogne-Li\u00e8ge Men LIVE: Poga\u010dar, Evenepoel and Seixas clash in the last spring Classic"},"content":{"rendered":"

Refresh <\/p>\n

2026-04-26T08:24:48.687Z<\/p>\n

This is the view from the race director’s car sat behind the peloton, captured by Radio Tour announcer Seb Piquet.<\/p>\n

Tadej Poga\u010dar is sat near the back.<\/p>\n

And we are off for the 112th edition @LiegeBastogneL !@TamauPogi taking it easy. pic.twitter.com\/lBUJht07ARApril 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

2026-04-26T08:22:42.370Z<\/p>\n

There are also attacks off the front to try to join the early breakaway. There is no such thing as an easy start to a modern-day Monument.<\/p>\n

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\"Magnus\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

2026-04-26T08:21:00.537Z<\/p>\n

With Liege in the valley, the climb up to Beaufays has sparked the intense start to the day.<\/p>\n

2026-04-26T08:19:22.289Z<\/p>\n

UAE have Tim Wellens and Vegard Stake Laengen in the front group but they have been told to sit on as the peloton tries to close the gap.<\/p>\n

2026-04-26T08:15:42.747Z<\/p>\n

Big-name riders in the front group include Remco Evenepoel and Egan Bernal.<\/p>\n

Tadej Poga\u010dar was at the back of the peloton for the roll out and so might be in the second group. That could explain the split and the growing gap.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Race on!<\/p>\n

2026-04-26T08:13:39.540Z<\/p>\n

The front group is pushing on, the gap is up to 35 seconds.<\/p>\n

2026-04-26T08:09:54.673Z<\/p>\n

The crash has raised the tension in the early kilometres, with 60 riders off the front and the others chasing at 20 seconds. It’s going to be a long, hard day for every rider.<\/p>\n

2026-04-26T08:08:28.955Z<\/p>\n

When the race directors flag is dropped there are attacks! There’s also an early crash, involving Ion Izagirre (Cofidis).<\/p>\n

The crash has split the peloton.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

2026-04-26T08:07:02.737Z<\/p>\n

173 riders in the race today. James Shaw (EF Education-EasyPost) and Alexandre Delettre (TotalEnergies) didnot sign on and so didn’t start.<\/p>\n

2026-04-26T08:06:01.272Z<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udea9 Le d\u00e9part est donn\u00e9 pour cette 112\u00e8me \u00e9dition de #LBL ! \ud83d\udea9 The start has been given for this 112th edition of #LBL! pic.twitter.com\/RSNE4yj6M4April 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

2026-04-26T08:05:31.000Z<\/p>\n

The riders face a 96km ride south to Bastogne and then return north to Liege by a longer, hillier route.<\/p>\n

This is the official race map.<\/p>\n

\n

\"The\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: ASO)
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2026-04-26T07:59:04.006Z<\/p>\n

All eyes are on this man today.<\/p>\n

2026-04-26T07:56:10.913Z<\/p>\n

3-2-1 C’est Parti! They’re off!<\/p>\n

The riders roll out of the start area. The 2026 Liege-Bastohne-Liege is underway.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

2026-04-26T07:55:22.296Z<\/p>\n

The riders face 259.5km of racing today, with a short ride out of the city centre before the flag drops.<\/p>\n

2026-04-26T07:53:45.264Z<\/p>\n

One minute to the start!<\/p>\n

2026-04-26T07:52:41.273Z<\/p>\n

The riders are now on the start line, with Evenepoel, Belgian national champion Tim Wellens, Tadej Poga\u010dar on the front of the grid.<\/p>\n

2026-04-26T07:51:01.784Z<\/p>\n

Tadej Poga\u010dar and his UAE team are the last to sign on. The Slovenian races in the rainbow jersey as world champion and with race number 1 as the 2025 winner.<\/p>\n

“It will come down to who is less tired, who has the strongest team around him. We’ll see in a few hours….” he said on the sign-on podium.<\/p>\n

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\"UAE\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images)
\n<\/p>\n

2026-04-26T07:48:54.409Z<\/p>\n

Evenepoel spoke about the race and his rivals on Friday after his final recon ride on the route.<\/p>\n

‘We shouldn’t be surprised if he struggles in the final hour’ \u2013 Remco Evenepoel rates Paul Seixas’ chances for Li\u00e8ge-Bastogne-Li\u00e8ge.<\/a><\/p>\n

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\"Belgian\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images)
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2026-04-26T07:46:17.591Z<\/p>\n

Remco Evenepoel is next to sign on with his Red Bull teammates. He is, of course, a two-time winner, in 2022 and 2023.<\/p>\n

“The legs and a strong team will make the difference today,” he said when asked how he can win Liege-Bastogne-Liege.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

“We’ll give the maximum to try to win. The final is so long and so hard, that whoever wins is the strongest in the race.”<\/p>\n

2026-04-26T07:42:37.355Z<\/p>\n

The race announcer lists Paul Seixas’ results and he waves to the crowd with a smile. He is only 19 but has a poise and maturity beyond his years.<\/p>\n

“It’s emotional to start my first Liege-Bastogne-Liege and I hope to do well and if I can, to be up there,” Seixas said.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

“It’s true I won the Junior Liege-Bastogne-Liege, so I’ve done it once, but that race ended on La Redoute climb, so its a different race.<\/p>\n

“We’ll see how it goes. If I can stay with Pogacar, it will already be a success.”<\/p>\n

2026-04-26T07:37:37.798Z<\/p>\n

Get ready to hear the crowd cheer. Paul Seixas and his Decathlon CMA CGM are about to sign on.<\/p>\n

2026-04-26T07:36:02.994Z<\/p>\n

Visma are the next team to sign on. They lost Matteo Jorgenson after his crash at last week’s Amstel Gold Race but still have a solid team. Ben Tullett was strong at La Fleche Wallonne and could be part of the race today.<\/p>\n

2026-04-26T07:33:36.589Z<\/p>\n

Tom Pidcock signs on as leader of Pinarello-Q36.5. He has played down his chances after his crash and knee injury but impressed at the Tour of the Alps.<\/p>\n

If he isn’t able to take on the big three, he is still likely to perform and score a haul of UCI points for his team, which is also important.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

2026-04-26T07:32:00.237Z<\/p>\n

To understand the big favourites and the outsiders, read our analysis of the contenders.<\/p>\n

The big four and the rest \u2013 Analysing the contenders at the men’s Li\u00e8ge-Bastogne-Li\u00e8ge.<\/p>\n

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\"Tadej\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images)
\n<\/p>\n

2026-04-26T07:28:46.470Z<\/p>\n

Ben O’Conor signs on with his Jayco AlUla teammates. The Australia ids one of several riders to travel to Belgium after riding the Tour of the Alps during the week.<\/p>\n

Tom Pidcock, Egan Bernal also face a last hard day out of a long, hard week.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

2026-04-26T07:26:46.359Z<\/p>\n

The best WorldTour teams and several wild card teams are in the peloton but the expected narrative is all about a three-rider clash: Tadej Poga\u010dar versus Remco Evenepoel versus Paul Siexas.<\/p>\n

Tom Pidcock represents the outsiders, who could take advantage of the three favourites watch each other too much.<\/p>\n

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\"CAROUSEL\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Getty Images)
\n<\/p>\n

2026-04-26T07:22:51.260Z<\/p>\n

K\u00e9vin Vauquelin of Ineos has just signed on, with the race organisers playing a happy boirhtdat tune for his 25th birthday. The French rider faces a birthday of suffering but could be a contender today.<\/p>\n

2026-04-26T07:21:29.000Z<\/p>\n

This is the 112th edition of Li\u00e8ge-Bastogne-Li\u00e8ge<\/a>, making it the oldest Classic<\/a> on the calendar.<\/p>\n

It is affectionally known as La Doyenne- The Old Lady of cycling, indicating it is the longest standing race in pro cycling.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Li\u00e8ge-Bastogne-Li\u00e8ge closes out the Ardennes Classics week with a tough race over 250km, 10 classified climbs and many, many others in the rolling hills of south-eastern Belgium.<\/p>\n

The climbs of the Saint-Roch, Wanne, Stockeu, La Redoute, and Roche-aux-Faucons are among those which pepper the route, making the race the toughest of Ardennes week and perhaps the whole season.<\/p>\n

2026-04-26T07:17:29.064Z<\/p>\n

The riders are currently signing on in the centre of Liege before the start. The sun is out, everyone is ready to race hard in what should be a spectacular race.<\/p>\n

2026-04-26T07:16:35.351Z<\/p>\n

Hello, Bonjour and welcome to the Cyclingnews live coverage of the 2026 men’s Liege-Bastogne-Liege.<\/p>\n

We will have full coverage of the race and all the best post-race reaction and photographs.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Check back all day to understands what happens in the final Classic of the spring.<\/p>\n

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