{"id":629526,"date":"2026-04-26T09:08:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-26T09:08:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/629526\/"},"modified":"2026-04-26T09:08:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-26T09:08:14","slug":"liege-bastogne-liege-men-live-tadej-pogacar-misses-early-split-as-race-explodes-early-and-evenepoel-takes-advantage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/629526\/","title":{"rendered":"Li\u00e8ge-Bastogne-Li\u00e8ge Men LIVE: Tadej Poga\u010dar misses early split as race explodes early and Evenepoel takes advantage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Refresh <\/p>\n

2026-04-26T09:03:32.157Z<\/p>\n

The race is still heading south towards Bastogne and the gap is still growing. The Evenepoel group leads the Poga\u010dar-Seixas peloton by 2:40.<\/p>\n

UAE have perhaps refused to do all the chasing but other teams are perhaps refusing to help them, hence the rise in the gap.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Racing is about watts, power and talent but is always about tactics too.<\/p>\n

2026-04-26T09:01:02.902Z<\/p>\n

It is full gas racing so far.<\/p>\n

\n

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

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

2026-04-26T08:59:26.286Z<\/p>\n

With 173 starters, that means there are 199 rider in the peloton.<\/p>\n

Does it make sense for the 54 to ride or will they eventually be caught? It will perhaps be up to UAE and Decathlon to lead the chase in the main peloton.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Whatever happens, we have rarely seen such a big group go clear in Liege-Basotgne-Liege. This could be a special, historic day of racing.<\/p>\n

2026-04-26T08:57:24.540Z<\/p>\n

These are the 54 riders in the front group. There are some interesting names in there, including Evenepoel and Bernal but can they stay away?<\/p>\n

Domen Novak (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Remco Evenepoel, Nico Denz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Julien Bernard, Jacopo Mosca, Carlos Verona (Lidl-Trek), Menno Huising (Visma-Lease a Bike), Alan Hatherly, Asbjorn Hellemose (Jayco-AlUla), Sjoerd Bax, Xandro Meurisse (Pinarello-Q36.5), Michael Leonard, Jardi Van der Lee (EF Education-EasyPost), Sam Maisonobe, Paul Ourselin (Cofidis), Pau Miquel (Bahrain Victorious), Ewen Costiou, Guillaume Martin-Guyonnet, Enzo Paleni (Groupama-FDJ) Egan Bernal, Laurens de Plus (Ineos Grenadiers), Nicola Conci, Diego Ulissi (XDS-Astana), Magnus Cort, Alexander Kamp, Andreas Leknessund (Uno-X), Davide Formolo, Pavel Novak (Movistar Team), Roland Thalmann, Fabian Weiss (Tudor Pro Cycling), Pascal Eenkhoorn, Louis Vervaeke, Dylan Van Baarle (Soudal-Quick Step), Marco Frigo, Krists Neilands (NSN), Jakub Otruba (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Baptiste Veistroffer (Lotto-Intermarch\u00e9), Frank Van der Broek, Matthew Dinham, Gijs Leemreize, Bjorn Koerdt (Picnic-PostNL), Aaron Dockx, Gal Glivar, Hugo Houle (Alpecin-Premier Tech), Thibaut Guernalec, Alan Jousseaume, Mathis Le Berre (TotalEnergies), I\u00f1igo Elosegui, C\u00e9sar P\u00e9rez, Diego Uriarte (Equipo Kern Pharma), Jes\u00fas Herrada , Cl\u00e9ment Alleno, Josh Burnett, Jambaljamts Sainbayar (Burgos Burpellet BH).<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

2026-04-26T08:53:42.752Z<\/p>\n

This is the front group. We can see that some teams are working hard to make it difficult for the chasing Pogacar peloton.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Nico\n<\/p>\n

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

2026-04-26T08:45:59.414Z<\/p>\n

There are 48 riders in the front group and their lead on the Pogacar peloton is up to 1:50!<\/p>\n

2026-04-26T08:37:58.539Z
\n230km to go<\/p>\n

The gap is up to 50 seconds, this is surely now a problem UAE and other teams in the second peloton.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Inigo\n<\/p>\n

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

2026-04-26T08:34:04.363Z<\/p>\n

The peloton is still split, with Tadej Poga\u010dar in group 2 and his UAE leading the chase as the attacks come off the front of group 1.<\/p>\n

The average speed so far is 48.967 km\/h! It will be fascinsting to see if this early action leaves the UAE team tired and lacking riders later in the race.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

2026-04-26T08:26:45.761Z<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udca8 C’est parti vite ! Le peloton est scind\u00e9 en deux et Tadej Pogacar n’est pas dans la premi\u00e8re partie. Les deux groupes sont s\u00e9par\u00e9s par 25”. A very fast start! The peloton has split in two and Tadej Pogacar is not in the front group. Gap: 25 seconds \ud83d\udd25#LBL pic.twitter.com\/SAGKAXEf64April 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

2026-04-26T08:25:53.089Z
\n240km to go<\/p>\n

The Tadej Poga\u010dar peloton is still 30 seconds down on the Evenepoel split. Other riders are even further behind.<\/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

\n

\"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)
\n<\/p>\n

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

\n

\"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

\n

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

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

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

\n

\"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

\n

\"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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