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Three’s magic for Rebellin at Liège

Published: Apr. 25, 2004
Rebellin stikes a familiar pose
Rebellin stikes a familiar pose
Photo: AFP

There’s now little doubt that Gerolsteiner’s Italian wonder man Davide Rebellin is the man of the week, the man of the month, maybe even the man of the year.

That seven-year gap between World Cup victories after the two he scored in August 1997 was more like a blockage than a drought. Suddenly, last Sunday in the Netherlands, the dam broke and in eight days Rebellin has simply swept away his opposition in a torrent of victories: Amstel Gold Race, Flèche Wallonne, Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

What was also strange — or does it reflect the current hierarchy in one-day classics — is that all three races ended in two-man “sprints,” that’s if you can call the one-sided victories scored by Rebellin sprints.

Overall World Cup standings after five of ten races
1. Davide Rebellin (I), Gerolsteiner 200 pts
2. Michael Boogerd (Nl), Rabobank 146
3. Steffen Wesemann (G), T-Mobile 131
4. Oscar Freire Gomez (Sp), Rabobank 127
5. Erik Dekker (Nl), Rabobank 115
6. Magnus Backstedt (S), Alessio-Bianchi 100
7. Paolo Bettini (I), Quick Step 98
8. Peter Van Petegem (B), Lotto-Domo 95
9. Leif Hoste (B), Lotto-Domo 84
10. Erik Zabel (G), T-Mobile 80
Full results are posted

At Amstel last week, at the summit of the Cauberg, Rebellin waited until the last 100 meters before dashing past Rabobank’s Michael Boogerd, who had attacked on the climb a tad too early. At the Flèche on Wednesday, at the summit of the Mur de Huy, Rebellin’s last remaining opponent was his countryman Danilo Di Luca of Saeco, who, like Boogerd, attacked like a winner — only to see Rebellin surge away from him in the last 50 meters.

Di Luca was again expected to be a factor this Sunday at Liège, but a stomach upset meant he was the only non-starter. The other 193 riders didn’t take long to warm up on a day of mostly full sunshine, with temperatures in the 60s. They were soon 10 minutes up on schedule as they headed south from Liège into the heart of the Ardennes and its delightful mixture of rolling hills, deep valleys and dark forests.

The day's first escape
The day's first escape
Photo: Graham Watson

The day’s main breakaway was started at 57km by Quick Step’s Dutch rider Bram Tankink, who was soon joined by Spaniard Iñaki Isasi of Euskaltel-Euskadi, Swiss Marcel Strauss of Gerolsteiner, Frenchman Laurent Lefèvre of La Boulangère and Belgian Jurgen Vandewalle of Jacques-Wincor. They had a 10-minute lead by the turnaround point in Bastogne, but the hardest was yet to come: another 160km and the day’s nine stiffest climbs.

The only race favorites to have teammates in the break were Rebellin, two-time winner Paolo Bettini of Quick Step and Samuel Sanchez of Euskaltel-Euskadi. These three could relax in the middle of the peloton that was still 100 strong inside 80km to go. At the same time, all the chasing was being performed by the teams of Rabobank (for Boogerd), Phonak (for defending champion Tyler Hamilton), Fassa Bortolo (for former winner Frank Vandenbroucke), T-Mobile (for Alex Vinokurov and Matthias Kessler) and CSC (for two-time winner Michele Bartoli and the slowly-coming-to-form Ivan Basso).

Jaksche on the attack
Jaksche on the attack
Photo: Graham Watson

When the gap was down to two minutes starting the fifth of the 10 climbs, with 68km remaining, two CSC men, German Jörg Jaksche and Norwegian Kurt-Asle Arvesen, left the pack with Russian climber Alexander Botcharov of Crédit Agricole. This trio would catch the leaders, and leave them behind on the course’s most-feared climb, La Redoute.

While Botcharov attacked here to take a solo lead over the top, the strongest of the accelerations in the pack came from Bettini, Boogerd and Lotto-Domo’s Peter Van Petegem. But the group was still too big to allow any serious breaks, especially after it swept up Botcharov and the two CSC riders just as they left the back roads with 33km to go.

Now, the race became a free for all, as 80 riders were still in the pack. U.S. Postal’s Floyd Landis was one of 11 men who tried to go clear on long stretch of highway inside 30km to go. Vinokourov, too, made a first sortie off the front. But nothing was sticking.

The attacks continued on the subsequent descent into the Ourthe valley before a surprise move came on the long, winding climb to Sart-Tilman 15km from the finish. The two attackers were both talented riders starting their fourth year in the peloton: 23-year-old German Patrik Sinkewitz of Quick Step and 26-year-old Iñigo Landaluze of Euskaltel.

Remarkably, they were 16 seconds clear at the summit, and slightly further ahead after descending rapidly into the industrial suburbs of Liège with 10km remaining. Sinkewitz and Landaluze were still clear heading up the steepest climb of the day, the St. Nicolas, which averages 11 percent for just over a kilometer.

The battle was furious and the two leaders were soon overtaken by the head of a long, long line of aggressors. As in 2003, Boogerd made the strongest and longest attack. He was chased by Vinokourov, and then Rebellin. The three of them joined forces over the plateau summit with 5km to go and sped down into the streets of Liège, pursued by Sanchez, Basso and Sinkewitz.

The gap was 18 seconds and growing with 4km left, and the three at the front knew that one of them would win. The first to try was Vinokourov who surprised his companions by springing clear before starting the straight 1.2km long hill that precedes the flat 200-meter finishing straight at Ans.

“I know Boogerd very well now,” said Rebellin later, “so I knew he would have to chase Vino.” Rebellin’s call was correct, but it took a huge effort by Boogerd to bridge the gap, with the Italian on his wheel. There was still a kilometer remaining when the three came back together, and they looked around to see CSC’s Basso attacking from the chase group.

But there was no catching the three leaders, especially when Vinokourov made another bid for victory. It was the Kazakhstan star’s last hurrah, because when Boogerd countered with a furious attack, still on the hill, Vinokourov could only sit and watch the Dutchman go away — with Rebellin right in Boogerd’s wheel.

It was just like Amstel a week ago: Rebellin pulled himself up to Boogerd’s back wheel on turning the corner into the finish … before the Italian simply raced past the demoralized Dutchman 100 meters from the line, while Vinokourov took a frustrating third place. Sanchez held strong for fourth, eight seconds down, while Rabobank’s Erik Dekker made a strong push to finish fifth by outsprinting Kessler, Domina Vacanze’s Michele Scarponi, Basso and Hamilton.

But the hat trick was in the bag for Rebellin, along with the leadership of the 2004 UCI World Cup. His series of three consecutive classic wins has never been done before, not even by the grand champion of all time Eddy Merckx, The Cannibal won twice at Amstel and Flèche, and five times at Liège, but he never took all three in the same year. Rebellin even hinted Sunday evening that he will try to win again next weekend at Germany’s classic Rund um den Henninger Turm — where he’s the defending champion.

Wesseman slips to third in the World Cup standings
Wesseman slips to third in the World Cup standings
Photo: Graham Watson

Four in a row? Impossible. But for now three is the magic number.

“The Amstel win was a liberation, the Flèche was a confirmation,” said Rebellin, “and today was a realization that I can win races just as I visualize them.”

This 90th edition of Liège-Bastogne-Liège, raced at an average speed of 40.800 kph, was the second fastest on record; while the fact that 30 men finished with half a minute of the winner is probably also a record for this race of many climbs.

As for the Americans in the race, Hamilton honorably defended his title with his ninth, 12 seconds back; Landis was an excellent 19th another four seconds behind; and Rabobank’s Levi Leipheimer crossed the line in 72nd, 3:35 down, after working hard for Boogerd and Dekker before losing contact on the Sart-Tilman.

If you have a comment, an opinion or observation regarding anything you have seen in cycling, in VeloNews magazine or on VeloNews.com, write to WebLetters@InsideInc.com. Please include your full name and home town. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.
Results 2004 Liège-Bastogne-Liège
1. Davide Rebellin (I) Gerolsteiner, 258.5km in 6:20:09
2. Michael Boogerd (Nl) Rabobank, at 00:02
3. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) T-Mobile, at 00:04
4. Samuel Sanchez (Sp) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 00:08
5. Erik Dekker (Nl) Rabobank, at 00:12
6. Matthias Kessler (G) T-Mobile, at 00:12
7. Michele Scarponi (I) Domina Vacanze, at 00:12
8. Ivan Basso (I) CSC, at 00:12
9. Tyler Hamilton (USA) Phonak, at 00:12
10. Angel Vicioso (Sp) Liberty-Seguras, at 00:12
11. Steffen Wesemann (G) T-Mobile, at 00:12
12. David Etxebarria (Sp) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 00:12
13. Eddy Mazzoleni (I) Saeco, at 00:16
14. Oscar Freire (Sp) Rabobank, at 00:16
15. Denis Menchov (Rus) Illes Balears-Banesto, at 00:16
16. Frank Vandenbroucke (B) Fassa Bortolo, at 00:16
17. Inigo Landaluze (Sp) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 00:16
18. Laurent Brochard (F) Ag2R Prevoyance, at 00:16
19. Floyd Landis (USA) U.S. Postal Service, at 00:16
20. Juan Manuel Garate (Sp) Lampre, at 00:16
21. Marcus Zberg (Swi) Gerolsteiner, at 00:16
22. Paolo Bettini (I) Quick Step-Davitamon, at 00:16
23. Manuel Beltran (Sp) U.S. Postal Service, at 00:19
24. Mirko Celestino (I) Saeco, at 00:19
25. Peter Van Petegem (B) Lotto-Domo, at 00:19
26. Oscar Mason (I) Sidermec Vini Caldirola, at 00:21
27. Michele Bartoli (I) CSC, at 00:21
28. Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Landbouwkrediet - Colnago, at 00:25
29. Franco Pellizotti (I) Alessio-Bianchi, at 00:27
30. Leukemans Björn (B) MBP, at 00:28
31. Marcos Serrano (Sp) Liberty-Seguras, at 00:28
32. Giampaolo Caruso (I) Liberty-Seguras, at 00:46
33. Patrik Sinkewitz (G) Quick Step-Davitamon, at 00:53
34. Gianni Faresin (I) Gerolsteiner, at 01:03
35. Fabian Wegmann (G) Gerolsteiner, at 01:05
36. Miguel Perdiguero (Sp) Saunier Duval, at 01:05
37. Alessandro Bertolini (I) Alessio-Bianchi, at 01:05
38. Rubiera José Luis (Sp) U.S. Postal Service, at 01:05
39. Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Domina Vacanze, at 01:05
40. Philippe Gilbert (B) FDJeux.com, at 01:05
41. Manuele Mori (I) Saunier Duval, at 01:05
42. Kim Kirchen (Lux) Fassa Bortolo, at 01:05
43. Oscar Pereiro Sio (Sp) Phonak, at 01:05
44. Sandy Casar (F) FDJeux.com, at 01:05
45. Pineau Jérôme (F) Brioches La Boulangere, at 01:05
46. Laurent Dufaux (Swi) Quick Step-Davitamon, at 01:05
47. Geert Verheyen (B) Chocolade Jacques-Wincor Nixdo, at 01:05
48. Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Crédit Agricole, at 01:05
49. Didier Rous (F) Brioches La Boulangere, at 01:05
50. Gorazd Stangelj (SLO) Saeco, at 01:05
51. Piotr Wadecki (Pol) Lotto-Domo, at 01:09
52. Vila Errandonea Patxi Xabie (Sp) Lampre, at 01:09
53. Serge Baguet (B) Lotto-Domo, at 01:32
54. Oscar Camenzind (Swi) Phonak, at 01:32
55. Axel Merckx (B) Lotto-Domo, at 01:35
56. Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Crédit Agricole, at 01:35
57. Michele Scotto D'Abusco (I) Lampre, at 01:45
58. Daniele Righi (I) Lampre, at 01:45
59. Azevedo José (P) U.S. Postal Service, at 01:45
60. Nicki Sorensen (Dk) CSC, at 01:45
61. Jan Hruska (Cz) Liberty-Seguras, at 01:45
62. Stefano Garzelli (I) Sidermec Vini Caldirola, at 02:17
63. Massimo Codol (I) Fassa Bortolo, at 02:40
64. Christophe Brandt (B) Lotto-Domo, at 02:40
65. Gutierrez José Ivan (Sp) Illes Balears-Banesto, at 02:40
66. Nicolas Fritsch (F) FDJeux.com, at 02:40
67. Bert De Waele (B) Landbouwkrediet - Colnago, at 02:57
68. Dario Cioni (I) Fassa Bortolo, at 02:57
69. Luca Paolini (I) Quick Step-Davitamon, at 02:57
70. Joaquin Rodriguez (Sp) Saunier Duval, at 02:57
71. Cristian Moreni (I) Alessio-Bianchi, at 03:35
72. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Rabobank, at 03:35
73. Evgeni Petrov (Rus) Saeco, at 03:35
74. Unai Etxebarria (Vz) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 03:35
75. Andrea Noe' (I) Alessio-Bianchi, at 05:34
76. Filippo Simeoni (I) Domina Vacanze, at 05:34
77. Frank Schleck (Lux) CSC, at 05:34
78. Arvesen Kurt-Asle (Nor) CSC, at 05:34
79. Pablo Lastras (Sp) Illes Balears-Banesto, at 05:34
80. Georg Totschnig (A) Gerolsteiner, at 05:34
81. Erik Zabel (G) T-Mobile, at 06:52
82. Bram Tankink (Nl) Quick Step-Davitamon, at 06:52
83. Jurgen Van Goolen (B) Quick Step-Davitamon, at 06:52
84. Marc Lotz (Nl) Rabobank, at 06:52
85. Gerrit Glomser (A) Saeco, at 06:52
86. Rik Verbrugghe (B) Lotto-Domo, at 06:52
87. Andreas Kloden (G) T-Mobile, at 06:52
88. Mikel Artetxe (Sp) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 06:52
89. Sylvain Chavanel (F) Brioches La Boulangere, at 06:52
90. Erwin Thijs (B) MBP, at 08:16
91. Kurt Van De Wouwer (B) MBP, at 08:16
92. Fabio Sacchi (I) Fassa Bortolo, at 11:38
93. Massimiliano Gentili (I) Domina Vacanze, at 11:38
94. Alexandre Bazhenov (Rus) Domina Vacanze, at 11:38
95. Martin Elmiger (Swi) Phonak, at 11:38
96. Roberto Petito (I) Fassa Bortolo, at 11:38
97. Massimo Giunti (I) Domina Vacanze, at 11:38
98. Michael Barry (CAN) U.S. Postal Service, at 11:38
99. Poilvet Benoît (F) Crédit Agricole, at 11:38
100. Steve Zampieri (Swi) Sidermec Vini Caldirola, at 11:38
101. Benjamin Noval Gonzalez (Sp) U.S. Postal Service, at 11:38
102. Iker Camano (Sp) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 11:38
103. Oliver Zaugg (Swi) Saunier Duval, at 11:38
104. Joseba Albizu (Sp) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 11:38
105. Rubens Bertogliati (Swi) Saunier Duval, at 11:38
106. Paolo Valoti (I) Domina Vacanze, at 11:38
107. Bert Grabsch (G) Phonak, at 11:38
108. Thierry Marichal (B) Lotto-Domo, at 11:38
109. Roger Beuchat (Swi) Sidermec Vini Caldirola, at 11:38
110. Javier Ramirez (Sp) Liberty-Seguras, at 11:38
111. Marco Pinotti (I) Lampre, at 11:38
112. Juan Antonio Flecha (Sp) Fassa Bortolo, at 11:38
113. Ellis Rastelli (I) Alessio-Bianchi, at 11:38
114. Jaksche Jörg (G) CSC, at 11:38
115. Simone Masciarelli (I) Sidermec Vini Caldirola, at 11:38
116. Giuseppe Guerini (I) T-Mobile, at 11:38
117. Thomas Lovkvist (SWE) FDJeux.com, at 11:38
118. Alessandro Spezialetti (I) Saeco, at 11:38
119. Nicolas Vogondy (F) FDJeux.com, at 11:38
120. Robin Jean-Cyril (F) FDJeux.com, at 11:38
121. Vladimir Duma (Ukr) Landbouwkrediet - Colnago, at 11:38
122. Daniele Nardello (I) T-Mobile, at 11:38
123. Inaki Isasi (Sp) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 11:38
124. Marcel Strauss (Swi) Gerolsteiner, at 11:38
125. Koldo Gil Perez (Sp) Liberty-Seguras, at 11:50
126. Karsten Kroon (Nl) Rabobank, at 13:28
127. Jens Renders (B) MBP, at 13:28
128. Zbigniew Piatek (Pol) Chocolade Jacques-Wincor Nixdo, at 13:28
129. Nick Nuyens (B) Quick Step-Davitamon, at 13:28
130. Walter Beneteau (F) Brioches La Boulangere, at 13:28
131. Davide Bramati (I) Quick Step-Davitamon, at 13:28
132. Francesco Failli (I) Domina Vacanze, at 13:28
Overall World Cup standings after five of ten races
1. Davide Rebellin (I), Geroslsteiner, 200 Pts.
2. Michael Boogerd (Nl), Rabobank, 146 Pts.
3. Steffen Wesemann (G), T-Mobile, 131 Pts.
4. Oscar Freire (Sp), Rabobank, 127 Pts.
5. Erik Dekker (Nl), Rabobank, 115 Pts.
6. Magnus Backstedt (SWE), Alessio-Bianchi, 100 Pts.
7. Paolo Bettini (I), Quick Step, 98 Pts.
8. Peter Van Petegem (B), Lotto-Domo, 95 Pts.
9. Leif Hoste (B), Lotto-Domo, 84 Pts.
10. Erik Zabel (G), T-Mobile, 80 Pts.
11. Tristan Hoffman (Nl), CSC, 70 Pts.
12. Leon Van Bon (Nl), Lotto-Domo, 68 Pts.
13. Matthias Kessler (G), T-Mobile, 64 Pts.
14. George Hincapie (USA), U.S. Postal , 53 Pts.
15. Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz), T-Mobile, 50 Pts.
16. Roger Hammond (GB), MR., 50 Pts.
17. Dave Bruylandts (B), Chocolade Jacques-Wincor Nixdo, 50 Pts.
18. Stuart O'Grady (Aus), Cofidis, 50 Pts.
19. Johan Museeuw (B), Quick Step, 47 Pts.
20. Samuel Sanchez (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 46 Pts.
21. Romans Vainsteins (Lat), Lampre, 43 Pts.
22. Danilo Di Luca (I), Saeco, 40 Pts.
23. Serguei Ivanov (Rus), T-Mobile, 40 Pts.
24. Fabian Cancellara (Swi), Fassa Bortolo, 40 Pts.
25. Frank Hoj (Dk), CSC, 40 Pts.
26. Alessandro Petacchi (I), Fassa Bortolo, 40 Pts.
27. Andreas Klier (G), T-Mobile, 37 Pts.
28. Mirko Celestino (I), Saeco, 36 Pts.
29. Max Van Heeswijk (Nl), U.S. Postal , 36 Pts.
30. Michele Scarponi (I), Domina Vacanze, 32 Pts.
31. Igor Astarloa (Sp), Cofidis, 32 Pts.
32. Rolf Aldag (G), T-Mobile, 28 Pts.
33. Juan Antonio Flecha (Sp), Fassa Bortolo, 27 Pts.
34. Ivan Basso (I), CSC, 24 Pts.
35. Eddy Mazzoleni (I), Saeco, 22 Pts.
36. Laurent Brochard (F), Ag2R, 22 Pts.
37. Tom Boonen (B), Quick Step, 21 Pts.
38. Tyler Hamilton (USA), Phonak, 20 Pts.
39. Miguel Perdiguero (Sp), SAU, 20 Pts.
40. Frank Vandenbroucke (B), Fassa Bortolo, 18 Pts.
41. Angel Vicioso (Sp), Liberty Seguros, 16 Pts.
42. Michele Bartoli (I), CSC, 16 Pts.
43. Giampaolo Caruso (I), Liberty Seguros, 16 Pts.
44. Oscar Camenzind (Swi), Phonak, 15 Pts.
45. Thierry Marichal (B), Lotto-Domo, 15 Pts.
46. David Etxebarria (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 14 Pts.
47. Luca Paolini (I), Quick Step, 14 Pts.
48. Marcus Zberg (Swi), Geroslsteiner, 13 Pts.
49. Axel Merckx (B), Lotto-Domo, 13 Pts.
50. Inigo Landaluze (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 12 Pts.
51. Philippe Gilbert (B), FDJeux.com, 12 Pts.
52. Ludo Dierckxsens (B), Landbouwkrediet - Colnago, 12 Pts.
53. Fabio Baldato (I), Alessio-Bianchi, 12 Pts.
54. Ludewig Jörg (G), Saeco, 12 Pts.
55. Denis Menchov (Rus), ILL, 11 Pts.
56. Daniele Nardello (I), T-Mobile, 11 Pts.
57. Josu Silloniz (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 11 Pts.
58. Thor Hushovd (Nor), Credit Agricole, 9 Pts.
59. Guido Trenti (USA), Fassa Bortolo, 9 Pts.
60. Guesdon Frédéric (F), FDJeux.com, 8 Pts.
61. Jaan Kirsipuu (Est), Ag2R, 8 Pts.
62. Xavier Florencio (Sp), Relax, 8 Pts.
63. Floyd Landis (USA), U.S. Postal , 7 Pts.
64. Marcos Serrano (Sp), Liberty Seguros, 7 Pts.
65. Cristian Moreni (I), Alessio-Bianchi, 7 Pts.
66. Roberto Petito (I), Fassa Bortolo, 7 Pts.
67. Juan Manuel Garate (Sp), Lampre, 6 Pts.
68. Vladimir Gusev (Rus), CSC, 6 Pts.
69. Nicki Sorensen (Dk), CSC, 5 Pts.
70. Stijn Devolder (B), U.S. Postal , 5 Pts.
71. Michele Gobbi (I), De Nardi , 4 Pts.
72. Manuel Beltran (Sp), U.S. Postal , 3 Pts.
73. Martin Elmiger (Swi), Phonak, 3 Pts.
74. Lars Michaelsen (Dk), CSC, 3 Pts.
75. Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr), Landbouwkrediet - Colnago, 2 Pts.
76. Serhiy Honchar (Ukr), De Nardi , 2 Pts.
77. Danilo Hondo (G), Geroslsteiner, 2 Pts.
78. Christophe Mengin (F), FDJeux.com, 1 Pt.
79. Allan Davis (Aus), Liberty Seguros, 1 Pt.

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