Greig Leach

The 101st running of the Liege Bastogne Liege included the requiste early breakaway. This one was comprised of eight riders (although not are were visible). They are hitting the second of the ten categorized climbs that faced the peloton as they covered the 253 kilometers of the French speaking section of Belgium. The organizers of the race cruelly loaded all most all of the climbs in the back end of the race, including eight of the climbs in the last eighty kilometers of the day's racing. Thousand upon thousand of loyal cycling fans turned out to cheer on their heroes and foes alike with the largest numbers lining the climbs like the Cote Saint-Roch. Mainus Minaard (Wanty Groupe Gilbert) follows Diego Ulissi (Lampre Merida) and Otto Vergaede (Topsport Vlaaderen) up the short steep climb with the rest of the break blending into the throngs yelling their encouragements (or swigging their beers).