Remco Evenepoel saves Quick-Step's classics season with long-range win at Liège-Bastogne-Liège

It was until the very last race that Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team had the pressure to take a big win this season, and it was the day they succeeded. Remco Evenepoel won Liège-Bastogne-Liège after a daring long-race attack which ended up succeeding with a dominating display of power.

The early breakaway included Bruno Armirail (Groupama-FDJ), Sylvain Moniquet and Harm Vanhoucke (Lotto Soudal), Jacob Hindsgaul (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team), Baptiste Planckaert (Intermarché - Wanty - Gobert Matériaux), Fabien Doubey and Paul Ourselin (TotalEnergies), Pau Miguel (Equipo Kern Pharma), Kenny Molly, Marco Tizza and Tom Wirtgem (Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB). The latter of those to survive was Armirail, who had been caught by Evenepoel after his attack, and dropped in the final climb of the day.

In the peloton things remained calm until the final 60 kilometers where a mass crash took several race favourites down, including Quick-Step's Julian Alaphilippe. Bahrain - Victorious soon started to attack the race with their numbers, but with a still numerous peloton all attacks were shut down.

At the Côte de la Redoute Evenepoel rode in the wheel of teammate Vansevenant, until the top of the climb where he attacked sharply and got a gap. Soon it was evident that the attack was dangerous, however it came as a surprise to see the Belgian keep his 30-second gap despite the furious chase in the peloton from Bahrain, Movistar and Jumbo-Visma.

As soon as he hit the final ascent Evenepoel went solo, and despite having his gap relatively shortened in the final hilltop after Roche aux Faucons by the attacks behind from Aleksandr Vlasov and Dylan Teuns, his gap remained rock solid and descending to the line it was clear that he was going to emerge victorious in Liège.

Vlasov attacked towards second place but was caught in the run-up to the line, and the large group behind saw Quinten Hermans sprint to second place, beating Wout van Aert to the line.