Rui Costa a doubt for Liège-Bastogne-Liège due to knee injury

2013 world champion and Intermarché-Circus-Wanty star Rui Costa could be set to miss Liège-Bastogne-Liège due to a persistent knee injury that refuses to go away.

In his thirteen previous attempts at taking the Liège-Bastogne-Liège title, the 36-year-old Portuguese's best career result at the race came in 2016 when he finished on the podium behind Michael Albasini and the eventual race-winner Wout Poels, then riding for Team Sky.

One of Costa's self-admitted favourite races on the calendar, Liège-Bastogne-Liège's preliminary startlist has been revealed with the Portuguese a notable absentee. Nevertheless, Costa, who has been spending time at a training camp in the Sierra Nevada, hasn't been officially ruled out just yet.

Costa's aforementioned training camp hasn't been the most successful. With sickness initially putting his preparation on hold, the 36-year-old then suffered a crash which injured his knee and according to reports has ruled him out of Liege-Bastogne-Liege.