Remco Evenepoel soars to sensational win at Liege-Bastogne-Liege after nasty Julian Alaphilippe crash

A disappointing spring classics season ended in delight for QuickStep-Alpha Vinyl, as Remco Evenepoel put in the performance of his short career so far, to deliver them a Monument on his debut in the race. The headlines will be all about one man, but home joy was compounded as Quentin Hermans (Intermarche Wanty Gobert) and Wout van Aert (Jumbo Visma) made it an all-Belgian podium. Ad/> Like Philippe Gilbert before him, Remco did it on La Redoute.

After clawing himself into position towards the top of the climb, Evenepoel put in a ferocious attack just before the crest that seemed to break the resolve of all about him. Certainly none could follow it. Liège — Bastogne — LiègeLiege-Bastogne-Liege 2022 LIVE: Alaphilippe crashes out as Bahrain set the pace2 HOURS AGO For the next and final 29km of the race, he never looked back.

Each of the remaining riders from the breakaway in turn was soon sighted, locked onto, caught, and spat backwards. Evenepoel was alone at the line, able to punch the sky and take in the crowds. He has arrived.

The team most disappointed will be Bahrain Victorious. It was their riders who spent the most time on the front of the peloton on the road to La Redoute, who brought the break back within range, and who tested the legs of those around them on the climbs before. It was a gap that had at one point topped six minutes, containing more than a dozen riders of varying abilities.

It even, at one point, looked like it might go the distance. That was, in part, thanks to a moment that no-one could have wished for. With 59.4km of the race remaining, as the peloton descended at up to 70kph, a slip of a Bahrain Victorious wheel caused a chain reaction that sent as many as 25 riders to the floor, from one side