Liege-Bastogne-Liege 2012: The Finale of the Spring Classics Season

Liege-Bastogne-Liege will close out the spring classics season this Sunday. The world's oldest one day bike race, this year's LBL features multiple contenders that head to Belgiam looking to add La Doyenne to their palmares. A few things to be aware of when watching on Sunday . . .

It's now or never for Philippe Gilbert. Last year's biggest sensation just hasn't been up to snuff thus far in 2012. A lackluster classics campaign saw Gilbert shelled on the cobbles, as Tom Boonen laid waste to Gilbert and the rest of the pro cycling field. The Amstel and Fleche were a bit kinder to Gilbert, but he still seems to lack that final punch to make the difference for victory. At Liege he'll have one final shot to redeem his early season before he begins preparation for the grand tour season. Lacking Cadel Evans' support at Liege will sting though, and a podium is probably as far as Gilbert goes at LBL this year.

Radioshack-Nissan fields a strong line up for Sunday, but can they get it done? Thus far results have been hard to come by for Johan Bruyneel's team, as bad luck and circumstance have worked against them all year. As Andy Schleck whines about other team's tactics, and his brother Frank continues to look for his form of old, the Radioshack-Nissan team appears, at best, as an outsider for victory. Perhaps veteran Chris Horner can take up the reigns and put in a good showing?

Enrico Gasparotto, by virtue of his Amstel victory last week, and Joaquin Rodriguez as this past Wednesday's Fleche winner, both should be considered outsiders for victory at LBL. However, La Doyenne is a very different race from Amstel and Fleche, and more likely is the two won't have the motivation required to keep pace in the closing kilometers. That said, of the two it is definitely Rodriguez who is in with the better chance.

One of these years Vincenzo Nibali is going to win a hilly classic. Only 27, he is still not at his prime. Still, he has strong tactical awareness and the experience to win Liege. Now all he needs are the legs and a bit of luck.

Team Sky will support Rigoberto Uran at Liege. On paper, they seem to have one of the weakest teams in the race.

Since his surprise win at Milan-San Remo, Simon Gerrans has been quiet. Can he ratchet things back up at LBL? Don't count on it, but expect a strong ride from Michael Albasini after his strong Fleche showing.

Sammy Sanchez headed into the Ardennes on cracking form, but thus far has not been able to find the strength for victory. However, the defending Olympic road race champion always seems to have the goods when Liege rolls around, and if he can get to the finish in a group of 3 to 5, his sprint is among the best of the one day climbing specialists.

Alejandro Valverde needs a strong ride to dispel the sentiment that he'll never return to his pre-suspension form. These days, he looks just a little better than Danilo Di Luca.

Robert Gesink's season has been a disaster thus far. He has been dropped early and often in most of the races he has lined up for, and for his morale he needs at least a top 20 result at Liege. Increasingly, it seems as though Gesink has the talent, but not the head, to battle for elite status.

Lampre's Damiano Cunego looks ideally positioned for a podium placing, he has been trending upward all spring, and certainly has the required experience to be a contender at this year's race. Michele Scarponi should provide great support to Cunego until the decisive moment of the race, and like Sanchez Cunego has a decent sprint for a climber.

Like Sky, the Garmin lineup just isn't that impressive. Ryder Hesjedal put on a good show at the Fleche, but does anyone really believe he can be amongst the leaders at Liege? That leaves the Irishman Dan Martin, who has been good but not great thus far. Like all classics, LBL requires greatness from the victor. Martin just doesn't seem to be there yet.

Jelle Vanendert of the Lotto team has been up toward the top of the results sheet all week, but has yet to find himself first to the line. I think that continues at Liege, where he'll ride well but will lack that extra bit to put him on the top step of the podium.

Team Saxo Bank looks like a club team without Contador. They have gotten their doors blown off thus far and that should continue at Liege. It would be amazing if they put even one rider in the top 30.