Richie Porte to join BMC for Liège-Bastogne-Liège
The Ardennes classics will finish this Sunday with the usual Liège-Bastogne-Liège. After a less than successful run in the past week, BMC will try to change something by bringing Richie Porte into the team.
Sadly for the American based team, Phillipe Gilbert`s finger injury affected his form more than they wished and that was very clear in both Amstel Gold Race and La Fleche Wallone. However, Samuel Sanchez put in a good performance yesterday and managed to finish 6th in La Fleche. As a result, BMC won`t go with a definite leader on Sunday as they want to keep their options open.
“With riders like Richie Porte and Samuel Sánchez, who finished in sixth place at La Flèche Wallonne today, we are going in with strong climbers, as well as some of our younger guys who have showed their form at the earlier Ardennes races,” said sports Director Valerio Piva.
Samuel Sánchez said that although he is going in with good form, Liège-Bastogne-Liège is a completely different kind of race:
“Liège-Bastogne-Liège is going to be really tough. We’re looking at six or more hours in the saddle and it looks like the conditions will be really bad, so we’ll have to see on the day,” Sánchez said.
Richie Porte will return to Liège-Bastogne-Liège for only the third time in his career so he does not have high expectations for the Belgian race:
“I’m coming in off the back of altitude camp and my last block of stage races, so Liège-Bastogne-Liège will be a good chance to test the legs on these climbs. I’ve only lined up twice before so I’m not going in with any real expectations,” Porte confirmed.
BMC line-up for Liège-Bastogne-Liège (24 April): Alessandro De Marchi (ITA), Silvan Dillier (SUI), Philippe Gilbert (BEL), Ben Hermans (BEL), Richie Porte (AUS), Samuel Sánchez (ESP), Dylan Teuns (BEL), Loïc Vliegen (BEL).
