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The 105th edition of the Dean was won by Jakob Fuglsang (Astana), solo winner this Sunday, April 28. The Dane was the strongest in the final climb of Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Given favorite, the French Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step) could not compete this time. He finished in 16th place.
The time of the revenge arrived for Jakob Fuglsang. In this season 2019, the Dane delivers a good fight with Julian Alaphilippe , and until now, the French had the last word. This Sunday, April 28, the roles are clearly reversed in Belgium. In the rain but with panache, the rider of the formation Astana signed one of the most beautiful victories of his career by winning Liège-Bastogne-Liege (256 kilometers).
Alaphilippe dreamed of it, but Fuglsang was still there
The Alaphilippe-Fuglsang duel was expected. These two have not left each other for a few weeks. In early March, the Frenchman beat his opponent at Stade Brianche, Italy, for only two seconds. They also looked in the whites of the eyes, leading the Amstel Gold Race on April 21, before finally losing to Mathieu van der Poel after a big misunderstanding in the race strategy. Finally, Wednesday, April 24, Julian Alaphilippe again dominated Jakob Fuglsang on the Flèche Wallonne.
This Sunday, the champion Deceuninck-Quick Step was given logically favorite for the victory the Dean, where no French has won since Bernard Hinault in 1980. By finishing in the lead, he would have joined Moreno Argentinean, Philippe Gilbert, Ferdi Kübler , Eddy Merckx, Stan Ockers, Davide Rebellin and Alejandro Valverde among the authors of the double Flèche wallonne-Liège-Bastogne-Liège. "The Cannibal" Merckx also confided to the newspaper Le Parisien his admiration for Julian Alaphillipe and his hope to see him win.
Unfortunately for him, the superiority shown by the Habs in recent weeks has been eroded in this Classic. On Saturday, he said the race was " really cut for Jakob Fuglsang ". He was right.
Finally the consecration for the Dane
After finishing third in the Amstel Gold Race and second in the Flèche Wallonne, Jakob Fuglsang has finally won. And alone, please. Everything was played in the last difficulty of the race, in the coast of Roche-aux-Faucons, 15 kilometers from the finish. The Dane, in legs, increased the pace in the climb and his rival Julian Alaphilippe could not follow. He and other experienced climbers have flagged down. Only Davide Formolo and Michael Woods followed a time.
Not long, however. At 13 kilometers from the finish, the Italian and the Canadian gave in as well as Fuglsang persevered and broke off. From then on, there was no more suspense. The leader was only a little freak slipping before recovering.
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He finally crossed the finish line alone after 6 hours 37 minutes and 37 seconds. At 34, Jakob Fuglsang wins his first Classic and succeeds his compatriot Rolf Sorensen, who was until then the only Danish winner of Liège-Bastogne-Liège in 1993. The runners of Bora-Hansgrohe Davide Formolo and Maximilian Schachmann complete the podium . The first Frenchman, David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ), took 6th place. Julian Alaphippe was 16th at 1'29 Fuglsang.