The Belgian young star Remco Evenepoel has won the 108th running of the spring classic Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
After 257.2 kilometers and ten poisonous climbs in the Ardennes, the 22-year-old clinched victory single-handedly ahead of his two compatriots Quinten Hermans and Wout van Aert.
German drivers played no role after Maximilian Schachmann, who finished third in Liège in 2019, canceled due to illness.
The two veterans and former winners Alejandro Valverde (41 years old/Spain) and Philippe Gilbert (39/Belgium) also missed out on the podium.
Defending champion and Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar had to pass at short notice due to a bereavement in the family.
The race was overshadowed a good 62 kilometers from the finish by a violent mass crash, which also dashed the hopes of world champion Julian Alaphilippe.
The French complained of back pain and went to an ambulance.
In the women's race, Liane Lippert (Friedrichshafen) finished eighth.
After 142.1 kilometers, the Vice European Champion was 1:58 minutes behind solo winner Annemiek van Vleuten.
The Dutch Olympic time trial champion, who is 39 years old, prevailed over Grace Brown from Australia and compatriot Demi Vollering.