The hundredth edition of Liege-Bastogne-Liege exploded into life in the closing kilometres after the favourites played an extended game of cat-and-mouse.
While the big names watched each other, however, those with their eye on a career-defining victory achieved against the odds went up the road with vigour.
Hats off then to the likes of Matteo Bono, Julian Arredondo, Warren Barguil, Domenico Pozzovivo and Giampaolo Caruso, all of whom made a bid for victory.
Those on the fringes of pre-race favourite status also made their presence felt, including Lotto-Belisol’s Jelle Vanendert, who rode aggressively all day.
At the death, however, it was the big names who played for the big stakes, with Simon Gerrans, Alejandro Valverde, and Michal Kwiatkowski deciding the podium.
None, however, would have made a worthier winner than Ireland’s Daniel Martin, who proved himself the strongest – and unluckiest – rider in the race.
Official UCI WorldTour photographer, Stefano Sirotti, was on hand to capture all the action in his gallery of stunning images.
