Irishman Dan Martin (Garmin-Sharp) had already enjoyed a hugely successful start to the year with overall victory in the Volta a Catalunya and fourth-place at La Fleche Wallone when he arrived at Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

But the Birmingham-born nephew of 1987 Tour de France winner Stephen Roche was about to take his success to another level as he stormed to victory in the 99th La Doyenne.

Initially riding in support of team-mate Ryder Hesjedal, who had attacked solo on the Cote de Saint Nicholas, Martin bid to slow the chasing group of riders before joining three riders – Carlos Bentacur (Ag2r-La Mondiale), Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) and Michele Scarponi (Lampre-Merida) – who jumped off the front of the chasing ground.

With Hesjedal’s break fading, Martin bridged across to the five-man leading group and the Canadian began working instead for the Irishman.

The tactics worked, too, as when Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) caught and passed the leading group, it was only Martin who had it in him to go with the Spaniard.

And Martin stayed with Purito – with both now somewhat famously chased by a man in a panda suit – before timing his attack to perfection to pass Rodriguez on the final straight and win by three seconds to record a fine tactical victory for Garmin-Sharp.