Vinokourov wins Liege-Bastogne-Liege
Published 5:16 pm Sunday, April 25, 2010
LIEGE, Belgium — Kazakhstan’s Alexander Vinokourov broke clear of Alexandr Kolobnev in a long sprint to the finish to win the 96th Liege-Bastogne-Liege classic on Sunday.
It was Vinokourov’s biggest victory since returning from a two-year suspension for blood doping. There were plenty of whistles when Vinokourov, who won the race in 2005, crossed the line.
Vinokourov won the 160-mile race, cycling’s oldest and one of its most prestigious, in 6 hours, 37 minutes, 48 seconds, holding a 6-second gap over Russia’s Kolobnev, who was a world championship runner-up twice over the past three years.
Alejandro Valverde, who won the classic through Belgium’s southern Ardennes in 2006 and 2008, took third place, 1:04 behind. The Spaniard beat Belgian Philippe Gilbert and world champion Cadel Evans in a sprint among the chasers.
Vinokourov’s Astana teammate and prerace favorite Alberto Contador finished 10th, 1:07 behind.
Vinokourov was banned for blood doping during the 2007 Tour de France while he was racing Astana, which stuck with him after his suspension ended.
“Everyone deserves a second chance,” Astana sporting director Laurenzo Lapage told VRT network. “Vinokourov reacted in a great way.”
His reemergence is a major boost for Astana as it tries to lead Contador to his third Tour de France title in July.
