UAE Team Emirates for the Liege-Bastogne-Liege

UAE Team Emirates, led by Rui Costa (photo Bettini), are focused on top results in the Spring Classic race Liège–Bastogne–Liège after reaching third place last year.

The 103rd race, nicknamed La Doyenne is one of the oldest races of the cycling calendar and the fourth Monument in the season, Liège–Bastogne–Liège is also the last of the Spring Classics before the Grand Tours begin with Giro d’Italia at the start of May. In 2016, Wout Poels (Team Sky) won the race, outsprinting a group of cyclists including Samuel Sánchez, Michael Albasini and UAE Team Emirates rider Rui Costa.

After an initial flat 70km there is an onslaught of ten hills over the 258km course. This year’s route has introduced three new hills Côte du Pont, Côte de Bellevaux and Côte de la Ferme Libert, Rui Costa noted, “The three hills between 168km and 180km will encourage some riders to attack: it will be important to see which athletes go clear to evaluate how to react. Managing energy is crucial in this race, on the last hill, the Saint Nicholas, every single drop counts!”

Liège–Bastogne–Liège is a race Rui has fond memories of, he continued, “This is the race of dreams, every year I work hard to be ready for it. I’ve come third and fourth, this year I’d like to add it to my list of victories.”

Teammate Diego Ulissi feels confident in his squad’s ability for Sunday: “I feel there is no other team with this high level of quality. The charm of this race is huge; having top riders like Costa and Meintjes in the same team is an additional value for us.”

The UAE Team Emirates lineup includes: Matteo Bono, Rui Costa, Louis Meintjes, Matej Mohoric, Manuele Mori, Simone Petilli, Diego Ulissi and Oliviero Troia.
The team will be directed by Marco Marzano and Simone Pedrazzini.