Amstel Gold Race 2017: The cunning and guile of Philippe Gilbert

Starting Ardennes Week off with a bang, Philippe Gilbert and Michal Kwiatkowski rode under the flamme rouge together with time in hand to play cat-and-mouse until PhilGil, seemingly too far back after Kwiat’s final attack, went right past the Sky rider, turned to look at him, then gave a cheeky smile and began to celebrate as he rolled over the line to take his fourth Amstel title. Third step of the podium went to Orica-Scott’s Michael Albasini. 
Continue reading

Liege-Bastogne-Liege review: Wout Poels braves a blizzard for first Monument win

On a day when the weather Gods threw everything but the kitchen sink at the peloton, it was Sky’s Woet Poels who raised his weary arms aloft for a FINE victory at Liege-Bastogne-Liege. The Dutchman followed the winning move on the cobbled Cote de Naniot that saw four riders break clear, and had enough strength to hold off Michael Albasini (Orica-GreenEDGE) in the last metres. A battling Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida) claimed third place. Who would have guessed at the beginning of the year that Wout Poels would take Team Sky’s first Monument win? #Chapeau
Continue reading