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🏆 2025 Liège–Bastogne–Liège: Full Race Summary

🏆 2025 Liège–Bastogne–Liège: Full Race Summary

April 27, 2025

Conor Wall
April 27, 2025

🌧️ Race Overview

The 111th running of Liège–Bastogne–Liège took place under cold, wet conditions — a true Ardennes Monument. Riders faced a grueling 252 km course, packed with climbs and slippery descents, making positioning and stamina critical.

Ultimately, it was Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) who mastered the day, launching a devastating solo attack on the Côte de La Redoute, 34 km from the finish. No one could follow.
Pogačar soloed triumphantly into Liège, winning his third career LBL title after earlier victories in 2021 and 2024.

Final time: 6 hours 0 minutes 9 seconds.
It was a historic victory — his ninth Monument overall, tying him for third all-time in cycling history.

🏁 Top 10 Finishers

Rank	Rider	Team	Time
1	Tadej Pogačar	UAE Team Emirates	6:00:09
2	Giulio Ciccone	Lidl–Trek	+1:03
3	Ben Healy	EF Education–EasyPost	+1:03
4	Simone Velasco	XDS Astana Team	+1:10
5	Thibau Nys	Lidl–Trek	+1:10
6	Andrea Bagioli	Lidl–Trek	+1:10
7	Daniel Martínez	Red Bull–BORA–hansgrohe	+1:10
8	Axel Laurance	INEOS Grenadiers	+1:10
9	Thomas Pidcock	Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team	+1:10
10	Neilson Powless	EF Education–EasyPost	+1:10

(Gaps relative to Pogačar)

⚡ Key Moments

Early Break: A small group animated the first half of the race, but they were carefully kept within three minutes. The real action only began after 180 km when the favorites started surfacing.
Pogačar’s Launch:
On Côte de La Redoute, Pogačar sensed hesitation in the group. He countered a softening move, stayed seated, and then exploded off the front.
His move was perfectly timed — clean, powerful, and committed. Nobody could respond.
Chase Chaos:
Giulio Ciccone and Ben Healy organized a pursuit, but coordination failed. Riders like Pidcock and Martínez tried surges on Roche-aux-Faucons, but the gap to Pogačar only grew.
Victory Lap:
By the outskirts of Liège, Pogačar had over a minute’s lead and could even sit up to celebrate, soaking in an unforgettable solo win.

🎙️ Post-Race Quotes

Tadej Pogačar:

"I didn’t plan it exactly. But I saw a small moment after La Redoute, and I went for it. It's such a brutal race — this one means so much to me."

Ben Healy:

"We gave it everything, but when Tadej goes, it’s another level."

Giulio Ciccone:

"I’m happy with the podium. It was impossible to match Pogačar today."

🧠 Analysis: Why Pogačar Won

Timing: His move on La Redoute was perfectly executed — nobody else had the legs to follow.
Strength: Pogačar’s endurance across six hours in brutal conditions proved unmatched.
Mentality: Racing aggressively, trusting instinct, and going solo when others hesitated defined his win.

This also marks six straight Monument podiums for Pogačar — an astonishing modern streak.

🔥 What’s Next?

With the Ardennes season now closed, eyes turn to the next major goals:

Giro d'Italia (starts May 4) — where Pogačar will attempt his first Grand Tour of the season.
Tour de France prep — Evenepoel, Roglič, and others will regroup after tough Ardennes campaigns.

One thing is clear: In 2025, Tadej Pogačar continues to rewrite cycling history.