Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team has announced the selection that will participate in the final and oldest race of the Spring Classics Season: Liège - Bastogne - Liège. The race may be not be one for a select group as it has been known for in the past due to the removal of Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons from the parcour. The climb was replaced by Côte de Colonster (6%) at the 244.5km point. There are 11 climbs in total including Côte de Saint-Roch (11%) and Côte de Stockeu (12%), which are each 1km in length and are located at the 116.5km and 166.5km points. The final, often decisive climb is Côte de Saint-Nicolas (8.6%) at the 256km point, just before the finish at 257.5km.
"Today we performed as usual the reconnaissance of the parcour," Sport Director Davide Bramati said. "We started from Spa, with about 70km to go. We saw some of it by car, and then we did the rest of the course from Spa to the finish by bike. We arrive at the race with a very motivated team. The guys were motivated by the last two races, Amstel and Fleche. We've found a good leader in Michal Kwiatkowski, so the team will ride for him. We will see about the situation, as the new climb can change the race by making it more difficult to control. But we will do our best for a good result with a good team spirit."
"The Rocheaux-Faucons is steeper and shorter than the new one," Jerome Pineau said. "The new one is a little bit longer, about 2.5km. The race will probably change. The La Redoute and the Saint-Nicolas will again be two important parts of the race, as they were before the Rocheaux-Faucons was added to the parcour years ago. it's important to survive La Redoute, so we can have as many riders as we can in the final."
"It was good today to train on the parcour," Michal Kwiatkowski said. "I am looking forward to this race. I can't really compare the new final without the Rocheaux-Faucons to the previous one, as I stopped last year before that point. So for me, everything is very new. I will try to do my best, surrounded by the team."