CYCLING – TEAM Bahrain Victorious head to the final Monument of the Spring Classics and the Ardennes campaign with a strong line-up led by Santiago Buitrago and Mathijs Paasschens.
The 112th edition of La Doyenne in Belgium, the oldest Monument on the cycling calendar, takes place today. Starting and finishing in Liege, the race covers a demanding 259.5-kilometre route, featuring 12 climbs and a total elevation gain of 4,395 metres.
Buitrago returns to a race where he has enjoyed previous success, having finished on the podium in 2023. He will be joined by Paasschens, who was announced yesterday as a last-minute replacement for Bahrain Victorious’ superstar Lenny Martinez, who is to rest and recover.
In support, Buitrago and Paasschens will be joined by Pello Bilbao, who is competing in his final season and will take on the race for the last time. The Basque rider has also shown strong form here in recent years, finishing inside the top ten in 2024.
Antonio Tiberi, Fran Miholjevic, Afonso Eulalio, and Pau Miquel complete the line-up, providing depth and support throughout the race, with the ability to cover moves and feature in key breakaways.
“We have the ambition to fight for the podium here, but we know it will be difficult with the level of competition and the favourites in the race,” Bahrain Victorious sports director Enrico Gasparotto. “That said, we have a well-balanced team with depth, which gives us different options.
“There are key moments in this race where it can really open up, and we need to be ready to take our chances. It’s a long and demanding day, but the riders arrive in good condition, and with Buitrago’s previous podium here, we know what is possible.”
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