CYCLING – TEAM Bahrain Victorious rider Pello Bilbao claimed a strong top 10 finish in the 112th Liege-Bastogne-Liege elite men’s road race yesterday in Belgium.
Bilbao was classified sixth overall after a gruelling 259.5 kilometres of racing, which included 12 climbs and a total elevation gain of 4,395 metres. He was part of a trailing group that finished a minute and 42 seconds behind overall winner Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates-XRG, who secured first place in five hours 50 minutes and 28 seconds.
“I knew the podium was there, but I just didn’t have the legs to go further,” said Bilbao post-race. “It’s a great feeling – in my last year – to take my best result in a Monument and believe in the Liege-Bastogne-Liege podium until the very end.”
Bilbao has shown impressive form in the race in previous editions – also finishing inside the top 10 in 2024.
Amongst Bahrain Victorious’ other riders yesterday, Santiago Buitrago finished 22nd, Afonso Eulalio came 62nd, Pau Miquel was 69th, and Antonio Tiberi came 83rd, while Croatian Fran Miholjevic and Dutchman Mathijs Paasschens did not finish.
A Monument is one of five classic races generally considered to be the oldest, hardest, longest, and most prestigious one-day events in men’s road cycling. Three other Monuments of the 2026 campaign have already been held, including Milano-Sanremo in Italy last month, and the Tour of Flanders in Belgium and Paris-Roubaix in France earlier this month; while one more event is scheduled for October 10, the Il Lombardia in Italy.
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