Liège-Bastogne-Liège Men LIVE: Tadej Pogačar misses early split as race explodes early and Evenepoel takes advantage

It will also be interesting to see what imnpact being in the attack has on Evenepoel? How much did it cost him?

We’ll find out in the next two hours and the final 90km of racing.

2026-04-26T11:35:44.053Z

The Pogacar peloton could soon catch the Evenepoel group.

2026-04-26T11:35:18.694Z

Van Baarle, Eenkhoorn, Neilands, Veistroffer and Costiou attacked the attack and that caused the others to lose pace and so help the peloton reduce the gap.

2026-04-26T11:09:27.266Z

The riders pass through a feed zone and so the pace in the attack eases, as riders also attack each other.

Some riders are starting play tactical games and so the gap to the Pogacar peloton falls to 1:40.

It’s perhaps advantage Pogacar now.

2026-04-26T10:54:37.669Z

The Col de Haussire is causing some riders to be spat out of the attack.

The gap has also fallen to 2:10, as De Plus sets the pace with Evenepoel on his wheel.

2026-04-26T10:53:21.590Z

The race hits the Col de Haussire climb, that remembers local legend Claudy Criquielion with a monument. It is 3.9km long at 6.8% and so is hurting riders who have done a lot fo work.

In the peloton Rune Herregodts cracks and Vegard Stake Laengen is also tired. That means Tim Wellens has to step-up, move up and start working early for UAE and Pogacar.

Up front Nico Denz is also suffering after all his hard work on the front.

2026-04-26T10:49:44.676Z

Evenepoel made some predictions about Liege-Bastogne-Liege but he surely never expected to be up the road in a 50-rider break.

2026-04-26T10:37:06.448Z

This 50-rider attack was not expected but the final climbs are still expected to shape the race.

to understands the race and the many climbs, check out our race guide.

2026-04-26T10:32:59.650Z

A sign that the race is on and the chase is underway: the peloton is lined out.

2026-04-26T10:31:31.091Z

Behind Rune Herregodts and Vegard Stake Laengen are leading the chase for UAE, with Stan Dewolf riding for Decathlon.

That’s three chasers against far more attackers.

2026-04-26T10:28:59.973Z

The attackers arguably have more riders willing to work and drive the move along.

We can see Kamp from Uno-X, Dylan van Baarle from Soudal, Laurens de Plus for Egan Bernal and of course Denz riding for Evenepoel.

The gap is still 2:30.

2026-04-26T10:26:26.598Z

There’s an update on exactly who is in the attack. UAE have left Domen Novak in the attack.

That means they are one rider down for the chase. Indeed, we can see three UAE riders on the front, with Ineos lined out behind them, to at least physchologically disrupt the chase.

Behind UAE and Decathlon are forced to use up teammates to make the chase.

2026-04-26T09:56:43.998Z

The attacks mean the gap to the peloton at the top of the Côte de Saint-Roch is up to 4:00.

2026-04-26T09:53:27.262Z

Kamp, Leknessund and Sainbayar again try to escape from the front group but are chased down.

2026-04-26T09:52:39.085Z

As the attackers hit the first categorised of the race, the Côte de Saint-Roch after 83km, the gap to the Pogacar peloton is still 3:35.

Egan Bernal can count on support from Laurens De Plus, while other storong riders in the move include Dario Frigo (NSN) and Diego Ulissi (XDS).

Every team has two, three or even four riders, so will surely ride to make sure the attack goes as far as possible.

With so many team represented in the attack, it means only UAE and Decathlon will ride in the peloton.

It will be a pursuit match all the way to Liege, with Evenepoel and Bernal having a 3:30 advantage on Pogacar, Seixas.

That is the state of play.

2026-04-26T09:39:47.248Z

The 50 attackers are enjoying a tailwind as they continue to ride south to Bastogne. They will soon face a headwind and cross headwind when they turn north. They will have some protection in the Ardennes forests but the climbs are often exposed.

2026-04-26T09:16:07.261Z

We’d love to be inside the UAE team car right now to understand what tactical strategy they are trying to follow.

2026-04-26T09:14:36.872Z

The gap between the Evenepoel attack and the Pogacar peloton is up to 3:40! UAE appear to have made a tactical decision not to chase too hard.

The first hour of racing was covered at 45.3 km/h average!

That has kept the speed high and so means the gap to the Pogacar group is still rising.

2026-04-26T09:10:42.331Z

UAE have called back Domen Novak from the front group, as the gap reaches 3:20.

The only other team without a rider up front is Decathlon-CMA CGM and so, in theory, they will also have to help with the chase.

It’s going to be a fascinating race.

2026-04-26T09:03:32.157Z

The race is still heading south towards Bastogne and the gap is still growing. The Evenepoel group leads the Pogačar-Seixas peloton by 2:40.

UAE have perhaps refused to do all the chasing but other teams are perhaps refusing to help them, hence the rise in the gap.

Racing is about watts, power and talent but is always about tactics too.

2026-04-26T09:01:02.902Z

It is full gas racing so far.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-04-26T08:59:26.286Z

With 173 starters, that means there are 199 rider in the peloton.

Does it make sense for the 54 to ride or will they eventually be caught? It will perhaps be up to UAE and Decathlon to lead the chase in the main peloton.

Whatever happens, we have rarely seen such a big group go clear in Liege-Basotgne-Liege. This could be a special, historic day of racing.

2026-04-26T08:57:24.540Z

These are the 54 riders in the front group. There are some interesting names in there, including Evenepoel and Bernal but can they stay away?

Domen Novak (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Remco Evenepoel, Nico Denz (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Julien Bernard, Jacopo Mosca, Carlos Verona (Lidl-Trek), Menno Huising (Visma-Lease a Bike), Alan Hatherly, Asbjorn Hellemose (Jayco-AlUla), Sjoerd Bax, Xandro Meurisse (Pinarello-Q36.5), Michael Leonard, Jardi Van der Lee (EF Education-EasyPost), Sam Maisonobe, Paul Ourselin (Cofidis), Pau Miquel (Bahrain Victorious), Ewen Costiou, Guillaume Martin-Guyonnet, Enzo Paleni (Groupama-FDJ) Egan Bernal, Laurens de Plus (Ineos Grenadiers), Nicola Conci, Diego Ulissi (XDS-Astana), Magnus Cort, Alexander Kamp, Andreas Leknessund (Uno-X), Davide Formolo, Pavel Novak (Movistar Team), Roland Thalmann, Fabian Weiss (Tudor Pro Cycling), Pascal Eenkhoorn, Louis Vervaeke, Dylan Van Baarle (Soudal-Quick Step), Marco Frigo, Krists Neilands (NSN), Jakub Otruba (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Baptiste Veistroffer (Lotto-Intermarché), Frank Van der Broek, Matthew Dinham, Gijs Leemreize, Bjorn Koerdt (Picnic-PostNL), Aaron Dockx, Gal Glivar, Hugo Houle (Alpecin-Premier Tech), Thibaut Guernalec, Alan Jousseaume, Mathis Le Berre (TotalEnergies), Iñigo Elosegui, César Pérez, Diego Uriarte (Equipo Kern Pharma), Jesús Herrada , Clément Alleno, Josh Burnett, Jambaljamts Sainbayar (Burgos Burpellet BH).

2026-04-26T08:53:42.752Z

This is the front group. We can see that some teams are working hard to make it difficult for the chasing Pogacar peloton.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-04-26T08:45:59.414Z

There are 48 riders in the front group and their lead on the Pogacar peloton is up to 1:50!

2026-04-26T08:26:45.761Z

2026-04-26T08:22:42.370Z

There are also attacks off the front to try to join the early breakaway. There is no such thing as an easy start to a modern-day Monument.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-04-26T08:21:00.537Z

With Liege in the valley, the climb up to Beaufays has sparked the intense start to the day.

2026-04-26T08:19:22.289Z

UAE have Tim Wellens and Vegard Stake Laengen in the front group but they have been told to sit on as the peloton tries to close the gap.

2026-04-26T08:15:42.747Z

Big-name riders in the front group include Remco Evenepoel and Egan Bernal.

Tadej Pogačar was at the back of the peloton for the roll out and so might be in the second group. That could explain the split and the growing gap.

Race on!

2026-04-26T08:13:39.540Z

The front group is pushing on, the gap is up to 35 seconds.

2026-04-26T08:09:54.673Z

The crash has raised the tension in the early kilometres, with 60 riders off the front and the others chasing at 20 seconds. It’s going to be a long, hard day for every rider.

2026-04-26T08:08:28.955Z

When the race directors flag is dropped there are attacks! There’s also an early crash, involving Ion Izagirre (Cofidis).

The crash has split the peloton.

2026-04-26T08:07:02.737Z

173 riders in the race today. James Shaw (EF Education-EasyPost) and Alexandre Delettre (TotalEnergies) didnot sign on and so didn’t start.

2026-04-26T08:06:01.272Z

2026-04-26T07:55:22.296Z

The riders face 259.5km of racing today, with a short ride out of the city centre before the flag drops.

2026-04-26T07:53:45.264Z

One minute to the start!

2026-04-26T07:52:41.273Z

The riders are now on the start line, with Evenepoel, Belgian national champion Tim Wellens, Tadej Pogačar on the front of the grid.

2026-04-26T07:51:01.784Z

Tadej Pogačar and his UAE team are the last to sign on. The Slovenian races in the rainbow jersey as world champion and with race number 1 as the 2025 winner.

“It will come down to who is less tired, who has the strongest team around him. We’ll see in a few hours….” he said on the sign-on podium.

2026-04-26T07:48:54.409Z

Evenepoel spoke about the race and his rivals on Friday after his final recon ride on the route.

“We’ll give the maximum to try to win. The final is so long and so hard, that whoever wins is the strongest in the race.”

2026-04-26T07:42:37.355Z

The race announcer lists Paul Seixas’ results and he waves to the crowd with a smile. He is only 19 but has a poise and maturity beyond his years.

“It’s emotional to start my first Liege-Bastogne-Liege and I hope to do well and if I can, to be up there,” Seixas said.

“It’s true I won the Junior Liege-Bastogne-Liege, so I’ve done it once, but that race ended on La Redoute climb, so its a different race.

“We’ll see how it goes. If I can stay with Pogacar, it will already be a success.”

2026-04-26T07:37:37.798Z

Get ready to hear the crowd cheer. Paul Seixas and his Decathlon CMA CGM are about to sign on.

2026-04-26T07:36:02.994Z

Visma are the next team to sign on. They lost Matteo Jorgenson after his crash at last week’s Amstel Gold Race but still have a solid team. Ben Tullett was strong at La Fleche Wallonne and could be part of the race today.

2026-04-26T07:33:36.589Z

Tom Pidcock signs on as leader of Pinarello-Q36.5. He has played down his chances after his crash and knee injury but impressed at the Tour of the Alps.

If he isn’t able to take on the big three, he is still likely to perform and score a haul of UCI points for his team, which is also important.

2026-04-26T07:32:00.237Z

To understand the big favourites and the outsiders, read our analysis of the contenders.

The big four and the rest – Analysing the contenders at the men’s Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

2026-04-26T07:28:46.470Z

Ben O’Conor signs on with his Jayco AlUla teammates. The Australia ids one of several riders to travel to Belgium after riding the Tour of the Alps during the week.

Tom Pidcock, Egan Bernal also face a last hard day out of a long, hard week.

2026-04-26T07:26:46.359Z

The best WorldTour teams and several wild card teams are in the peloton but the expected narrative is all about a three-rider clash: Tadej Pogačar versus Remco Evenepoel versus Paul Siexas.

Tom Pidcock represents the outsiders, who could take advantage of the three favourites watch each other too much.

2026-04-26T07:22:51.260Z

Kévin Vauquelin of Ineos has just signed on, with the race organisers playing a happy boirhtdat tune for his 25th birthday. The French rider faces a birthday of suffering but could be a contender today.

2026-04-26T07:21:29.000Z

Check back all day to understands what happens in the final Classic of the spring.