‘Cannibal’ Valverde continues winning streak with Liège-Bastogne-Liège victory

Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) won Liège-Bastogne-Liège for the fourth time in his career, overhauling 2013 champion Daniel Martin after the latter made his move inside the final kilometre.

In an emotional interview afterwards a tearful Valverde paid tribute to Michele Scarponi who was killed on Saturday after being hit by a van while training and will donate his €20,000 winning to the former Giro d’Italia winner’s family.

“That was for you Scarponi,” said Valverde after crossing the line at the end of the gruelling 258km race. “He was a very god friend of mine and when I heard the news, it was terrible. All of the prize money is going to his family. The race was unbelievable today, the team did a fantastic job.”

There was a minute of applause before the start of Sunday’s 258-km race in memory of Scarponi, with his Astana team mates wearing black armbands.

Italian Davide Formolo attacked at the top of the penultimate climb, the Cote de Saint-Nicolas, and opened a 10-second gap over a group of some 20, but he faded with a kilometre to go.

Martin sped away from the leading group but there was no stopping Valverde, who added to his Tour of Murcia, Tour of Catalonia, Tour of Andalucia, Tour of the Basque Country and Fleche Wallonne titles.

?|@alejanvalverde @Movistar_Team wins Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2017 #LBL?? pic.twitter.com/ngJoRxYzOz

— CyclingHub (@CyclingHubTV) 23 aprilie 2017

Liege-Bastogne-Liege 2017 results: