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Power Rankings: Ardennes classics

The Ardennes classics demand perfect positioning, brilliant climbing form, and smart tactics. Here are 10 men who could win big in April.

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Ardennes — Climbing, positioning, endurance, tactics — there’s nowhere to hide in the hilly Ardennes classics. Here are 10 riders who are most likely to succeed at Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com

Ardennes — Portugal’s national champion, Rui Costa, has potential to deliver in the Ardennes, but he hasn’t realized it just yet. His best finishes are fourth in Amstel and Liège -Bastogne-Liège last season. Costa, 29, has collected a handful of top-10s and top-fives in stages and GC rankings throughout the early season, but he’ll need to reach another level to prove that his 2013 world title wasn’t a fluke. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com

Ardennes — Either Tim Wellens has really good legs or really bad legs this week in the Ardennes, because he launched crazy, last-ditch attacks in both Amstel and Flèche. Confident? Or is he just desperate? Either way, the tactic didn’t work, but this move might (maybe!) bear fruit in Liège with the addition of a new hill, rue Naniot, which comes in the final three kilometers. If the top favorites are deadlocked, courageous attacking could pay off. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com

Ardennes — At 36, Joaquim Rodriguez is nearly old enough to be the father of young guns like Julian Alaphilippe, but his 17 years of experience will compensate for any effects of age in the Ardennes. He’s won Flèche Wallonne and landed on the podium twice at Liège, and has one second-place at Amstel Gold Race to his credit. Purito has yet to win in 2016, but he fought to a solid fifth-place overall in early April at Vuelta al Pais Vasco, regarded as one of the most difficult one-week stage races. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com

Ardennes — Luis Leon Sanchez would have some impressive Ardennes results to his credit, but he doesn’t. The Spaniard seems to have the skillset to deliver — he won Clasica San Sebastien twice and has won four Tour de France stages over the years. And yet there’s not even a top-10 on his palmares. Maybe this is the year that things change. He’s already won twice: stage 2 at Volta ao Algarve and stage 1 Vuelta al Pais Vasco, both tough races that prove he’s on good climbing form. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com

Ardennes — Gasparotto’s Amstel Gold win was a feel-good result for a Wanty team that was rocked by the tragic death of rider Antoine Demoitie in Gent – Wevelgem. This dark horse pick may be limited by his Pro Continental team, but he managed fifth place at Flèche Wednesday, so watch out if he’s in Sunday’s final selection. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com

Ardennes — Compare 2014 world champ Michal Kwiatkowski to his predecessor, Costa, who’s much lower on this list. While Costa suffered the fabled curse of the rainbow jersey through the Ardennes, Kwiatkowski delivered a brilliant win in Amstel Gold Race. The versatile Pole also won E3 Harelbeke this year. However, he faltered in this year’s edition of Amstel and didn’t race Flèche. Fortunately for Kwiatkowski, his Sky team is dripping with talent. Ben Swift has been on the podium six times this season, Wout Poels won a stage at Volta a Catalunya, oh, and they have this really strong British climber named Chris Froome. Maybe the entire Sky team should be our #1 pick? Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com

Ardennes — Etixx’s homegrown sensation Alaphilippe is on the verge of a breakthrough victory. He was a major animator at Brabantse Pijl and second at Flèche behind Alejandro Valverde. In 2014 he was second in both Flèche and Liège. He’s only 23 years old, but the Frenchman is not intimidated by his older, wiser rivals — the best is still to come. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com

Ardennes — After a season to forget in 2015, Simon Gerrans, 35, is already making up for lost time, having won the overall and two stages at his home race, the Santos Tour Down Under, and landing on the podium twice during Vuelta al Pais Vasco. Should Orica be riding for Michael Matthews instead? Possibly. But no doubt a two-pronged attack could work well in these tough, hilly races. And compared to Matthews, 11 years his junior, Gerrans is a safer bet, having won Liège in 2014. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com

Ardennes — Someone should analyze how a team transfer affects riders (maybe they have), because we bet it usually results in, well, results. Dan Martin provides a one-off example of how a change of scenery can be a good thing. With his new Etixx team, he’s won twice already this season, including a savage uphill finish to La Molina in stage 3 of Volta a Catalunya, out-climbing Alberto Contador. He won Liège in 2013, and nearly won it in 2014, crashing in sight of the line. He’s also got an Il Lombardia title on his palmares. Best of all, his new team has considerable firepower to shepherd him through the Ardennes, with Petr Vakoc and Julian Alaphilippe. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com

Ardennes — No Ardennes list is complete without Alejandro Valverde, a three-time winner at Liège. He won Ruta del Sol in February, on the back of a convincing victory in the final day of racing, but more importantly, he won Flèche a record fourth time (for the men’s race) on Wednesday. The 35-year-old Spaniard has a host of talented Spanish climbers on Movistar’s roster, he’ll have ample support, as well. Photo: Tim De Waele | TDWsport.com

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