Li?ge-Bastogne-Li?ge: Gilbert Country

By Caelli Greenbank (Twitter @fireflycaelli) There?s just enough breeze to make the flag ripple slightly in the mild air, the three colours blending into each other as the flag opens and unfolds.? We?re in the city of Li?ge in Wallonie, the French-speaking half of Belgium.? This is Philippe Gilbert country.? Support anyone else if you dare. Those who do dare are standing closer to the finish line.? The tricolour Belgian flag is competing with the yellow-and-red banner of the Spaniards and the stripey standard of Luxembourg, the latter usually emblazoned with Andy Schleck?s face.? While it?s anyone?s guess why the Spanish are here, Luxembourg is just across the border from Li?ge, and the Schleck fan club has turned out in full force to support Andy to the finish. The Belgian fans are also here in their numbers, Lotto Belisol the team of the day.? The team bus is being swarmed in the parking lot as the live coverage starts on the big screen with 100-odd kilometres to go.? Astute locals living along the course have set up tables at their front doors complete with hummus dip and Belgian beer.? Children are waving the paper flags of the sponsors, relishing the opportunity to make some noise as a series of riders of all ages from the local club make their slow, often painful way up the hill towards the finish. As the amateur race finishes there?s a large groan from the crowd watching the race on the big screen.? A Lotto Belisol rider has punctured and stopped for a wheel change, and the sound of disappointment echoes a moment later as he swerves aside to change his whole bike.? All along the roadside on the final hill is an assortment of bikes, Gilbert scarves, waffle stalls and Andy Schleck flags.? Down by the flamme rouge in the main town square, the atmosphere is more festive, ice-cream and beer delighting young and old alike. The helicopter is visible from the finish line, the breakaway onscreen entering the city of Liege again on their way to the finish.? A big cheer goes up from the watching Belgians as the rainbow jersey of Philippe Gilbert makes his move in the breakaway, even though he doesn?t look like catching the leaders up ahead.? The scenery flashes by on the screen and heads turn as they recognise how far away the riders are.? The familiar drumming of the barrier signs gives the signal that leader Dan Martin (Garmin-Sharp) is on his way.? The blue blur sweeping around the corner is followed by the red one of Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) a few seconds later.? Rodriguez can?t catch Martin, though, and up on the big screen the Irishman raises his arms in victory as he leads the Spaniard across the line. Martin?s Australian teammate Nathan Haas is perhaps less surprised than most.? ?Dan had a real glow about him this morning,? Nathan explains after the race.? ?My job today was just to be driving around with Dan and making sure he stays out of trouble and positioning. In the end he?s just so good at it naturally that after a while you just start sitting on his wheel to make sure no-one sort of bombs in.?? But it was definitely a team effort in the end.? ?Hesj [Ryder Hesjedal] really put in that effort to set up Dan?s win perfectly.? Australian Will Clarke played a similar role for his team, backing Argos-Shimano teammate Simon Geschke to 19^th place.? ?The job was today for me to help the guys, the mission for the first 100, 150 k?s.? It’s a race that doesn’t really suit me, being quite a hilly race,? Will says of his day, then adds, ?Hopefully I can do the race again next year.? Bit of a stepping stone for then.?