Watch: The moment Jakob Fuglsang almost lost Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2019
The Dane slipped on the descent but somehow managed to stay upright
Jakob Fuglsang won his first ever Monument with victory at Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2019, after a spring of podium places usually because he's been thwarted by Julian Alaphilippe.
However, as Alaphilippe and his Deceuninck- Quick-Step team faded towards the business end of La Doyenne, Fuglsang attacked and broke away, eventually solo-ing the last 12km to the line, finishing 27 seconds faster than the next man on the road.
It wasn't all plain sailing, though, as with 5km remaining and Fuglsang crouched low over his handlebars on a descent, his back wheel kicked out and the Dane seemed to defy the laws of physics by remaining upright.
After the race, Fuglsang said it was "a scary moment but [provided] a bit of adrenaline for the last part".
Fuglsang's heart-in-mouth moment wasn't the only incident of the day. With 18km to go, just before the peloton hit the Cote de la Roche-aux-Faucons, Astana were pulling on the front and as they rounded a corner Ion Izagirre flew off into the trees.
Greg Van Avermaet missed out yet again, in what has been a disappointing spring campaign for the Belgian, with his CCC team revealing after the race that the Olympic champion had crashed on the approach into the finish.
Robert Gesink (Jumbo-Visma) was an early casualty in the race, abandoning after a crash on the descent. His team revealing the Dutchman had suffered not only a broken collarbone but also a fractured pelvis. Gesink previously suffered a broken vertebra in a crash on stage eight of the 2017 Tour de France.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Davide Formolo (Bora-Hansgrohe) finished second behind Fuglsang, with his team-mate Maximilian Schachmann completing the podium. Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) finished fourth, with Mikel Landa (Movistar), Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) and Wout Poels (Team Sky) also featuring in the top 10.
In the women’s race, Annemiek van Vleuten returned to winning ways, claiming the victory after attacking at the bottom of the Côte de la Redoute.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Jonny was Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor until 2022.
I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
Jonas Vingegaard is 'happy' while Tadej Pogačar calls Tour de France 2025 route 'brutal'
Visma-Lease a Bike sports director Grischa Niermann says course 'certainly appeals' to Dutch squad
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Do cycling jackets have to get a lot worse for the environment to get a bit better?
Will our waterproof cycling rain jackets still keep out the elements now that the old way of manufacturing is being banned
By Hannah Bussey Published
-
Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2024: All you need to know
Everything you need ahead of Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2024 and Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes, taking place on 21 April 2024
By Cycling Weekly Published
-
Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig eyes Ardennes podiums and Tour de France Femmes result after strong start
The FDJ Suez rider is building up her form towards her season targets
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Marta Cavalli stamps her authority on the Ardennes Classics with Flèche Wallonne win
Italian rider backs up Amstel Gold Race success after a canny closing sprint up the Mur de Huy
By Owen Rogers Published
-
La Flèche Wallonne 2022: all you need to know
All the details of La Flèche Wallonne and La Flèche Wallonne Femmes, taking place on Wednesday April 20 in 2022
By Tim Bonville-Ginn Published
-
Ardennes Classics team ratings: how did each squad perform?
Alaphilippe, Van Aert and Pogačar produced the goods for their teams
By Stephen Puddicombe Published
-
'It's not so bad to finish behind the winner of the Tour de France,' says Julian Alaphilippe, runner-up at Liège-Bastogne-Liège
The world champion was gracious in defeat, having been pipped twice in two editions by a Slovenian rider
By Jonny Long Published
-
Tadej Pogačar says he's 'living the cycling dream' following Liège-Bastogne-Liège victory
The Slovenian says the plan now is simple: rest, family time, and then prepare for the Tour de France
By Jonny Long Published
-
Demi Vollering takes her first WorldTour victory at Liège-Bastogne-Liège
Dutch rider benefits from another tactical masterpiece courtesy of her SDWorx squad, with Anna van der Breggen setting up the win
By Owen Rogers Published