1971 Liège–Bastogne–Liège

The 57th edition of the Liège–Bastogne–Liège road cycling race in Belgium was held on 25 April 1971.[1] Belgian Eddy Merckx concluded his second win in the monument classic, after beating his countryman Georges Pintens in a two-man sprint.[2]

1971 Liège–Bastogne–Liège
Eddy Merckx (pictured in 1966) won his second Liège–Bastogne–Liège
Eddy Merckx (pictured in 1966) won his second Liège–Bastogne–Liège
Race details
DatesApril 25, 1971 (1971-04-25)
Stages1
Distance251 km (156.0 mi)
Winning time6h 57' 10"
Results
  Winner  Eddy Merckx (BEL) (Molteni)
  Second  Georges Pintens (BEL) (Hertekamp-Magniflex)
  Third  Frans Verbeeck (BEL) (Watneys-Avia)

Summary

Cycling icon Eddy Merckx attacked solo in Rocourt, at 92 kilometers from the finish in Liège, and soon had a five-minute advantage over his pursuers. In a rare display, he suffered a sudden fatigue on the Mont-Theux and was joined by Georges Pintens. Pintens failed to distance a tired Merckx, and Merckx managed to outsprint his fellow Belgian at the line to seal his second victory in the classic.[3]

The race was run in harrowing weather conditions, with snow and cold rampaging the peloton. 27 of 122 starters finished the race.[2] Years later, one of Merckx' soigneurs revealed that Merckx, suffering from exhaustion after the race, needed to shower on a chair.[3]

Results
# Rider Time
1. Belgium Eddy Merckx 6h 57' 10"
2. Belgium Georges Pintens s.t.
3. Belgium Frans Verbeeck + 4 ' 51 "
4. France Gilbert Bellone s.t.
5. Belgium Antoine Houbrechts s.t.
6. Belgium Ferdinand Bracke + 5 ' 51 "
7. Belgium Joseph Bruyère s.t.
8. France Raymond Delisle + 6 ' 45 "
9. Italy Felice Gimondi + 6 ' 54 "
10. Italy Attilio Benfatto s.t.

References
  1. "Liège-Bastogne-Liège 1977". museociclismo.it (in Italian). Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  2. "1971 Liège-Bastogne-Liège 57th edition: Sunday, April 25, 1971". bikeraceinfo.com. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  3. Bouvet, Philippe (2007), De Klassiekers, Lannoo, Belgium, ISBN 978-90-811691-10, p25
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