1971 Liège–Bastogne–Liège
{{Infobox cycling race report
| name = 1971 Liège–Bastogne–Liège
| series =
| image = Eddy Merckx 1966.jpg
| image_caption = Eddy Merckx (pictured in 1966) won his second Liège–Bastogne–Liège
| date = {{start date|1971|04|25}}
| stages = 1
| distance = 251
| speed = 36.12
| unit = km
| time = 6h 57' 10"
| first = Eddy Merckx
| first_nat = BEL
| first_natvar =
| first_team = Molteni
| second = Georges Pintens
| second_nat = BEL
| second_natvar =
| second_team = Hertekamp-Magniflex
| third = Frans Verbeeck
| third_nat = BEL
| third_natvar =
| third_team = Watneys-Avia
| previous = 1970
| next = 1972
}}
The 57th edition of the Liège–Bastogne–Liège road cycling race in Belgium was held on 25 April 1971.{{cite web|title=Liège-Bastogne-Liège 1977|url=http://www.museociclismo.it/content/corse/corsa/4738-Li%C3%A8ge-Bastogne-Li%C3%A8ge/edizioni/63/4771.html|website=museociclismo.it|accessdate=24 February 2016|language=Italian}} Belgian Eddy Merckx concluded his second win in the monument classic, after beating his countryman Georges Pintens in a two-man sprint.{{cite web|title=1971 Liège-Bastogne-Liège 57th edition: Sunday, April 25, 1971|url=http://www.bikeraceinfo.com/classics/Liege-Bastogne-Liege/1971-liege-bastogne-liege.html|website=bikeraceinfo.com|accessdate=24 February 2016}}
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.Bouvet, Philippe (2007), De Klassiekers, Lannoo, Belgium, {{ISBN|978-90-811691-10}}, p25
The race was run in harrowing weather conditions, with snow and cold rampaging the peloton. 27 of 122 starters finished the race. Years later, one of Merckx' soigneurs revealed that Merckx, suffering from exhaustion after the race, needed to shower on a chair.
Results
| class=wikitable |
| #
! Rider ! Time |
|---|
| align="right" | 1.
| {{flagicon|BEL}} Eddy Merckx | align="right" | 6h 57' 10" |
| align="right" | 2.
| {{flagicon|BEL}} Georges Pintens | align="right" | s.t. |
| align="right" | 3.
| {{flagicon|BEL}} Frans Verbeeck | align="right" | + 4 ' 51 " |
| align="right" | 4.
| {{flagicon|FRA}} Gilbert Bellone | align="right" | s.t. |
| align="right" | 5.
| {{flagicon|BEL}} Antoine Houbrechts | align="right" | s.t. |
| align="right" | 6.
| {{flagicon|BEL}} Ferdinand Bracke | align="right" | + 5 ' 51 " |
| align="right" | 7.
| {{flagicon|BEL}} Joseph Bruyère | align="right" | s.t. |
| align="right" | 8.
| {{flagicon|FRA}} Raymond Delisle | align="right" | + 6 ' 45 " |
| align="right" | 9.
| {{flagicon|ITA}} Felice Gimondi | align="right" | + 6 ' 54 " |
| align="right" | 10.
| {{flagicon|ITA}} Attilio Benfatto |align="right" | s.t. |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.bikeraceinfo.com/classics/Liege-Bastogne-Liege/1971-liege-bastogne-liege.html 1971 Liège-Bastogne-Liège] on bikereaceinfo.com
- [http://www.les-sports.info/cyclisme-liege-bastogne-liege-1971-resultats-hommes-s2-c0-b0-g22-t44-u73-v1.html Full results] (in French)
{{Liege-Bastogne-Liege}}
{{Liège–Bastogne–Liège winners}}
{{1971 Super Prestige Pernod}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Liege-Bastogne-Liege, 1971}}