Mike O'Connor
Melbourne’s Jack Ward has delivered another statement ride in the Ardennes, sprinting to second place in the Liège–Bastogne–Liège U23 after a fiercely contested 177km edition shaped by repeated attacks and relentless climbing.
As is typical on the demanding Belgian course, the race gradually fractured over the climbs, with the peloton whittled down into smaller and smaller groups as the kilometres ticked by. Early moves saw a sizeable break of around 30 riders establish itself, but constant pressure on the Ardennes ascents ensured the race never settled.
The key moment occurred on the Côte de La Redoute. It was there that the race first began to fully ignite, with Ward and Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe’s Lorenzo Finn bridging up to the break at the summit before riders regrouped into a series of fragmented chase groups.
From that point, the finale turned into a constant flurry of attacks.
Ward’s teammate Héctor Álvarez was one of the most active riders in the race, repeatedly animating the front of the peloton and helping force selections as the group approached the finish.
In the closing kilometres, he and Ward worked in tandem, launching successive moves in an attempt to break clear.
Álvarez ultimately played a decisive role in the finish, delivering a well-timed lead-out in the final kilometre to position Ward for the sprint. He launched his first effort with around one kilometre to go, was brought back, then reacted again inside the final 350 metres before unleashing a second sprint to secure a strong second place.
“There was a massive break at the start with maybe 30 guys and all the climbs were ridden pretty hard, but nothing crazy,” said Ward, speaking at the finish line.
“The first time up Côte de La Redoute, Andrea and Gabriel set me and Hector up perfectly for that. Myself and Lorenzo got away and caught the break at the top of La Redoute but then it kind of all came back together, like small groups joining.
Coming to the finish, there were heaps of attacks in our group. Myself and Hector kept launching and going one after the other, but nothing stuck. With one km to go I attacked but I got caught with 350 metres to go, got in the wheels again and then sprinted again with the help of Hector. I’m still happy to get second and the team was really good all day.”
The result continues Ward’s impressive run of form, adding to a recent second overall at the Circuit des Ardennes and fourth at the Australian national championships.
The 20-year-old also arrives in strong condition after winning both the XCO and XCC Elite national MTB titles just weeks earlier.
Mike O’Connor – A keen cyclist, runner and photographer, Mike O’Connor is the Editor of Bicycling Australia. He manages the BA website and social media, and loves promoting the achievements of Australian cyclists.
