| Bartoli Defeats the World #1
The starters of the 1997 Liege-Bastogne-Liege were face with very cold temperatures and a few snow flurries along the race route.
Italian Michele Bartoli won the 1997 LBL Classic ahead of the World’s #1 ranked rider Laurent Jalabert (Fra).
Bartoli joined the winning breakaway when two ONCE teammates Jalabert, winner of the Fleche Wallone several days earlier, and Alex Zulle (Sui) attacked with 40 kms to go. Faced with a finish against two teammates the Italian worked to keep the tempo high on the final 4 km climb to the finish in Ans. Zulle surrendered to the pace and dropped off the leaders group.
Bartoli testing Jalabert's legs
As the 2 leaders went under the 1 km banner Bartoli tested Jalabert’s fading strength. The Frenchman did manage to answer the challenge. Bartoli's final attack with 200 meters to the finish line put Jalabert in trouble. The Italian rode away.
Michele Bartoli’s Liege-Bastogne-Liege victory was the most important of his career.
Bartoli alone for the victory
| L-B-L April 20, 1997 |
| 262 Km |
1.
Michele BARTOLI (Ita) 7h09’45” |
|
2.
Laurent Jalabert (Fra) +8” |
|
3.
Gabriele Colombo (Ita) +21" |
Starters:
188 |
| Finishers: 112 |
Average Speed: 36.582 km/h |
L-B-L 1996
L-B-L 1998
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