Hard to look past Valverde claiming fourth title

Race starts 9.10am Sunday
Live on Eurosport 2, 1.15pm

There is sure to be a sombre mood on the start line for the final Monument of Classics season, Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

The death of former Grio d’Italia winner Michele Scarponi in a training accident yesterday has cast a shadow over the event for which Alejandro Valverde is a warm order to claim a fourth La Doyenne victory.

And on current form it is hard to look past the Spaniard who seems to get better with age.

The 36-year-old was imperious in collecting his fourth La Fleche Wallonne victory in a row on Wednesday and has already taken general classification titles at the Ruta del Sol, Volta a Catalunya and Vuelta al Pais Vasco this season.

His win atop the Mur de Huy in midweek was another advert for his innate ability to time attacks at the correct moment and having uncharacteristically missed last year’s race-winning move, he will be motivated to ensure the same doesn’t happen again.

At longer odds, Rui Costa makes some each-way appeal.

The former world champion has finished ninth, fourth and third on his last three attempts and has had a productive 2017, winning the Vuelta a San Juan and the Abu Dhabi Tour.

He is a live 20-1 shot with Coral and Sky Bet, who offer four places.

Recommendations
A Valverde
3pts 2-1 general
R Costa
1pt e-w 20-1 Coral, Sky Bet