Astana Pro Team cycling racers failed finding the right pace at Yui Wall

Astana Pro Team racers led the race in a very aggressive way within the last 30 kilometers of the "Fleche Wallonne" trying their best to sift the peloton before the final climb but failed to do so. The main race started only with the rise to the Yui Wall 1.3-kilometers long at the time when the racers reached the very steep section with a gradient of 26 percent.

Enrico Gasparotto finished in 35 seconds behind the race winner Spaniard Dani Moreno and Maxim Iglinskiy was behind Enrico for one pedals turn. There was nothing to celebrate so right after the race completion the athletes went back to the hotel in Liege without prize flowers and champagne.

E.Gasparotto and M.Iglinskiy were captains of the team while their teammate Andrey Grivko broke up the peloton on the way to the foot of the Yui Wall. But according to Stefano Dzanini, Astana team sport director, the racers of the contestant teams were stronger in power surpassing our racers in mountain sprint.

"That was a very steep climb and in the final group there were many racers. We had good team and we struggled to sift team in the finals and our racers lead the group trying to maintain high pace and at the same time keep Enrico and Maxim in good position. But the opponents were stronger that today", said S.Dzanini.

Astana has another spring classic which will be held on Sunday in April 21. Maxim Iglinskiy will start on defending his title for the winner of "Liege-Bastogne-Liege" and he will be joined by Vincenzo Nibali and Enrico Gasparotto.

"We have a very strong team. In Liege at the start we will have Nibali thus that will be different matter", concluded E.Gasparotto.