On Friday 21 April 2006 a group of cyclists went for a ride. They would cover the last 100km of the course used for Liege-Bastogne-Liège the following Sunday.

We went along for the ride.

When it came to race day, Alejandro Valverde won. Horner was best from the team, in 8th place. Cadel was 80th.

The next week, Horner won a stage of the Tour de Romandie and Evans took the title of the Swiss stage race on the final day.

For the sake of a Friday Flashback, we look back 10 years and join the Davitamon-Lotto team in the Belgian Ardennes.

 

Our driver for the day, Allan Peiper.

 

– Photos by Rob Arnold

 

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Allan Peiper chats with Christophe Brandt, Johan Vansummeren and Chris Horner before setting of the reconnaissance.

 

 

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Cadel Evans checks his messages before setting off…

 

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Yes, a wealth of data for Cadel. Speed and average speed – all on one screen. Tech from 2006.

 

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Allan Peiper. One of Australian cycling’s true treasures. Working for Davitamon-Lotto then, but now at BMC Racing.

 

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Chris Horner, the room-mate of Evans for the week around la Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

 

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Johan Vansummeren, Christophe Brandt, and Josep Jufre.

 

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The day before these photos were taken the likes of Cadel Evans, Chris Horner, Johan Vansummeren and other cyclists got a chance for a hot-lap or two of the race circuit in Zolder, Belgium.

 

 

At the Zolder racetrack on 20 April 2006. Cadel Evans and Baden Cooke. Photo: Rob Arnold

At the Zolder racetrack on 20 April 2006. Cadel Evans and Baden Cooke.
Photo: Rob Arnold

 

Chris Horner and Baden Cooke. April 2006. Photo: Rob Arnold

Chris Horner and Baden Cooke. April 2006.
Photo: Rob Arnold

 

Matt Wilson, still racing... back then it was with Unibet. Photo: Rob Arnold

Matt Wilson, still racing… back then it was with Unibet.
Photo: Rob Arnold