Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) was one of just 44 finishers at Flèche-Wallonne on Wednesday and though that race was a long very cold and wet affair, the Irish champion is gunning to go again at Liège-Bastogne-Liège on Sunday.
And Healy will be joined in the EF Education-EasyPost line-up by Irish neo pro Archie Ryan, as well as Mikkel Honoré, James Shaw, Harry Sweeny, and Rigoberto Urán.
Healy has said the team aims to won La Doyenne, after his 4th place finish last year, and he and Carapaz will be the team leaders. Carapaz has said they want to take an aggressive approach, while Healy said it would be a day for the 'hard men' of the sport.
“It is hard, long, and normally cold, so only for the tough riders in the peloton,” he said ahead of the 254.5km race regarded as the hardest one-day ace in the year and last won by an Irish rider, Dan Martin, back in 2013.
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“Our ambition is to win the race, as simple as that,” add Healy, who missed a chances for another result at Amstel Gold Race last weekend - an event he was 2nd in last year - when his team was left chasing the winning move in the final.
Also looking to Sunday, Carapaz said while he wanted to attack the race - just like he did at Wednesday's Flèche-Wallonne, he believe Healy could also have a say in the outcome.
“We are a very good team,” he said. “Riders like Rigo and Harry and James bring a lot of experience. Ben feels very good. It’s going to be a very hard race.
“Liège-Bastogne-Liège is a real monument for the sport. It is so difficult due to the length and the amount of climbing. The best teams come with their best riders and that’s what makes it so beautiful."
The men's race starts and finishes in Liège, with a final that includes Côte de Wanne, Côte de Stockeu, Col du Rosier, Côte de la Redoute, Côte des Forges, and Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons.
