Kazakhstan's Alexander Vinokourov won the Liege-Bastogne-Liege Classic for the second time in his career earlier today.

The Team Astana rider, who completed a doping ban last July, dropped Russian Alexandr Kolobnev 500 metres from the line. Spain's Alejandro Valverde was third.

It was Vinokourov's biggest victory since returning from a two-year suspension for blood doping. There were plenty of whistles when Vinokourov, who won the race in 2005, crossed the line.

"It's a great feeling for me to win here again," Vinokourov, the 2005 champion, told reporters.

"It's been a very difficult time, but I've come through and I've won again," Vinokourov said after the finish.

It was another second-place result in a major race for Kolobnev, who was a world championship runner-up twice over the past three years.

"I gave my best in this race. I worked together with Vinokourov very well for us to form a solid gap. I knew everything would be decided at the final meters. I tried to follow him, but he was too strong for me today. I want to thank the whole Team because worked very well for me today," Kolobnev of Team Katusha commented.

Alejandro Valverde (Team Caisse d'Epargne) finished third ahead of Team Omega Pharma-Lotto's Philippe Gilbert and World Champion Cadel Evans of Team BMC Racing.

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