Belgium 18 Apr 2026 Class 1.2U – 1 day – Class 2 – U23
Website www.pesantliege.com
Liège-Bastogne-Liège U23 Espoirs
The Liège-Bastogne-Liège U23 (Espoirs) is taking place today, Saturday, April 18, 2026. This 1.2U category race features some of the brightest prospects in the development teams of the WorldTour squads.
Below are the key contenders and team rosters for the 2026 edition:
Notable Contenders
The field is particularly strong this year, with several riders already signed to professional contracts or showing dominant form in the early season:
- Lorenzo Finn (Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe Rookies): A major favorite following strong performances in the spring classics.
- Victor Loulergue (Groupama – FDJ United CT): Leading a very deep French contingent.
- Henrique Bravo (Soudal – Quick-Step Devo Team): The Belgian squad always brings a roster built for the Ardennes.
- Jasper Schoofs (Soudal – Quick-Step Devo Team): A versatile rider to watch on the final climbs.
Selected Team Startlists
| Team | Key Riders |
| Soudal – Quick-Step Devo Team | Henrique Bravo, Jasper Schoofs, Federico Savino, Gauthier Servranckx |
| Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe | Lorenzo Finn, Paul Fietzke, Gijs Schoonvelde, Gustave Blanc |
| Groupama – FDJ United CT | Victor Loulergue, Baptiste Grégoire, Remi Daumas, Yann Dubois |
| Team Visma | Lease a Bike Devo | Ian Kings, Matěj Piták, Fabio Segatta, Matisse Van Kerckhove |
| Alpecin – Premier Tech Devo | David Haverdings, William Salter, Guus van den Eijnden, Stefano Viezzi |
| INEOS Grenadiers Academy | Max Hinds, Milkiyas Maekele, Fletcher Medway, Nicolas Milesi |
| UAE Team Emirates Gen-Z | Ugo Fabries, Daan Dijkman, Moritz Mauss, Enea Sambinello |
| Movistar Team Academy | Sebastian Castro, Eric Igual Ubeda, Lucas Jackson, Roger Pareta |
The results for the 2026 Liège-Bastogne-Liège U23 (Espoirs)
The results for the 2026 Liège-Bastogne-Liège U23 (Espoirs), held on April 18, 2026, are as follows:
Top 3 Finishers:
- Daan Dijkman (UAE Team Emirates Gen-Z) – Won the sprint from a reduced group.
- Jack Ward (Lidl-Trek Future Racing)
- Jesper Stiansen (Tudor Pro Cycling Team U23)
Race Summary:
- Distance: 177 km
- Route: Bastogne to Blegny
- Key Action: The race featured a decisive breakaway that included Jesper Stiansen. In the final stages, a reduced peloton contested the victory, with Dijkman proving the strongest in the sprint to succeed 2025 winner Jarno Widar.
The Liège-Bastogne-Liège U23 (often called Liège-Bastogne-Liège Espoirs) is one of the most prestigious dates on the youth cycling calendar. While it shares the name and spirit of the senior “La Doyenne,” it has a distinct history as the ultimate proving ground for future Grand Tour stars and Classics specialists.
Origins and Evolution
- Established 1986: The race was created 94 years after the original Liège-Bastogne-Liège. It was initially an amateur event designed to bridge the gap between junior ranks and the professional peloton.
- UCI Integration: In 2005, it officially became a 1.2U category race on the UCI Europe Tour. This categorization ensures it remains strictly for “Espoirs” (riders under 23), preventing older continental pros from diluting the developmental focus.
- Nations Cup Status: In 2007, it served as a round of the UCI Under 23 Nations Cup, further cementing its status as a global talent scout event.
A “Golden” Honor Roll
Winning this race is often a direct ticket to a WorldTour contract. Looking at the past winners list is like reading a Who’s Who of modern cycling:
- Legends: Early winners include Frans Maassen (the inaugural winner in 1986).
- Modern Stars: Riders like Romain Bardet (2011), Michael Valgren (2012, 2013), and Jasper Stuyven (2010) used this race as their breakout performance.
- Recent Dominance: Recent editions have seen victories from rising stars like Leo Hayter (2021), Romain Grégoire (2022), Francesco Busatto (2023), and Joseph Blackmore (2024).
- The Rare Double: Only two riders have ever won the race twice: Raivis Belohvoščiks (1995–1996) and Michael Valgren (2012–2013).
Key Historical Characteristics
- The Route: While the professional race starts and ends in Liège, the U23 version traditionally starts in Bastogne and concludes in the province of Liège (currently finishing in Blegny). This keeps the distance around 170–180 km, which is the physiological limit for most U23 development.
- The “Talent Filter”: Unlike some youth races that favor sprinters, the historical inclusion of the Côte de la Redoute ensures that only the most resilient climbers survive. It is widely considered the hardest one-day U23 race in the world alongside Paris-Roubaix Espoirs and the Giro Next Gen.
- The “Pesant Club”: The race is historically organized by the Royal Cyclist’s Pesant Club Liégeois, one of the oldest cycling clubs in Belgium, ensuring the event maintains its deep regional roots and traditional Ardennes atmosphere.
