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Belgium 26 Apr 2026 Class1.UWT – 1 day – UCI WorldTour
Website www.letour.fr https://www.liege-bastogne-liege.be/en/
One Day Race Liège-Bastogne-Liège
Data powered by FirstCycling.com
The course of Liège-Bastogne-Liège, known as “La Doyenne,” is one of the most grueling layouts in professional cycling. For the 2026 edition, it covers approximately 259.5 kilometers through the Belgian Ardennes, featuring over 4,000 meters of total vertical climbing.
Here is a breakdown of the iconic circuit:
1. The Outbound Leg: Liège to Bastogne
The race starts in the heart of Liège and heads south. This first 100km is relatively “tamer” compared to what follows, but it serves to sap the riders’ energy. Once the peloton reaches Bastogne and rounds the famous roundabout near the Sherman tank, they turn back north toward Liège, and the real race begins.
2. The Mid-Race “Filters”
As the race turns back, the frequency of the côtes (climbs) increases significantly.
- Côte de Saint-Roch: A brutal, wall-like climb in Houffalize with an average gradient of 11.2%. It is often the first moment where the peloton significantly thins out.
3. The Stavelot Trilogy
This is the legendary section where the race usually explodes. Three climbs come in rapid succession (less than 15km apart):
- Côte de Wanne
- Côte de Stockeu: Home to the monument of Eddy Merckx. It features ramps of over 12% and is notoriously narrow.
- Côte de la Haute-Levée
4. The Decisive Final (The Last 50km)
Modern editions are almost always decided in this stretch. This is where champions like Tadej Pogačar or Remco Evenepoel typically launch their long-range attacks.
- Col du Rosier: The longest climb of the day (4.4km). While not the steepest, its length is exhausting at this stage of the race.
- Côte de La Redoute: The most famous climb of the race. It is the tactical heart of Liège-Bastogne-Liège, with gradients hitting 20%. It’s the traditional launchpad for the winning move.
- Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons: Added to the route in 2008, this is the final major obstacle. It is short and incredibly steep, followed by a punishing “false flat” that often breaks the legs of anyone trying to chase the leaders.
5. The Flat Finish in Liège
After a technical descent from the Roche-aux-Faucons, the riders enter the city of Liège. Since 2019, the finish line has been located on the Quai des Ardennes. Unlike the old finish in the suburb of Ans (which was an uphill drag), this flat finish allows for a tactical pursuit or a small-group sprint if a solo rider hasn’t already escaped.
The Verdict: The circuit is a constant “yo-yo” of up and down. While it lacks the high mountains of the Alps, the sheer number of short, steep bursts makes it a “war of attrition” that favors climbers with an explosive “punch.”
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Liège-Bastogne-Liège: “La Doyenne”
Commonly known as “La Doyenne” (The Old Lady), Liège-Bastogne-Liège is the oldest of the five “Monuments” of cycling. It is the final chapter of the Ardennes Classics and is widely considered one of the most grueling one-day races in the world due to its relentless elevation and unpredictable Walloon weather.
The Origins (1892)
The race was first organized in 1892 by the Liège Union Cycliste to publicize the newspaper L’Expresso.
- The First Winner: Léon Houa, a Belgian, won the inaugural edition (and the two following years).
- The Amateur Roots: In its first few years, the race was actually reserved for amateurs and “independents” before becoming a strictly professional event.
- The Route: While the start and end points have shifted slightly over the decades, the fundamental challenge remains: a long trek south from Liège to Bastogne near the Luxembourg border, followed by a punishing return north through the heart of the Ardennes.
Defining Characteristics
Unlike the cobbled classics of Flanders, Liège is defined by long, steep climbs (côtes).
| Feature | Description |
| The Climbs | Short but incredibly steep gradients, often hitting 10–15%. |
| Total Elevation | Riders often climb over 4,000 meters, comparable to a major mountain stage in the Tour de France. |
| Iconic Sectors | The Côte de La Redoute (the traditional launching pad) and the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons. |
| The Finish | Historically finished in the suburb of Ans on a steady uphill drag, but returned to the flat center of Liège in 2019. |
Historic Milestones
- 1919: The race resumed after World War I, cementing its place as a permanent fixture in the cycling calendar.
- 1957: The infamous “Two Winners” edition. Germain Derycke and Frans Schoubben both finished first after a railway crossing controversy; both were eventually declared winners.
- 1980: “Neige-Bastogne-Neige”: Perhaps the most legendary edition. A massive blizzard hit the race. Bernard Hinault won by over nine minutes in freezing conditions, though the effort caused permanent nerve damage to his fingers.
- 2017: The introduction of the Women’s Liège-Bastogne-Liège, won by Anna van der Breggen, finally giving the women’s peloton a Monument in the Ardennes.
The Kings of the Ardennes
Few riders possess the specific mix of climbing stamina and explosive sprinting power required to win here.
- Eddy Merckx (5 wins): “The Cannibal” holds the record, dominated the late 60s and early 70s.
- Moreno Argentin (4 wins): The Italian specialist who ruled the race in the 1980s.
- Alejandro Valverde (4 wins): Known for his tactical brilliance and “uphill sprint” finishing speed.
- Tadej Pogačar & Remco Evenepoel: The modern era has been defined by these two, who have traded victories with long-range solo attacks that have modernized the race’s tactics.
Why It Matters
Liège-Bastogne-Liège represents the bridge between the “Classics riders” (puncheurs) and the “Grand Tour contenders” (climbers). It is the only one-day race where you will regularly see Tour de France winners going head-to-head with one-day specialists, making it the ultimate test of versatility in professional cycling.
