Liège-Bastogne-Liège

After many years finishing in the outskirts of Liège -and using climbs such as Sart Tilman, Saint-Nicolas or the soon-scrapped Rue Naniot near Ans-, ‘La Doyenne’ goes back in 2019 to the city center, its ‘arrivèe’ at the Boulevard d’Avroy and its decisive attacks at hills which had become secondary in recent years, such as the ‘veteran’ La Redoute or the relatively recent addition Roche-aux-Faucons.

There will still be 11 ascents in this 256km Monument, similar in its route (prior to the finale) to previous years’. Following the picturesque, yet not-so-relevant climbs to La Roche-en-Andenne (75km) and Saint-Roch (-135km), the LBL really starts with the new Mont-le-Soie (-95km) and a traditional trio of côtes: Wanne (-86km), Stockeu (-80km) and Haute-Levée (-74km).

While those three are quite close together, the following ones will have sections to breathe, recover downhill and even attack, adding uncertainty to a race where it’s not necessary to attack uphill to succeed. Rosier (-61km) and Maquisard (-49km) will again preceed La Redoute, 37km from the end, and the Roche-aux-Faucons, now set as the final climb with 15km to go and preceeded by Forges (-25km). What will happen with that new finish? We’ll find out on Sunday 28th.