Liège-Bastogne-Liège News Update
Favorites Analysis for Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2024
Tadej Pogacar is back and we have Matthew Van der Pool and Tom Pidcock too. This Sunday marks the grand finale of the spring Classics with Liège-Bastogne-Liège the fourth of cycling’s five monuments.
As the Peleton gears up for this grueling test of endurance and strategy, all eyes are on these three cycling Titans.
The 254 km race, slightly shorter than last year’s race, begins and ends in Liege Belgium. Featuring 11 stiff climbs that define this Monument.
After relatively calm start, perfect for an early escape, the race heats up post Bastogne with a sequence of climbs the Mont-le-Soie followed by the iconic ascents of the cote de la Haute-Levee and la Redoute.
These climbs particularly the revised run up to La Redoute are where the Race’s decisive moments typically unfold.
The last climb, the Roche-aux-Faucons, leaves about 12 km to race. Remco Evenepoel from Team Soudal quickstep smashed Liège-Bastogne-Liège to bits in 2022 and 2023 for victory.
The Belgian star is not racing due to a massive crash resulting in a broken collar bone and shoulder blade in the Tour of the Basque country.
2020 winner primoz roglic of Team Bora Hans Grohe well he wanted to race but he too is recovering from the same crash.
Tadej Pogacar UAE Team Emirates the 2021 Liège-Bastogne-Liège winner returns as the favorite for Sunday.
He is seeking to rebound from last year’s crash and fractured wrist that ruined his 2023 Tour de France preperation.
The Slovenian star uses this race as a spring board for the upcoming Giro d’Italia starting on May 4th.
Mathieu Van der Poel of team Alpecin-Deceuninck who destroyed his rivals aims to add another Monument to his resume but it’s a tough task for the big Dutch boy on a course like this and he admitted to feeling less than his best after the Amstel Gold race.
Tom Pidcock inos grenadiers, well, his climbing capabilities are not in question. The Brit comes in as one of the hot favorites on the hills of Amstel Gold Race Victory.
A few more names I want to mention Canadian Mike Woods of Team Israel Premier Tech always does good in the Ardens classics. He’ll be riding shotgun with Fleche Wallonne winner Steven Williams or vice versa.
Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2024 Race Route Details
Liège-Bastogne-Liège History
The creators of Liège-Bastogne-Liège were two Belgian cycling organizations:
- Pesant Club Liégeois
- Liège Cyclist Union
They joined forces in 1892 to establish this historic cycling race. The cycling race boasts a rich history:
- The Early Years (1892): Inaugurated by the Pesant Club Liégeois and the Liege Cyclist Union in Belgium, it holds the distinction of being the oldest of the five prestigious “Monuments” of professional cycling.
- A Brief Hiatus (1905–1907): The race wasn’t held for a few years between 1905 and 1907.
- Return and New Format (1908): It resumed in 1908 with a permanent start and finish in Liège, with Frenchman André Trousselier emerging victorious.
- A Disqualification (1909): The 1909 winner, Eugène Charlier, was disqualified for a bike change, handing the win to Victor Fastre.
- Nicknamed “La Doyenne” This translates to “The Old Lady” in English, a testament to its long-standing legacy in cycling.
Since then, Liège-Bastogne-Liège has become a revered one-day classic held annually in late April, traversing the challenging Ardennes region of Belgium.
Liège-Bastogne-Liège’s hardest Climb
5 fun facts about Liège–Bastogne–Liège
- Nicknamed “La Doyenne” — This translates to “The Old Lady” in English, highlighting its status as the oldest of the five prestigious “Monuments” of professional cycling, dating back to 1892.
- Early Disqualification Drama — In 1909, the first place winner Eugène Charlier was disqualified for a bike change during the race. This unexpected turn of events handed the victory to Victor Fastre.
- A Wallonian Wonder — The route of Liège–Bastogne–Liège traverses the challenging Ardennes region of Belgium, known for its steep hills and demanding climbs. This region is located in Wallonia, the southern French-speaking part of Belgium, making Liège–Bastogne–Liège a true Wallonian cycling treasure.
- One-Day Classic — Unlike the Tour de France or Giro d’Italia, Liège–Bastogne–Liège is a grueling one-day race held annually in late April. Riders conquer roughly 250–300 kilometers (155–185 miles) in a single day, demanding exceptional endurance and tactical prowess.
- Spring Classic Spectacle — Liège–Bastogne–Liège falls within the prestigious series of Spring Classics, known for their unpredictable weather conditions and aggressive racing style. This combination often results in thrilling finishes and dramatic racing narratives.
Watch Liège-Bastogne-Liège in Streaming
Mathieu van der Poel Interview before Liège Bastogne Liège 2024
Tadej Pogačar Interview before Liège Bastogne Liège 2024
List of All past winners of Liège-Bastogne-Liège
1892 Belgium Léon Houa –
1893 Belgium Léon Houa –
1894 Belgium Léon Houa –
1895–1907 No race
1908 France André Trousselier –
1909 Belgium Victor Fastre –
1910 No race
1911 Belgium Joseph Van Daele –
1912 Belgium Omer Verschoore –
1913 Belgium Maurits Moritz –
1914–1918 No race
1919 Belgium Léon Devos –
1920 Belgium Léon Scieur La Sportive
1921 Belgium Louis Mottiat La Sportive
1922 Belgium Louis Mottiat Alcyon–Dunlop
1923 Belgium René Vermandel Alcyon–Dunlop
1924 Belgium René Vermandel Alcyon–Dunlop
1925 Belgium Georges Ronsse –
1926 Belgium Dieudonné Smets –
1927 Belgium Maurice Raes –
1928 Belgium Ernest Mottard –
1929 Belgium Alfons Schepers –
1930 Germany Hermann Buse Duerkopp
1931 Belgium Alfons Schepers La Française
1932 Belgium Marcel Houyoux –
1933 Belgium François Gardier Cycles De Pas
1934 Belgium Theo Herckenrath La Française
1935 Belgium Alfons Schepers Dilecta
1936 Belgium Albert Beckaert Alcyon–Dunlop
1937 Belgium Éloi Meulenberg Alcyon–Dunlop
1938 Belgium Alfons Deloor Helyett–Hutchinson
1939 Belgium Albert Ritserveldt Dilecta–De Dion
1940–1942 No race
1943 Belgium Richard Depoorter Helyett–Hutchinson
1944 No race
1945 Belgium Jean Engels Alcyon–Dunlop
1946 Belgium Prosper Depredomme Dilecta–Wolber–Garin
1947 Belgium Richard Depoorter Garin–Wolber
1948 Belgium Maurice Mollin Mercier–Hutchinson
1949 France Camille Danguillaume Peugeot–Dunlop
1950 Belgium Prosper Depredomme Girardengo
1951 Switzerland Ferdinand Kübler Fréjus–Ursus
1952 Switzerland Ferdinand Kübler Fréjus
1953 Belgium Alois De Hertog Alcyon–Dunlop
1954 Luxembourg Marcel Ernzer Terrot–Hutchinson
1955 Belgium Stan Ockers Elvé–Peugeot
1956 Belgium Fred De Bruyne Mercier–BP–Hutchinson
1957 Belgium Frans Schoubben (victory shared with Germain Derycke) Elvé–Peugeot
1957 Belgium Germain Derycke (victory shared with Frans Schoubben) Faema–Guerra
1958 Belgium Fred De Bruyne Carpano
1959 Belgium Fred De Bruyne Carpano
1960 Netherlands Albertus Geldermans Saint-Raphaël–R. Geminiani–Dunlop
1961 Belgium Rik Van Looy Faema
1962 Belgium Jef Planckaert Flandria–Faema–Clément
1963 Belgium Frans Melckenbeeck Mercier–BP–Hutchinson
1964 Belgium Willy Blocklandt Flandria–Romeo
1965 Italy Carmine Preziosi Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune
1966 France Jacques Anquetil Ford France–Hutchinson
1967 Belgium Walter Godefroot Flandria–De Clerck
1968 Belgium Valere Van Sweevelt Smith’s
1969 Belgium Eddy Merckx Faema
1970 Belgium Roger De Vlaeminck Flandria–Mars
1971 Belgium Eddy Merckx Molteni
1972 Belgium Eddy Merckx Molteni
1973 Belgium Eddy Merckx Molteni
1974 Belgium Georges Pintens MIC–Ludo–de Gribaldy
1975 Belgium Eddy Merckx Molteni–RYC
1976 Belgium Joseph Bruyère Molteni–Campagnolo
1977 France Bernard Hinault Gitane–Campagnolo
1978 Belgium Joseph Bruyère C&A
1979 West Germany Dietrich Thurau IJsboerke–Warncke Eis
1980 France Bernard Hinault Renault–Gitane
1981 Switzerland Josef Fuchs Cilo–Aufina
1982 Italy Silvano Contini Bianchi–Piaggio
1983 Netherlands Steven Rooks Sem–France Loire–Reydel–Mavic
1984 Ireland Sean Kelly Skil–Reydel–Sem–Mavic
1985 Italy Moreno Argentin Sammontana–Bianchi
1986 Italy Moreno Argentin Sammontana–Bianchi
1987 Italy Moreno Argentin Gewiss–Bianchi
1988 Netherlands Adri van der Poel PDM–Ultima–Concorde
1989 Ireland Sean Kelly PDM–Ultima–Concorde
1990 Belgium Eric Van Lancker Panasonic–Sportlife
1991 Italy Moreno Argentin Ariostea
1992 Belgium Dirk De Wolf Gatorade–Chateau d’Ax
1993 Denmark Rolf Sørensen Carrera Jeans–Tassoni
1994 Russia Eugeni Berzin Gewiss–Ballan
1995 Switzerland Mauro Gianetti Polti–Granarolo–Santini
1996 Switzerland Pascal Richard MG Maglificio–Technogym
1997 Italy Michele Bartoli MG Maglificio–Technogym
1998 Italy Michele Bartoli Asics–CGA
1999 Belgium Frank Vandenbroucke Cofidis
2000 Italy Paolo Bettini Mapei–Quick-Step
2001 Switzerland Oscar Camenzind Lampre–Daikin
2002 Italy Paolo Bettini Mapei–Quick-Step
2003 United States Tyler Hamilton Team CSC
2004 Italy Davide Rebellin Gerolsteiner
2005 Kazakhstan Alexandre Vinokourov T-Mobile Team
2006 Spain Alejandro Valverde Caisse d’Epargne–Illes Balears
2007 Italy Danilo Di Luca Liquigas
2008 Spain Alejandro Valverde Caisse d’Epargne
2009 Luxembourg Andy Schleck Team Saxo Bank
2010 Kazakhstan Alexandre Vinokourov Astana
2011 Belgium Philippe Gilbert Omega Pharma–Lotto
2012 Kazakhstan Maxim Iglinsky Astana
2013 Ireland Dan Martin Garmin–Sharp
2014 Australia Simon Gerrans Orica–GreenEDGE
2015 Spain Alejandro Valverde Movistar Team
2016 Netherlands Wout Poels Team Sky
2017 Spain Alejandro Valverde Movistar Team
2018 Luxembourg Bob Jungels Quick-Step Floors
2019 Denmark Jakob Fuglsang Astana
2020 Slovenia Primož Roglič Team Jumbo–Visma
2021 Slovenia Tadej Pogačar UAE Team Emirates
2022 Belgium Remco Evenepoel Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team
2023 Belgium Remco Evenepoel Soudal–Quick-Step
