Liège-Bastogne-Liège is also known as La Doyenne, which literally means 'the old lady'. The cycling race owes this nickname to its impressive track record. The first edition was already ridden in 1892. By men, that is. The first edition of the women’s race followed in 2017. In the upcoming sixth edition they will cover 142.1 kilometres between Bastogne and Liege. 125 kilometres will be on the same course as the men.

The race contains seven climbs, including the infamous Côte de la Redoute (2100 metres at 8.9%). This climb has to be conquered at thirty kilometres from the finish. The last slope will appear at kilometre 129. This Côte de la Roche-aux Faucons - also known as the Falcon Rock - is the shortest, but it is the steepest with an 11 percent average gradient.

Ten kilometres before the finish the descent starts; the riders will ride to Liège in a straight line. The course’s last two kilometres are flat.

Team Jumbo-Visma will start without a clear leader. The race comes a little too soon for Marianne Vos, who tested positive for the coronavirus last week, shortly before Paris-Roubaix.

Race coach Carmen Small has adjusted the race strategy accordingly. “We will leave the race open”, she says. “We want our riders to create their own opportunities. Our focus is mainly on racing as a team, communicating well and being in the right breakaway."

The start of Liège-Bastogne-Liège will sound at 8.35 am. The arrival is expected around 12.30 pm.

Karlijn Swinkels
Anna Henderson
Amber Kraak
Anouska Koster
Aafke Soet