The riders penetrate the Ardennes on rolling roads before turning back at the roundabout in Bastogne. The flipside of above statement is that most of the hardship is still to come on the way back to Liège.
While the Côte de Bonnerue is the only climb on the way to Bastogne, the Côte de Saint-Roch gives a first taste of what’s to come on the way back. The climb in MTB mekka is crested with 120 kilometres to go.
Liège-Bastogne-Liège intensifies on the Côte de Wanne. Within 12 kilometres the riders take on the Côte de Stockeu and Côte de Haute-Levée before continuing onto the Col du Rosier, which is the longest climb of the day – 4.4 kilometres at 5.9%.
And… on we go. The energy-sapping Côte de Desnié precedes the iconic La Redoute. The 1.6 kilometres climb goes up at 9.4%, while the summit is situated 34 kilometres before the finish. A drop and a 2.8 kilometers climb at 4.4% lead to Cornémont, before the Côte des Forges adds 1.3 kilometres at 7.8% to the mix.
A 7 kilometres downhill takes the riders to the foot of the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons. A brutal test of 1.3 kilometres ascent at 11%. The summit is situated 13 kilometres before the finish. The riders plunge down a short drop which continues onto a draining false flat and, ultimately, a climb of 1 kilometre at 6.2%. Following a flat section the riders fly down into Liège with 5 kilometres to go. The last 2 kilometres of the race are flat.
Remco Evenepoel won the last two editions after an attack on La Redoute. Last year, Tom Pidcock managed to latch on before the Belgian shook him off and soloed to triumph.
Ride the route yourself? Download GPX Liège–Bastogne–Liège 2024.
Other interesting reads: results and start list 2024 Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
Liège–Bastogne–Liège 2024: route, profiles, more
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