Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes 2026: Route

Sunday 26 April – Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes runs over 156 kilometres and takes in ten climbs. The final one is the wall-like Roche-aux-Faucons, topping out 13.3 kilometres from the finish. The riders take on an elevation gain of 2,830 metres.

First published on 25 April

Characteristics: hilly classic
Favourites: Demi Vollering, Puck Pieterse, Anna van der Breggen, Lotte Kopecky, Kasia Niewiadoma
Title holder: Kim Le Court Pienaar
Record holder: Demi Vollering, Anna van der Breggen, Annemiek van Vleuten (2 wins)

The race actually starts in Bastogne, so technically it’s Bastogne–Liège, and it's an intense race of attrition - an unparalleled climbers’ feast, with the road rising or falling from start to finish.

The first official climb is the Col de Haussire – 3.9 kilometres at 6.8% – with the summit coming 28.9 kilometres in. There is barely a descent afterwards, as the route continues to drag uphill for several kilometres. It then trends downhill for even longer towards the foot of the Côte de Wanne. There, with roughly 90 kilometres still to race, Liège–Bastogne–Liège Femmes truly comes to life.

The Côte de Stockeu and Côte de la Haute-Levée follow in quick succession, after which the road continues to drag on for a while before the riders eventually descend towards the foot of the longest climb of the day, Col du Rosier: 4.4 kilometres at an average of 5.9%.

After a descent of around 10 kilometres, the riders tackle the Col du Maquisard and Côte de Desnié in quick succession before heading to the place where the race has often been decided: the Côte de la Redoute. Annemiek van Vleuten won solo from this iconic climb in 2019 and 2022, while Lizzie Deignan did the same in 2020. It’s a picturesque sight, with the slope rising from the valley floor at brutal gradients: 1.6 kilometres at 9.4%.

In recent years, the Redoute has been less decisive in the women’s race, shifting the focus to the section that follows, which begins with the uncategorised rise to Cornémont – 2.8 kilometres at 4.4% – before a downhill to the foot of the Côte des Forges: 1.3 kilometres at 7.8%.

After the summit the road continues in rolling fashion until the riders dive towards the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons, a 1.3-kilometre wall averaging 11%. After the summit comes a short descent, followed by two stings in the tail: 1 kilometre at 3.6% and then 1 kilometre at 6.2%. A gently rolling section then leads into the downhill plunge to Liège, which begins just over 5 kilometres from the finish. Once in the city, the final 2 kilometres are flat.

Last year, Kim Le Court Pienaar outsprinted Demi Vollering, Puck Pieterse and Cédrine Kerbaol on the Quai des Ardennes in Liège. It was the first time the Mauritian rider made her mark in a major race. Recently, a crash at the Tour of Flanders left her with a broken wrist, meaning she cannot defend her title.

Ride the route yourself? Download GPX Liège–Bastogne–Liège Femmes 2026.

Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes starts at 13:25 and is expected to finish around 17:55 - both local times (CEST).