The climbs of Liege Bastogne Liege

Here is our overview of some of the climbs of La Doyenne, the Liege Bastogne Liege pro race which takes place at the end of April in the Ardennes area of Belgium. In 2014 we celebrated the 100th edition of Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the oldest of the great classics of cycling. The original organisers, the RC Pesant Club Liégeois started this race in 1892 so in 2017 it is the 125th year of this race’s existence.

Liege-Bastogne-Liege couldn’t be any more Belgian – it’s the oldest of the five Monuments (hence the nickname ‘La Doyenne’, the Old Lady), and is arguably the most gruelling ride of the early season. At around 270km in distance, and over 5,000m of climbing spread over the rolling hills of the Ardennes forest and the brutal walls of the route back from Bastogne, it’s a serious challenge and a real war of attrition. Only the strongest of mind and body survive this one!

Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2016 – (C) ASO

The 2017 Tour de France in Liege

The 2017 Tour de France visits Liege Province with a finish in Liege on Sunday July 2 and a start from nearby Verviers the next day. Enjoy finish and start VIP acces with us with a city centre 5 star hotel included!

THE 2017 TOUR DE FRANCE IN LIEGE – VIP HOSPITALITY PLUS 5 STAR HOTEL

Weekend travel package to Ride and Watch Liege Bastogne Liege

Sports Tours International are the Cycling Classics experts and we are giving you the opportunity to ride the LBL Challenge which is the cyclo-sportive version of the event on the Saturday, followed by watching the Pro race on the Sunday. All of this in one fantastic weekend travel package. The Liege Bastogne Liege Challenge gives you the choice of 3 distances: 84km, 164km and the full distance. You will find out that not all of Belgium is flat and this will be a weekend to remember from both a sporting and a historical point of view.

BOOK OUR WEEKEND TRAVEL PACKAGE TO RIDE AND WATCH THE 2017 LIEGE BASTOGNE LIEGE NOW

VIP Hospitality with 4 star Hotel in Liege for the 2017 Liege Bastogne Liege

New for 2017 is VIP hospitality at the start and/or the finish of the 2017 Liege Bastogne Liege with or without a hotel stay in the centre of Liege. If you book both start and finish hospitality with our hotel then transport is included.

The “Depart” in Liège

Your day starts at 08.15 at the VIP lounge near to the start on the Place St Lambert in Liege. Our hotel, the 4 star Ramada Plaza in Liege is located at just a short walk away, making it a very convenient place to stay for your weekend in Liege. You will have breakfast at the VIP lounge followed by exclusive access to the signing in protocol and the team paddock areas where you will see the riders of the 2017 Liege Bastogne Liege get ready for the event. You will also see the fictive start of the race and the Start Village will finish at 10.30.

The Finish of the 2017 Liege Bastogne Liege in Ans

After the Roche-aux-Faucons (1.3km at 11%) 20 kilometres remain before the finish. On the outskirts of Liege, the business end of the race will start as the race tackles the difficult Côte de Saint-Nicolas (1.2km at 8.6%) followed by the short Côte de la Rue Naniot (600 metres at 10.5%), before the seemingly interminable haul to the finish at Ans.

The VIP coach at the finish line in Ans

The village of Ans is just outside Liege. The VIP area in Ans opens at 14.30 and you will be welcomed on arrival. Whilst you watch the race on live on TV screens you can help yourself to hors d’oeuvres and you can make use of the open bar which serves soft drinks, Champagne, beer and wine. You will watch the finish of the 2017 Liege Bastogne Liege and after witnessing the podium ceremony your day ends at 17.45.

BOOK YOUR HOSPITALITY PACKAGE TO EXPERIENCE THE 2017 LIEGE BASTOGNE LIEGE NOW

The climbs of Liege Bastogne Liege

To get you excited we would like to give you a bit of a rundown of what you will be up against if you do decide to ride the sportive version of Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

• Km 78.5 – Côte de La Roche-en Ardenne – 2.8 kilometre-long climb at 6.2%
• Km 125.0 – Côte de Saint-Roch – 1 kilometre-long climb at 11.2%
• Km 168.5 – Côte de Wanne – 2.8 kilometre-long climb at 7.4%
• Km 179.0 – Côte de la Haute-Levée – 3.6 kilometre-long climb at 5.6%
• Km 192.0 – Col du Rosier – 4.4 kilometre-long climb at 5.9%
• Km 204.5 – Col du Maquisard – 2 kilometre-long climb at 5%
• Km 21.5 – Côte de La Redoute – 2 kilometre-long climb at 8.9%
• Km 232.5 – Côte de La Roche-aux-Faucons – 1.3 kilometre-long climb at 11%
• Km 246.5 – Côte de Saint-Nicolas – 1.2 kilometre-long climb at 8.6%
• Km 250.5 – Côte de la Rue Naniot – 0.6 kilometre-long climb at 10.5%

The Côte de Roche-aux-Faucons, which made its debut in 2008, featured again in the 100th edition in 2014 alongside the legendary climbs of La Redoute and Saint-Nicolas, which helped forge the legend of the race. For the 100th edition, the organisers vowed to retain a modern course with a nod at all the great climbs in the history of Liège-Bastogne- Liège.

The climbs of Liège-Bastogne-Liège

Côte de la Roche en Ardenne

The Côte de La Roche-en-Ardenne is traditionally the opening climb of the Liege Bastogne Liege. It comes 70 kilometres into the race is 2.8 kilometers in length and has an average ascent of 6.2%. You will only ride this climb if you do the full distance event. More information

Côte de Saint Roch

The Côte de Saint-Roch comes after 116.5 kilometres and is 1 kilometre long with an average ascent of 11%. Click here for more info: Côte de Saint Roch. You will only ride this climb if you do the full distance event.

Côte de Wanne

The Côte de Wanne comes after 160 kilometres and is 2.7 kilometre long with an average ascent of 7.3 %. You will only ride this climb if you do the full distance event. More info here: Cote de Wanne

Côte de la Haute Levée

Also back in 2014 was the Haute-Levée, which was part of the classic trio inserted in 1952 with Cote de Wanne and Rosier. The Côte de la Haute-Levée comes after 175 kilometres and is 3.6 kilometres long with an average of 5.7%. You will ride this climb if you do either the 164km or the full distance event. More information on the Haute Levee

Côte de la Redoute

Then there is La Redoute, which is not so important since the race no longer finishes in Liege but in Ans. Yet La Redoute – since 1974 – is La Redoute. It’s a monument and a rallying spot for the crowd. The infamous Côte de La Redoute comes after 218 kilometres and is 2 kilometres long with an average ascent of 8.8% and a maximum of 21%. All Sportive distances will ride this.

The climb, which is 2.2km in length and averages a knee-trembling 10% gradient, comes after around 220k of the race, and is frequently known as the ‘beginning of the end’. There’s around 50km of relentless climbing to follow the ascent, but La Redoute has frequently been used as the springboard of decisive attacks, and also has gained its legendary status due to it being in the heart of the region where Phillipe Gilbert – the hugely decorated current pro racer and past winner of Liege-Bastogne-Liege – was born. The climb starts in a relatively easy but ugly fashion, snaking out of the village at around a 5% grade before heading right under a highway bridge. Take in the atmosphere here, as all the local fans will have pitched up their caravans and campers to stake a place to watch the race the following day. Revel in their amazing enthusiasm as they cheer you on, beer in one hand and Frites in the other, Ardennes flags waving from their vehicles. You then skirt along by the side of the busy road you just passed beneath, and the pitch almost imperceptibly rises to around 8%, and saps your energy and momentum before you truly realise it. Take it easy here if you can, as the worst is definitely yet to come. As you bend left, the road rapidly steepens to around 14% for almost the entire top half of the climb and cruelly ramps up to 18%+ for several sections. You’re again reminded of how legendary this climb is; whilst you stare at your stem wishing it all to be over, you’ll see the huge words PHIL PHIL PHIL painted on the tarmac in tribute to the region’s most famous son. Grit your teeth and grind on as you’re nearly there now.
You’ll eventually see the monument at the top, a tribute to the French Austrian war in the late 18th century, and you can breathe a well-earned sigh of relief. You’re over one of the most famous climbs in Northern European racing, and can now set your sights on surviving the testing final 50km back to Liege.

You can find some more info here: Côte de la Redoute

Liege-Bastogne-Liege

Côte de la Roche au Faucons

The Côte de La Roche aux Faucons comes after 240 kilometres and is 1.5 kilometres long with an average of 9.3%. All distances will ride this. In 2009, for Andy Schleck’s victory, Roche-aux-Faucons, introduced the previous year, was decisive. You can find some more info here: Côte de la Roche au Faucons.

Côte de Saint-Nicolas

Since 1998, St Nicolas, the last climb before the finish, has made the difference because modern cycling is so competitive that you still have 70 riders at the foot of that last hill. The Côte de Saint-Nicolas comes at the end of the race at 257 kilometres and is 1.2 kilometres long with an average of 8.6%. All distances will ride this. You can find some more info here: Côte de Saint-Nicolas.

This is the history of Liège-Bastogne-Liège – an almost entirely flat course in 1892 and climbs added in the course of time.

Written with input from Jim Cotton, 2017

Jim is a passionate and experienced cyclist who has ridden with us for various Haute Routes, the Etape du Tour, and La Marmotte. He keeps a blog of his musings and experiences on the bike here: http://ift.tt/2jZ9Xfy

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