2021 Liège-Bastogne-Liège Race Preview
The details of this year's 2021 Liège-Bastogne-Liège are falling into place. Find the latest route profiles and maps below, followed by our strategic preview of the race.
The oldest of cycling's Monument classics returns for its 107th edition, winding through the Ardennes hills of Belgium on a route that has humbled the greatest riders in the sport for well over a century. Liège–Bastogne–Liège, known affectionately as La Doyenne, demands a unique combination of endurance and climbing ability, and this year's edition promises to be one of the most compelling in recent memory.
The route covers approximately 259 kilometres, beginning in Liège before heading south to Bastogne and then looping back north through a relentless series of punishing climbs. The final kilometres are loaded with difficulty, featuring the iconic ascents of La Redoute and the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons before the peloton tackles the final climb to the finish in Liège itself on the Rue Beeckman. There is no hiding place on this course, and those who conserve energy cleverly through the earlier kilometres will be best positioned to contest the finale.
Defending champion Primož Roglič arrives as one of the clear favourites. The Slovenian powerhouse has been in superb form throughout the spring classics season and demonstrated at last year's edition that he has the climbing legs and tactical intelligence to win here. His Jumbo-Visma team is strong and organised, and they will be determined to guide their leader into position for the final reckoning.
Tadej Pogačar, Roglič's compatriot and the reigning Tour de France champion, is another rider who commands enormous respect. Still only 22 years old, Pogačar has already shown that the Ardennes terrain suits him well, and his UAE Team Emirates squad will be looking to him as their primary weapon. His sheer ability on steep gradients makes him dangerous on every climb between Bastogne and the finish.
Alejandro Valverde, the 2008 winner and a man who seems to have been contesting this race since the Ardennes were formed geologically, remains a threat even in his veteran years. The Spaniard knows every corner of this parcours and has the experience to time his effort perfectly. Movistar will surely look to use numbers and tactics to help their captain find the podium once more.
The Ineos Grenadiers bring a formidable roster, with Michał Kwiatkowski, Richard Carapaz, and Geraint Thomas all capable of playing a role. Kwiatkowski in particular is a rider who thrives on these Belgian climbs, and on his day he can match anyone in the world on a course like this.
David Gaudu of Groupama-FDJ has been showing promising form, as has Benoît Cosnefroy, who will carry French hopes with quiet determination. Maximilian Schachmann and Jakob Fuglsang are further names worthy of consideration, both experienced campaigners who know how to navigate the Ardennes with patience and precision.
The weather in the Belgian hills at this time of year can be unpredictable, and rain or cold temperatures could add another layer of difficulty to an already demanding day in the saddle. Whatever conditions the riders face, the race is almost certain to come down to a small group of elite climbers on the final ascents, where the strongest legs and clearest tactical minds will prevail.
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