Liège–Bastogne–Liège facts for kids

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Liège–Bastogne–Liège

2025 Liège–Bastogne–Liège
Liège–Bastogne–Liège logo.svg
Race details
Date	Late April
Region	Wallonia, Ardennes, Belgium
English name	Liège–Bastogne–Liège
Local name(s)	Liège–Bastogne–Liège
Nickname(s)	La Doyenne ("The Old Lady")
Discipline	Road
Competition	UCI World Tour
Type	One-day Classic
Organiser	Amaury Sport Organisation
Race director	Christian Prudhomme
History
First edition	1892 (1892)
Editions	111 (as of 2025)
First winner	Léon Houa (BEL)
Most wins	Eddy Merckx (BEL) (5 wins)
Most recent	Tadej Pogačar (SLO)

Liège–Bastogne–Liège, often called La Doyenne ("The Old Lady"), is a famous one-day bicycle race in Belgium. It is the oldest of the five "Monuments" in professional road cycling. These Monuments are the most important and respected one-day races. Liège–Bastogne–Liège happens every year in late April. It takes place in the Ardennes region of Belgium, starting in Liège, going to Bastogne, and then returning to Liège.

This race is known as one of the toughest one-day cycling events in the world. This is because it is very long and has many challenging hills. The rider with the most wins is Eddy Merckx from Belgium, who won five times. Other great riders like Moreno Argentin and Alejandro Valverde have won four times each.

Liège–Bastogne–Liège is part of the UCI World Tour, which is a series of top cycling races. It is the final race in a group called the Ardennes classics. This group also includes the Amstel Gold Race and La Flèche Wallonne. The company that organizes Liège–Bastogne–Liège also organizes the famous Tour de France.

History of the Race

Early Beginnings

Like many old cycling races, Liège–Bastogne–Liège was first organized by a newspaper. The race has always been held in the southern, hilly part of Belgium where people speak French.

Léon Houa won the first three Liège–Bastogne–Liège races in the late 1800s.

The first race was for amateur riders in 1892. It went from Spa to Bastogne and back, covering about 250 kilometers (155 miles). Back then, bicycles were expensive, so cycling was mostly a sport for wealthy people. Thirty-three Belgian riders started the race, and only 17 finished. The halfway point was a train station in Bastogne, which was handy for tired riders who wanted to take the train back! Léon Houa, from Liège, won the first race after riding for almost 11 hours. The second-place rider finished 22 minutes later.

Léon Houa won again the next year. In 1894, the first race for professional riders was held, and Houa won for a third time. After these first three races, the event stopped for 14 years. It then started again in 1908, with the start and finish in Liège for the first time.

The race was paused during World War I but came back in 1919. Belgian riders, especially those from the northern part of Belgium called Flanders, started to win most of the races.

Becoming a Classic Race

Liège–Bastogne–Liège was interrupted during World War II but returned in 1945. It began to attract famous European cyclists. In the 1950s, Swiss rider Ferdinand Kübler won the race twice.

In the late 1950s, Fred De Bruyne won the race three times in a row. In 1957, two riders were declared winners because of a confusing situation with a railway crossing. In 1959, Liège–Bastogne–Liège became part of a major cycling competition, making it one of the most important races of the year.

Record winner Eddy Merckx won Liège–Bastogne–Liège five times.

The era of cycling legend Eddy Merckx began in 1969. He won Liège–Bastogne–Liège five times, including three wins in a row. The 1971 race was very tough, with snow and cold weather. Merckx attacked far from the finish line and won, even though he got very tired near the end. In 1975, he won his fifth and final victory, becoming the record holder for La Doyenne.

French cycling star Bernard Hinault won the race twice, both times in terrible weather. In 1980, he won in a snowstorm and freezing temperatures. Only 21 out of 174 riders finished that race!

In the 1980s, Italian rider Moreno Argentin won the race four times. He was known as the "King of the Ardennes" because he also won the sister race, La Flèche Wallonne, three times.

Changes to the Finish Line

In 1990, the race organization teamed up with the company that runs the Tour de France. This led to big changes in the race course. The finish line moved to Ans, a suburb of Liège. A steep climb called the Côte de Saint-Nicolas was added near the end, followed by a final uphill section to the finish. This made the race exciting for climbers who could sprint uphill.

Peloton in Liège–Bastogne–Liège in 2007 near Tavigny.

In 2005, Alexander Vinokourov and Jens Voigt made a surprising breakaway very early in the race and managed to stay ahead to the finish.

In 2009, Andy Schleck won the race with a solo attack. In 2010, Alexander Vinokourov won again, but his victory was controversial because of a suggestion that he had paid another rider not to challenge him.

In the 2010s, Spanish rider Alejandro Valverde won four times, usually by winning a sprint among a small group of riders at the finish.

In 2019, the finish line moved back to the center of Liège. This meant the Côte de Saint-Nicolas and the final climb to Ans were removed. Now, the race finishes on a flat road. Slovenian rider Tadej Pogačar has won the race three times, including in 2025, often with solo attacks.

Race Route and Challenges

The Course

Route map of the 2011 race.

The Liège–Bastogne–Liège route goes through two eastern provinces of Belgium: Liège and Luxembourg. The race is usually about 250 to 260 kilometers (155 to 160 miles) long. It starts in the city of Liège, goes south for about 95 kilometers (59 miles) to Bastogne, and then winds back to Liège for about 163 kilometers (101 miles).

The second half of the race has many climbs, like the Stockeu, Haute-Levée, La Redoute, and the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons. The last 15 kilometers (9 miles) of the race change from quiet countryside to the city of Liège.

Demanding Climbs

Profile of the 2012 race, showing the many climbs.

Liège–Bastogne–Liège is known as one of the hardest one-day races because of its length and many steep climbs. In every race, there are about a dozen climbs that vary in length and steepness. These climbs offer chances for riders to attack and try to get ahead.

A cycling magazine once said that this race is "probably the toughest classic" because the climbs are long, steep, and happen very often near the end. Four-time winner Moreno Argentin explained that riders who win Liège need great stamina. He said the climb of La Redoute is very tough because it comes after more than 220 kilometers (136 miles) of riding. He also mentioned that Liège is a race where riders are slowly eliminated, and only the strongest and smartest riders can win.

Key Climbs

The start of the Côte de La Redoute climb.

The climbs in the 2012 race.

The most famous climb is the Côte de La Redoute. It is 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) long with an average steepness of 8.9%, and some parts are over 20% steep! For many years, La Redoute, which is about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the finish, was where the race was often decided. However, in recent years, many riders can keep up, and favorites often wait until closer to the end to make their move.

Since the finish moved back to Liège in 2019, the important climbs are now the Côte de la Redoute, Côte des Forges, and Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons. The race route often changes slightly each year, with some climbs being added or removed.

Weather Challenges

The weather in April can be very unpredictable. The race has often been affected by harsh conditions, including heavy snowfall in some years like 1919, 1957, 1980, and 2016. The 1980 race was especially difficult. Snow fell from the start, and temperatures were freezing. This led people to call it 'Neige-Bastogne-Neige' (Snow-Bastogne-Snow). Bernard Hinault attacked with 80 kilometers (50 miles) to go and finished almost 10 minutes ahead of everyone else. Only 21 riders finished that race. Hinault himself said it took three weeks for two of his fingers to feel normal again after the extreme cold.

Ardennes Classics

Liège–Bastogne–Liège is the last race in the Ardennes classics series, which also includes La Flèche Wallonne. Both races are organized by the same company.

For a long time, La Flèche Wallonne was considered more important than Liège–Bastogne–Liège. At one point, these two races were held on back-to-back days, known as Le Weekend Ardennais.

Only eight riders have won both races in the same year:

• Ferdinand Kübler (Switzerland) - twice (1951, 1952)
• Stan Ockers (Belgium) - 1955
• Eddy Merckx (Belgium) - 1972
• Davide Rebellin (Italy) - 2004
• Alejandro Valverde (Spain) - three times (2006, 2015, 2017)
• Philippe Gilbert (Belgium) - 2011
• Moreno Argentin (Italy) - 1991
• Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia) - 2025

In 2011, Belgian rider Philippe Gilbert won Liège–Bastogne–Liège. He also won three other hilly races in April, achieving a special "quadruple" of victories.

Winners of Liège–Bastogne–Liège

		Rider	Team
1892		Houa, LeonLéon Houa		–
1893		Houa, LeonLéon Houa		–
1894		Houa, LeonLéon Houa		–
1895–1907	No race
1908		Trousselier, AndreAndré Trousselier		–
1909		Fastre, VictorVictor Fastre		–
1910	No race
1911		Daele, Joseph VanJoseph Van Daele		–
1912		Verschoore, OmerOmer Verschoore		–
1913		Moritz, MauritsMaurits Moritz		–
1914–1918	No race
1919		Devos, LéonLéon Devos		–
1920		Scieur, LeonLéon Scieur		La Sportive
1921		Mottiat, LouisLouis Mottiat		La Sportive
1922		Mottiat, LouisLouis Mottiat		Alcyon–Dunlop
1923		Vermandel, ReneRené Vermandel		Alcyon–Dunlop
1924		Vermandel, ReneRené Vermandel		Alcyon–Dunlop
1925		Ronsse, GeorgesGeorges Ronsse		–
1926		Smets, DieudonneDieudonné Smets		–
1927		Raes, MauriceMaurice Raes		–
1928		Mottard, ErnestErnest Mottard		–
1929		Schepers, AlfonsAlfons Schepers		–
1930		Buse, HermannHermann Buse		Duerkopp
1931		Schepers, AlfonsAlfons Schepers		La Française
1932		Houyoux, MarcelMarcel Houyoux		–
1933		Gardier, FrançoisFrançois Gardier		Cycles De Pas
1934		Herckenrath, TheoTheo Herckenrath		La Française
1935		Schepers, AlfonsAlfons Schepers		Dilecta
1936		Beckaert, AlbertAlbert Beckaert		Alcyon–Dunlop
1937		Meulenberg, ÉloiÉloi Meulenberg		Alcyon–Dunlop
1938		Deloor, AlfonsAlfons Deloor		Helyett–Hutchinson
1939		Ritserveldt, AlbertAlbert Ritserveldt		Dilecta–De Dion
1940–1942	No race
1943		Depoorter, RichardRichard Depoorter		Helyett–Hutchinson
1944	No race
1945		Engels, JeanJean Engels		Alcyon–Dunlop
1946		Depredomme, ProsperProsper Depredomme		Dilecta–Wolber–Garin
1947		Depoorter, RichardRichard Depoorter		Garin–Wolber
1948		Mollin, MauriceMaurice Mollin		Mercier–Hutchinson
1949		Danguillaume, CamilleCamille Danguillaume		Peugeot–Dunlop
1950		Depredomme, ProsperProsper Depredomme		Girardengo
1951		Kübler, FerdinandFerdinand Kübler		Fréjus–Ursus
1952		Kübler, FerdinandFerdinand Kübler		Fréjus
1953		Hertog, Alois DeAlois De Hertog		Alcyon–Dunlop
1954		Ernzer, MarcelMarcel Ernzer		Terrot–Hutchinson
1955		Ockers, StanStan Ockers		Elvé–Peugeot
1956		Bruyne, Fred DeFred De Bruyne		Mercier–BP–Hutchinson
1957		Schoubben, FransFrans Schoubben (BEL) (victory shared with Derycke, GermainGermain Derycke)	Elvé–Peugeot
1957		Derycke, GermainGermain Derycke (BEL) (victory shared with Schoubben, FransFrans Schoubben)	Faema–Guerra
1958		Bruyne, Fred DeFred De Bruyne		Carpano
1959		Bruyne, Fred DeFred De Bruyne		Carpano
1960		Geldermans, AlbertusAlbertus Geldermans		Saint-Raphaël–R. Geminiani–Dunlop
1961		Looy, Rik VanRik Van Looy		Faema
1962		Planckaert, JefJef Planckaert		Flandria–Faema–Clément
1963		Melckenbeeck, FransFrans Melckenbeeck		Mercier–BP–Hutchinson
1964		Blocklandt, WillyWilly Blocklandt		Flandria–Romeo
1965		Preziosi, CarmineCarmine Preziosi		Pelforth–Sauvage–Lejeune
1966		Anquetil, JacquesJacques Anquetil		Ford France–Hutchinson
1967		Godefroot, WalterWalter Godefroot		Flandria–De Clerck
1968		Sweevelt, Valere VanValere Van Sweevelt		Smith's
1969		Merckx, EddyEddy Merckx		Faema
1970		De Vlaeminck, RogerRoger De Vlaeminck		Flandria–Mars
1971		Merckx, EddyEddy Merckx		Molteni
1972		Merckx, EddyEddy Merckx		Molteni
1973		Merckx, EddyEddy Merckx		Molteni
1974		Pintens, GeorgesGeorges Pintens		MIC–Ludo–de Gribaldy
1975		Merckx, EddyEddy Merckx		Molteni–RYC
1976		Bruyere, JosephJoseph Bruyère		Molteni–Campagnolo
1977		Hinault, BernardBernard Hinault		Gitane–Campagnolo
1978		Bruyere, JosephJoseph Bruyère		C&A
1979		Thurau, DietrichDietrich Thurau		IJsboerke–Warncke Eis
1980		Hinault, BernardBernard Hinault		Renault–Gitane
1981		Fuchs, JosefJosef Fuchs		Cilo–Aufina
1982		Contini, SilvanoSilvano Contini		Bianchi–Piaggio
1983		Rooks, StevenSteven Rooks		Sem–France Loire–Reydel–Mavic
1984		Kelly, SeanSean Kelly		Skil–Reydel–Sem–Mavic
1985		Argentin, MorenoMoreno Argentin		Sammontana–Bianchi
1986		Argentin, MorenoMoreno Argentin		Sammontana–Bianchi
1987		Argentin, MorenoMoreno Argentin		Gewiss–Bianchi
1988		Poel, Adri van derAdri van der Poel		PDM–Ultima–Concorde
1989		Kelly, SeanSean Kelly		PDM–Ultima–Concorde
1990		Lancker, Eric VanEric Van Lancker		Panasonic–Sportlife
1991		Argentin, MorenoMoreno Argentin		Ariostea
1992		Wolf, Dirk DeDirk De Wolf		Gatorade–Chateau d'Ax
1993		Sorensen, RolfRolf Sørensen		Carrera Jeans–Tassoni
1994		Berzin, EugeniEugeni Berzin		Gewiss–Ballan
1995		Gianetti, MauroMauro Gianetti		Polti–Granarolo–Santini
1996		Richard, PascalPascal Richard		MG Maglificio–Technogym
1997		Bartoli, MicheleMichele Bartoli		MG Maglificio–Technogym
1998		Bartoli, MicheleMichele Bartoli		Asics–CGA
1999		Vandenbroucke, FrankFrank Vandenbroucke		Cofidis
2000		Bettini, PaoloPaolo Bettini		Mapei–Quick-Step
2001		Camenzind, OscarOscar Camenzind		Lampre–Daikin
2002		Bettini, PaoloPaolo Bettini		Mapei–Quick-Step
2003		Hamilton, TylerTyler Hamilton		Team CSC
2004		Rebellin, DavideDavide Rebellin		Gerolsteiner
2005		Vinokourov, AlexandreAlexandre Vinokourov		T-Mobile Team
2006		Valverde, AlejandroAlejandro Valverde		Caisse d'Epargne–Illes Balears
2007		Di Luca, DaniloDanilo Di Luca		Liquigas
2008		Valverde, AlejandroAlejandro Valverde		Caisse d'Epargne
2009		Schleck, AndyAndy Schleck		Team Saxo Bank
2010		Vinokourov, AlexandreAlexandre Vinokourov		Astana
2011		Gilbert, PhilippePhilippe Gilbert		Omega Pharma–Lotto
2012		Iglinsky, MaximMaxim Iglinsky		Astana
2013		Martin, DanDan Martin		Garmin–Sharp
2014		Gerrans, SimonSimon Gerrans		Orica–GreenEDGE
2015		Valverde, AlejandroAlejandro Valverde		Movistar Team
2016		Poels, WoutWout Poels		Team Sky
2017		Valverde, AlejandroAlejandro Valverde		Movistar Team
2018		Jungels, BobBob Jungels		Quick-Step Floors
2019		Fuglsang, JakobJakob Fuglsang		Astana
2020		Roglič, PrimožPrimož Roglič		Team Jumbo–Visma
2021		Pogačar, TadejTadej Pogačar		UAE Team Emirates
2022		Evenepoel, RemcoRemco Evenepoel		Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team
2023		Evenepoel, RemcoRemco Evenepoel		Soudal–Quick-Step
2024		Pogačar, TadejTadej Pogačar		UAE Team Emirates
2025		Pogačar, TadejTadej Pogačar		{{{team name-2025}}}

Riders with Multiple Wins

Active riders are in italic.

Wins	Rider	Years
5	Eddy Merckx (BEL)	1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975
4	Moreno Argentin (ITA)	1985, 1986, 1987, 1991
	Alejandro Valverde (ESP)	2006, 2008, 2015, 2017
3	Léon Houa (BEL)	1892, 1893, 1894
	Alphonse Schepers (BEL)	1929, 1931, 1935
	Fred De Bruyne (BEL)	1956, 1958, 1959
	Tadej Pogačar (SLO)	2021, 2024, 2025
2	Louis Mottiat (BEL)	1921, 1922
	René Vermandel (BEL)	1923, 1924
	Richard Depoorter (BEL)	1943, 1947
	Prosper Depredomme (BEL)	1946, 1950
	Ferdinand Kübler (SUI)	1951, 1952
	Joseph Bruyère (BEL)	1976, 1978
	Bernard Hinault (FRA)	1977, 1980
	Seán Kelly (IRL)	1984, 1989
	Michele Bartoli (ITA)	1997, 1998
	Paolo Bettini (ITA)	2000, 2002
	Alexander Vinokourov (KAZ)	2005, 2010
	Remco Evenepoel (BEL)	2022, 2023

Wins by Country

Wins	Country
61	Belgium
12	Italy
6	Switzerland
5	France
4	Netherlands  Spain  Slovenia
3	Ireland  Kazakhstan  Luxembourg
2	Denmark  Germany
1	Australia  Russia  United States

Liège–Bastogne–Liège for Women

In 2017, a women's version of the race, called Liège–Bastogne–Liège Femmes, was started. This followed other women's races like La Flèche Wallonne Féminine. The first women's race was won by Olympic champion Anna van der Breggen from the Netherlands.

The women's race is about half the length of the men's race, at 135.5 kilometers (84 miles). It starts in Bastogne and heads north to finish in Ans, just like the men's race used to. The route includes four main climbs: the Côte de la Vecquée, Côte de La Redoute, Côte de la Roche aux faucons, and Côte de Saint-Nicolas. The top of the last climb, Saint-Nicolas, is about 5.5 kilometers (3.4 miles) from the finish line.

See also

In Spanish: Lieja-Bastoña-Lieja para niños