Sunday April 26th 2026: Liège-Bastogne-Liège - Liège - Liège (260 km) 

The final spring classic is here. Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2026 is a race of 260 kilometers and contains about 4.100 vertical meters. The first half of the course has relatively modest elevation changes. The only categorized climb in this section is the Côte de Saint-Roch. The riders do face a long, slow climb towards the Baraque de Fraiture, the highest point of the day at 649 meters. After the turning point in Bastogne, at 97 kilometers, the course of the race changes significantly. The climb to Baraque de Fraiture is covered again and after that the hills are following shorty after one another.

The real race-deciding part of Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2026 starts at the Côte de Wanne, at 90 kilometers from the finish. Nine of the eleven categorized climbs are in this phase. The succession of the Côte de Wanne, the steep Stockeu and the Haute-Levée makes this zone particularly selective. Shortly afterwards comes the Col du Rosier, the longest categorized climb of the day at 4.4 kilometers.

The riders then descend towards the Côte de Desnié, after which the iconic Côte de la Redoute awaits. This climb, with a length of 1.6 kilometres at an average of 9.4%, is often the scene of decisive attacks. In recent editions, both Remco Evenepoel and Tadej Pogacar seized their chance here with successful solo attacks.

After the Redoute, the pace remains high. The climb to Cornémont (2.8 km at 4.4%) and then the short, explosive Côte des Forges (1.3 km at 7.8%) ensure that the favourites continue to stir. The last official climb, the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons, is a tough final effort with 1.3 kilometres at 11%. However, the decision is rarely made at the top; the false flat that continues for another 2.1 kilometres ensures that attackers have to continue to distinguish themselves here.

After a slightly descending section of over three kilometres, a technical descent of five kilometres towards Liège follows. The last two kilometres to the finish are flat. The finale is therefore fast, will we see a solo winner again in Liège? The last four editions of Liège-Bastogne-Liège have always been decided by a solo attack, often launched on or just after the Redoute. In 2021, a select group formed on the Roche-aux-Faucons sprinted for victory.