Liège-Bastonge-Liège 2024 Race Report: Top favourite, Tadej Pogačar attacked on the climb of La Redoute, with just over 30 kilometres to go to the finish in Liège and soloed to victory. The expected battle with World champion, Mathieu van der Poel never materialised. There were attacks from behind, but the Slovenian’s victory was never in Danger. A minute and a half later, Romain Bardet took second ahead of the chasers, who were brought in by Van der Poel for third place.
*** The full PEZ ‘Race Report’ very soon. ***
The win we all expected – Tadej Pogačar
The Parcours
The 2024 Liège-Bastogne-Liège route has a few minor changes. The start is again at Place-Saint Lambert in Liège for 254.5 hilly kilometres, four less than last year. There are quite a few climbs in the first 100 kilometres, but there won’t be a decisive move that early, although these days, who knows?. In the first two hours we should see an early break on the road out to Bastogne.
2024 Liège-Bastogne-Liège map
The Côte de Bonnerue is the first of 11 categorised climbs. After 117,3 kilometres, there is the second ramp, the Côte de Saint-Roch. It is a lot shorter than the Bonnerue, but a lot steeper. It is still too early for the big guns to start firing, this should start after Vielsalm and 150 kilometres of racing. The race then hits the Côte de Mont-le-Soie, this could be the start of the finale. After that five climbs come in quick succession. Within 40 kilometres, there are the Côte de Wanne, the Côte de Stockeu, the Côte de la Haute-Levée, the Col du Rosier and the Côte de Desnié. The same as every year. After the Desnié, the peloton has a fast descent and the road they came out on towards Bastogne. Next is Côte de la Redoute, which is just 1.6 kilometres long, with an average gradient of 9,4%. The riders turn right about 300 metres before the top to hit the Côte de Cornémone.
2024 Liège-Bastogne-Liège profile
La Rédoute is where Liège-Bastogne-Liège should split and the final be decided, as there are 30 kilometres to the finish. The Côte des Forges comes after 11 kilometres and the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons at a further 10 kilometres. This final climb is also known as the Valkenrock and its summit is about 13 kilometres from the finish line. The climbing isn’t over yet. After a short descent, there is still some steep ramps of up to 10% on not the best of concrete roads. The finish is on a wide road in the Quai des Ardennes.
The Climbs
Côte de Bonnerue (2,4km at 5,7%) – 76,2 kilometres
Côte de Saint-Roch (1km at 11,2%) – 117,3 kilometres
Côte de Mont-le-Soie (1,7km at 7,9%) – 161,2 kilometres
Côte de Wanne (3,6km at 5,1%) – 169,5 kilometres
Côte de Stockeu (1km at 12,5%) – 176 kilometres
Côte de la Haute-Levée (2,2km at 7,5%) – 180,2 kilometres
Col du Rosier (4,4km at 5,9%) – 194,4 kilometres
Côte de Desnié (1,6km at 8,1%) – 197,8 kilometres
Côte de la Redoute (1,6km at 9,4%) – 220,5 kilometres
Côte des Forges (1,3km at 7,8%) – 231,2 kilometres
Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons (1,3km at 11%) – 241,2 kilometres.
The two top favourites – Tadej Pogačar and Mathieu van der Poel
The peloton leave town for a wet start
It didn’t take long for the break to go up the road, including: Vliegen, Gelders, Rochas, Leijnse, Doubey, Scaroni and Romeo
It’s meant to be spring!
A day to try to keep warm
Damp and cold conditions – 7ºC, but feels like 3ºC
The peloton climbs the Côte de Saint-Roch
The peloton didn’t let the break take more than 3 minutes
Mathieu van der Poel keeping out of the wind
Flèche Wallonne winner, Stephen Williams keeping an eye on Bauke Mollema
A stupid crash split the peloton and the World champ had to make up over a minute
UAE Team Emirates’ Domen Novak kept the pace high for Pogačar
Tadej Pogačar made his move on La Redoute
The race for the win was over
Liège-Bastonge-Liège Result:
1. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates in 6:13:48
2. Romain Bardet (Fra) dsm-firmenich PostNL at 1:39
3. Mathieu van der Poel (Ned) Alpecin – Deceuninck at 2:02
4. Maxim Van Gils (Bel) Lotto Dstny
5. Aurélien Paret-Peintre (Fra) Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale
6. Mauri Vansevenant (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step
7. Valentin Madouas (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
8. Alexey Lutsenko (Kaz) Astana Qazaqstan
9. Pello Bilbao (Spa) Bahrain-Victorious
10. Thomas Pidcock (GB) INEOS Grenadiers.
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