View source for Liège–Bastogne–Liège

{{Short description|Belgian one-day men's cycling race}}
{{About|the senior men's cycle race|the women's event|Liège–Bastogne–Liège Femmes|the under-23 men's event|U23 Liège–Bastogne–Liège}}
{{Infobox cycling race
| name          = Liège–Bastogne–Liège
| current_event = 2025 Liège–Bastogne–Liège
| image         = Liège–Bastogne–Liège logo.svg
| date          = Late April
| region        = [[Wallonia]], [[Ardennes]], Belgium
| english       = Liège–Bastogne–Liège
| localnames    = Liège–Bastogne–Liège {{in lang|fr}}
| nickname      = ''La Doyenne'' ("The Old Lady")
| discipline    = [[Road bicycle racing|Road]]
| competition   = [[UCI World Tour]]
| type          = One-day [[Classic cycle races|Classic]]
| organiser     = [[Amaury Sport Organisation]]
| director      = [[Christian Prudhomme]]
| first         = {{start date|1892}}
| number        = 111 (as of 2025)
| final         = 
| firstwinner   = {{flagathlete|[[Léon Houa]]|BEL}}
| mostwins      = {{nowrap|{{flagathlete|[[Eddy Merckx]]|BEL}} ''(5 wins)''}}
| mostrecent    = {{flagathlete|[[Tadej Pogačar]]|SLO}}
}}
'''Liège–Bastogne–Liège''' {{IPA|fr|ljɛʒ.bas.tɔɲ.ljɛʒ|}} , also known as ''La Doyenne'' ("The Old Lady"),{{refn|group=N|''Doyenne'' is the female form of ''doyen'', a French word literally meaning "dean". In its metaphorical meaning it denotes the most respected or prominent person in a particular field, usually the most senior person. Hence, ''la doyenne'' {{IPA|fr|la dwa.jɛn|}} roughly translates as "the oldest, most respected lady".}} is a one-day classic cycling race in Belgium.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.letour.fr/stf/liege/1999/fr/lbl1.html|title=Tour de France 2015|access-date=2011-02-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051108135732/http://www.letour.fr/stf/liege/1999/fr/lbl1.html|archive-date=2005-11-08|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Cycling Weekly, UK, 13 March 1993">Cycling Weekly, UK, 13 March 1993</ref><ref>Cycling Weekly, UK, 7 March 1992</ref> First run in 1892, it is the oldest of the five ''[[Cycling monument|Monuments]]'' of the European professional [[Road bicycle racing|road cycling]] calendar;<ref>The title "monument" has no official significance; it was first used by French daily [[L'Équipe]], to indicate a race's unchanging place on the calendar but the term has become more widespread because of television commentaries, especially in the USA</ref> usually coming as the last of the spring classics. It is held annually in late April, in the [[Ardennes]] region of Belgium, from [[Liège]] to [[Bastogne]] and back.

It is considered one of the most arduous one-day cycling events in the world because of its length and demanding course.<ref name="BBC">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/31958848 |title=Spring Classics: How to win cycling's hardest one-day races |access-date=27 March 2015 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> The most successful rider with five victories is Belgian rider [[Eddy Merckx]], trailed by Italian [[Moreno Argentin]] in the 1980s and Spaniard [[Alejandro Valverde]] in the 2000s, who both won the race four times.<ref name="Valverde 2015">{{cite web|title=Alejandro Valverde takes Liege-Bastogne-Liege|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/04/news/alejandro-valverde-takes-liege-bastogne-liege_367931|website=velonews.com|access-date=3 October 2016}}</ref>

Liège–Bastogne–Liège is part of the [[UCI World Tour]] competition. It is the concluding race of the [[Ardennes classics|Ardennes Classics]] series, which includes the [[Amstel Gold Race (disambiguation)|Amstel Gold Race]] (not technically in the Ardennes, but treated as part of the series) and [[La Flèche Wallonne]] ('The Walloon Arrow'). Both Liège and La Fleche are organised by French owner [[Amaury Sport Organisation]], which also organises the [[Tour de France]] and [[Paris–Roubaix]]. 

It generally marks the end of the entire spring classics season, as the one-day races give way to the stage races and grand tours; Liège is generally followed almost immediately by the week-long Giro d'Italia warm-up, the [[Tour de Romandie]]. The parcours, with its multiple short, hard climbs, is seen as friendlier terrain for general classification riders and climbers than the gravelled and cobbled classics of early spring. 

In 2017, the [[Liège–Bastogne–Liège (women's race)|Liège–Bastogne–Liège Femmes]] was inaugurated and added to the [[2017 UCI Women's World Tour|UCI Women's World Tour]],<ref name="CN">{{cite news|url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/uci-announce-2017-womens-worldtour-calendar/|title=UCI announce 2017 Women's WorldTour calendar|website=[[Cyclingnews.com]]|date=15 October 2016|access-date=17 October 2016}}</ref><ref name="VN">{{cite news|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2016/10/news/road/uci-unveils-2017-womens-worldtour_423020|title=UCI unveils 2017 Women's WorldTour|work=[[VeloNews]]|date=15 October 2016|access-date=17 October 2016}}</ref> becoming the second of the [[cycling monument]]s to introduce a women's edition after the [[Tour of Flanders for Women|Tour of Flanders]] in 2014. In 2020 a third women's 'monument', [[Paris-Roubaix Femmes]] was added, creating a triple crown of women's monuments.

==History==

===Spa-Bastogne-Spa===
Like many of cycling's classics, Liège–Bastogne–Liège was first organized by a [[French Community of Belgium|French-Belgian]] newspaper (''L'Express''). The route has always stayed in the southern, French-speaking (and hillier), part of Belgium where Liège and Bastogne are located.<ref name="Cycling Weekly, UK, 13 April 2002">Cycling Weekly, UK, 13 April 2002</ref>

[[File:Houa.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Léon Houa]] won the first three editions of Liège–Bastogne–Liège in the late 19th century.]]
The race had its first running for amateurs in 1892, from [[Spa, Belgium|Spa]] to [[Bastogne]] and back, over a 250&nbsp;km distance.<ref name="Cycling Weekly, UK, 13 March 1993"/> As bicycles were expensive in the late 19th century, cycling was considered an exclusive sport for the wealthy, and the event was considered a "gentlemen's affair". 33 riders from the ''Liège cycling union'' and the ''Pesant Club Liégois'', all Belgians and most of them from Liège, took the start. Only 17 finished. The course halfway turn point was the train station in Bastogne, chosen because of its convenience for race officials. Some tired riders abandoned the race in Bastogne and took the train back to Spa.<ref name="Cycling Weekly, UK, 13 April 2002"/> [[Léon Houa]], a Liège native, won the race after 10 hours and 48 minutes on the bike. The second-place finisher, Léon Lhoest, came in at 22 minutes, the third, Louis Rasquinet, at 44 minutes.<ref name="bikeraceinfo">{{cite web|title=Liège–Bastogne–Liège|url=http://bikeraceinfo.com/classics/Liege-Bastogne-Liege/liege-index.html|publisher=Bike Race Info|access-date=22 April 2012}}</ref> Riders kept arriving for another five hours.

Houa won again the next year, over the same course, this time by a margin of a half hour. In 1894 the first race for professionals was held, and the average speed rose from {{convert|23.3|kph|mph|abbr=on}} to {{convert|25|kph|mph|abbr=on}}. Houa concluded his third win, by seven minutes over Rasquinet. Frenchman [[Maurice Garin]], who would later become the first winner of the [[Tour de France]], finished fourth. After the inaugural three editions, the race was not organized for another 14 years, after which it was sometimes open only to amateurs and semi-professionals.

The race was resumed in 1908, with a start and finish in Liège for the first time. It was won by Frenchman [[André Trousselier]]. In 1909 the winner, [[Eugène Charlier]], was disqualified because he had changed bikes. [[Victor Fastre]] was declared winner.<ref name="bikeraceinfo" /> The event was cancelled during World War I but resumed in 1919. The race was mainly won by Belgians, but started to attract more riders from [[Flanders]], the bike-crazed northern part of Belgium, who began to dominate the event. Fleming [[Alfons Schepers]] gained three victories in the [[Interwar period]].

===Ardennes Classic===
Liège–Bastogne–Liège had some interruptions during World War II, but was again a calendar-fixture as from 1945 and began to attract some of the stars of European cycling. In 1951 the race was added to the [[Challenge Desgrange-Colombo]], the competition that combined cycling's greatest races at the time. Swiss [[Ferdinand Kübler]] won the race in 1951 and 1952. Belgian favourite [[Raymond Impanis]] became the race's eternal runner-up, with four second places but never a victory.

In the late 1950s [[Fred De Bruyne]] won the race three times in his first three participations, equalling the former record of [[Léon Houa|Houa]] and [[Alfons Schepers|Schepers]]. In 1957 two riders were declared winner. [[Germain Derijcke]] was first over the finish line, but he had crossed a closed [[level crossing]]. Derijcke had won by a three-minute lead and judges felt he had not gained that much time from illegally crossing the railway, thereby not disqualifying him. Officials compromised to promote second-place rider [[Frans Schoubben]] to first as well.<ref name="Procycling, UK, May 2000">Procycling, UK, May 2000</ref> In 1959 Liège–Bastogne–Liège became part of the [[Super Prestige Pernod International|Super Prestige]], successor of the Desgrange-Colombo competition and early precursor of the [[UCI World Tour]], making the ''Ardennes Classic'' one of the main cycling events of the year.

[[File:Eddy Merckx 1966.jpg|right|thumb|Record winner [[Eddy Merckx]] won Liège–Bastogne–Liège five times.]]
In [[1969 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1969]] began the era of cycling icon [[Eddy Merckx]], who gained five victories, three of which consecutive, and a total of seven podium finishes. The [[1971 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1971 race]] was run in appalling conditions, with snow and cold ravaging the peloton. Merckx gained one of his most memorable victories. The Belgian attacked in solo at 92 kilometers from the finish and soon had a five-minute advantage over his pursuiters. In a rare display, he suffered a sudden fatigue near the end and was joined by [[Georges Pintens]]. Pintens failed to distance a tired Merckx, and Merckx managed to outsprint his fellow Belgian to his second victory in the classic.<ref name="Bouvet">Bouvet, Philippe (2007), De Klassiekers, Lannoo, Belgium, {{ISBN|978-90-811691-10}}, p25</ref> 
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bikeraceinfo.com/classics/Liege-Bastogne-Liege/1971-liege-bastogne-liege.html|title=1971 Liège-Bastogne-Liège|work=bikeraceinfo.com}}</ref> In 1972 the finish moved to [[Verviers]], 15&nbsp;km from Liège, but because of fans' protest, this was a one-year occasion. The edition was again won by Merckx. In 1975 ''The Cannibal'' sealed his fifth and final victory, making him the sole record-holder of ''La Doyenne''.

French cycling great, [[Bernard Hinault]] won the race twice, both times in harrowing weather conditions. In [[1977 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1977]] Hinault made a late escape from a six-strong group including a faltering Eddy Merckx; three years later he won the epic [[1980 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|contest of 1980]] in torrential snowfall and glacial temperatures (see below).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/apr08/lbl08/?id=/features/2008/woodland_lbl_apr08|title=Liège–Bastogne–Liège's cold memories|website=Cyclingnews.com|access-date=2008-04-24}}</ref>

In the 1980s, Italian ''[[Classic cycle races|classics]]'' specialist [[Moreno Argentin]] won the race four times, narrowly missing Merckx's record. Argentin also gained three victories in the sister classic [[La Flèche Wallonne]], earning him the title of ''King of the Ardennes'' in his day.

===Finish in Ans===
In 1990, the ''Pesant Club Liégeois'' partnered with the [[Amaury Sport Organisation|Société du Tour de France]], the organizer of cycling's flagships the [[Tour de France]] and [[Paris–Roubaix]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archives.lesoir.be/l-invite-du-samedi-liege-favorite-du-tour-2004_t-20020420-Z0LQX2.html|title=Liège favorite du Tour 2004|work=lesoir.be|date=20 April 2002|access-date=27 February 2012}}</ref> The partnership led to a more professional organization, resulting in a complete overhauling of the race course: the start and finish moved to different locations in Liège and five new climbs were included.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Fabien|first1=Wille|title=Le Tour de France : un modèle médiatique|publisher=Presses universitaires du Septentrion|date=2003|isbn=2-85939-797-3}}</ref>

In the late 1990s, Italians [[Michele Bartoli]] and [[Paolo Bettini]] continued a tradition of Italian victories in La Doyenne, with two wins each. In [[1997 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1997]], Bartoli and [[Laurent Jalabert]] made a decisive breakaway on the climb of [[Côte de La Redoute|La Redoute]], 40&nbsp;km from the finish. Both riders worked together and Bartoli broke away from the Frenchman on the steep slopes in the final kilometer of the race. Jalabert, a specialist of the Ardennes races, finished second two years in a row but failed to win the ''Doyenne''. In [[1999 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1999]], Bartoli sought a third consecutive win, but his effort was thwarted by young Belgian [[Frank Vandenbroucke (cyclist)|Frank Vandenbroucke]] who controlled the race and stunned followers with his victory.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://autobus.cyclingnews.com/results/1999/apr99/lbl99.html|title=presents the Luik-Bastenaken-Luik 1999|work=cyclingnews.com}}</ref>

[[File:Liège Bastogne Liège 019.jpg|thumb|left|Peloton in Liège–Bastogne–Liège [[2007 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2007]] near [[Houffalize|Tavigny]].]]
In [[2005 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2005]], Kazakh [[Alexander Vinokourov]] and German [[Jens Voigt]] broke away from the peloton 80&nbsp;km from the end. Although the escape seemed unlikely to stay away in modern cycling, the two riders made it to the finish ahead of the peloton, with Vinokourov beating Voigt in the sprint.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2005/apr05/lbl05/?id=results | title=Vino the Vainqueur | author=Hedwig Kröner | work=Cycling News | date=24 April 2005 | access-date=23 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sporza.be/cm/sporza/videozone/retro/retro_voorjaarsklassiekers/retro_lbl/1.512091|title=sporza video: 2005: Aleksander Vinokoerov|work=sporza|access-date=2015-05-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807145802/http://sporza.be/cm/sporza/videozone/retro/retro_voorjaarsklassiekers/retro_lbl/1.512091|archive-date=2016-08-07|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Other memorable editions were the races of 2009 and 2010. In [[2009 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2009]], young [[Luxembourg]]er [[Andy Schleck]] produced a solo breakaway to beat a strong field and win the race.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/cycling/8019468.stm|title=Schleck takes impressive Liege win |date=2009-04-26|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=2009-04-26| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090428022108/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/cycling/8019468.stm| archive-date=April 28, 2009| url-status= live}}</ref> In [[2010 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2010]], Alexander Vinokourov concluded his second victory by outsprinting his breakaway companion [[Alexander Kolobnev]].<ref>{{cite news|first=John|last=MacLeary|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/7632018/Liege-Bastogne-Liege-2010-Alexandre-Vinokourov-back-on-summit-with-Belgian-win.html|title=Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2010: Alexander Vinokourov back on summit with Belgian win|date=2010-04-25|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|access-date=2010-04-26| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100430060333/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/7632018/Liege-Bastogne-Liege-2010-Alexandre-Vinokourov-back-on-summit-with-Belgian-win.html| archive-date= 30 April 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> The victory was controversial, not only because Vinokourov had recently returned to cycling after a doping ban, but also because it was suggested he had 'bought' the victory. Swiss magazine [[L'Illustré]] published e-mail correspondence between the winner and runner-up that suggests Vinokourov paid Kolobnev €100,000 not to contest the final sprint. Both riders were later charged with bribery by Belgian authorities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.illustre.ch/cyclisme-corruption-triche-Liege-Bastogne-Liege-Alexandre-Vinokourov-Alexandr-Kolobney_135723_.html |title=Archives – L'illustré |work=illustre.ch |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107211631/http://www.illustre.ch/cyclisme-corruption-triche-Liege-Bastogne-Liege-Alexandre-Vinokourov-Alexandr-Kolobney_135723_.html |archive-date=2012-01-07 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2014/08/news/vinokourov-kolobnev-charged-bribery_341862|title=Vinokourov and Kolobnev charged with bribery|work=VeloNews.com}}</ref>

In the 2010s, Spanish allrounder [[Alejandro Valverde]] won four times, all sprint victories of a select group at the finish.<ref name="Valverde 2015"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Valverde wins Liège–Bastogne–Liège|url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/liege-bastogne-liege-2017/results/|website=cyclingnews.com|date=23 April 2017 |publisher=Immediate Media Company|access-date=23 April 2017}}</ref>

=== Finish in Liège ===
In 2019, the finish of the race moved back to Liège, with a flat run to the finish. In the 2020s, Slovenian rider [[Tadej Pogačar]] won the race three times, with two of his wins involving a solo escape.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-27 |title=Liege-Bastogne-Liege: Tadej Pogacar claims third title in dominant fashion |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/cycling/articles/cd9lp4qvvyyo |access-date=2025-06-24 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last= |date=2024-04-21 |title=Tadej Pogacar’s solo attack leaves rivals in dust at Liège–Bastogne–Liège |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/apr/21/tadej-pogacars-solo-attack-leaves-rivals-in-dust-at-liegebastogneliege |access-date=2025-06-24 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

==Route==

===Present course===
[[File:Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2011 map.png|thumb|Route map of the [[2011 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2011 edition]].]]
The route of Liège–Bastogne–Liège crosses the two eastern [[Wallonia|Walloon]] provinces, [[Liège (province)|Liège]] and [[Luxembourg (Belgium)|Luxembourg]], from north to south and back. Its distance is more or less fixed at 250–260&nbsp;km. The race starts in the center of [[Liège]], after which the course follows a straightforward {{convert|95|km|mi|abbr=on}} route southwards to [[Bastogne]], and a winding {{convert|163|km|mi|abbr=on}} route back to Liège.

The second half of the course contains numerous climbs, such as the Stockeu, Haute-Levée, [[Côte de La Redoute|La Redoute]], and the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons, before finishing in Liège. In the final 15&nbsp;km of the race, the course makes a remarkable transition from the meadowy and agrarian landscapes in the Ardennes to the post-industrial urban scenery of Liège.

===Course changes===
Until 1991, the race finished in Liège's city center. In 1992, the finish moved to the industrial suburb of [[Ans, Belgium|Ans]], on the northwestern side of the city. The steep [[Côte de Saint-Nicolas]] was included in the final kilometres, along with a final climb to the finish in [[Ans, Belgium|Ans]].<ref name="Archives – lesoir.be">{{cite web |url=http://archives.lesoir.be/liege-bastogne-liege-change-de-visage-delaisse-stockeu-_t-19900224-Z02E8Z.html|title=Liège–Bastogne–Liège change de visage, délaisse Stockeu et aborde de nouvelles côtes |date=24 February 1990}}</ref> The move implied profound changes to the character of the race, as climbers with a strong uphill-sprint in recent years often wait until the final stretches to launch their ultimate attack.

The route usually has some minor changes every year, with some climbs skipped and others added, but the traditional finale containing the [[Côte de La Redoute]], [[Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons]] and [[Côte de Saint-Nicolas]] was a fixture for 27 years.{{refn|group=N|Because of the composition of its immigrant population, and the many Italian flags hanging out the windows, Saint-Nicolas is nicknamed the "Italian hill".}}

In 2019, the finish line moved back into the centre of Liège, with a flat run-in towards the finish. Both the Côte de Saint-Nicolas and the final climb to Ans were thereby removed from the route. The Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons is the final named climb, topping out at 13&nbsp;km from the finish<ref>{{cite web |title=2019 Liege-Bastogne-Liege features city centre finale and return of Stockeu |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/2019-liege-bastogne-liege-features-city-centre-finale-and-return-of-stockeu/ |website=cyclingnews.com |date=22 January 2019 |publisher=Immediate Media Company |access-date=8 March 2019 }}</ref> but the climbing continues after a short descent off of La Roche, with the final uphill topping out approximately 10.5&nbsp;km from the finish line.<ref>{{cite web |title=Official Race Website|url=https://www.liege-bastogne-liege.be/en/stage-1 |website=liege-bastogne-liege.be |publisher=ASO |access-date=28 April 2024 }}</ref>

==Race characteristics==

===Demands===
[[File:Liege-Bastogne-Liege 2012 profil.png|thumb|right|Profile of the [[2012 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2012]] edition]]
Liège–Bastogne–Liège is considered one of the most arduous one-day races in the world because of its length and succession of steep climbs. Every edition, about a dozen climbs – ranging in length, gradient and difficulty – are addressed, offering opportunities to attack.
The British magazine ''[[Cycling Weekly]]'' stated: 
:''In purely physical terms, this is probably the toughest classic: the climbs are long, most of them are pretty steep as well, and they come up with depressing frequency in the final kilometres.''<ref name="Cycling Weekly, UK, 13 March 1993"/>
Four-times winner [[Moreno Argentin]] said:
:''Riders who win in Liège are what we call ''fondisti'' – men with a superior level of stamina. [The climb of] La Redoute is like the [[Mur de Huy]] in that it has to be tackled at pace, from the front of the peloton. The gradient is about 14 or 15 per cent, and it comes after 220 or 230 kilometers, so you don't have to be a genius to work out how tough it is. I remember that we used to go up with a maximum of 39 x 21 – it's not quite as steep as the Mur de Huy. A lot of riders mistakenly think you should attack on the hardest part, but in reality you hurt people on the slightly flatter section that comes after this.''
:''Liège is a race of trial by elimination, where it's very unlikely that a breakaway can go clear and decide the race before the final {{convert|100|km|mi|abbr=on|disp=sqbr}}. You need to be strong and at the same time clever and calculating&nbsp;— in this sense it's a complete test of a cyclist's ability.''<ref>Procycling, UK, March 2001</ref>

===Climbs===
[[File:La Redoute.jpg|thumb|The foot of the [[Côte de La Redoute]] in [[Aywaille]].]]
[[File:Liege-Bastogne-Liege 2012.png|thumb|The climbs in the [[2012 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2012]] edition]]
The most well-known hill is the [[Côte de La Redoute]], the 2.0&nbsp;km climb in [[Aywaille]] at an average gradient of 8.9% with slopes of over 20%. For a long time in the 1980s and 1990s La Redoute, at ca. 40&nbsp;km from the finish, was the breaking point of the race and often the place where decisive breakaways were launched. In recent years the climb seems to have lost that particular role, as many riders are able to keep up with the pace on the climb and race favourites often wait until the last stages of the race to make a break.

In modern cycling, as in many bike races, the decisive stretches have evolved towards the final climbs of the day. The [[Côte de Saint-Nicolas]] is the last categorized climb of the race, with the top at 6&nbsp;km from the finish in Ans. It is a precipitous and atypical climb because it is not part of the forested hills in the [[Ardennes]], but located in the middle of the industrial suburbs of Liège along the [[Meuse (river)|Meuse]] river. In [[2016 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2016]], the organisers inserted the 600 m cobbled Côte de la Rue Naniot following the Côte de Saint-Nicolas, but preceding the finish in Ans. This turned out to be a one-off, however, as the race has not used the climb since.

Since the finish returned to Liège in [[2019 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2019]], the Côte de Saint-Nicolas has been removed from the route, and the decisive climbs are once again the Côte de la Redoute, Côte des Forges and Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons.

Course changes are frequent from year to year. Climbs are sometimes cut or others included. These are the climbs in recent editions:<ref>{{cite web|title=The Race – Liège > Liège – Liège Bastogne Liège 2019|url=https://www.liege-bastogne-liege.be/en/stage-1|publisher=letour.com|access-date=27 April 2009}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable" style="font-size:97%;"
|+Climbs of the [[2019 Liège–Bastogne–Liège]]
|-
!km mark !!Name !!Distance !!Slope
|-
| 75.0 || ''Côte de la Roche-en-Ardenne'' || 2.8&nbsp;km || 6.2%
|-
| 121.0 || ''Côte de Saint-Roch'' || 1.0&nbsp;km || 11.2%
|-
| 161.0 || ''Côte de Mont-le-Soie'' || 1.7&nbsp;km || 7.9%
|-
| 169.5 || ''Côte de Wanne'' || 3.6&nbsp;km || 5.1%
|-
| 176.0 || ''Côte de Stockeu'' || 1.0&nbsp;km || 12.5%
|-
| 181.5 || ''Côte de la Haute-Levée'' || 3.6&nbsp;km || 5.6%
|-
| 194.5 || ''Côte du Rosier'' || 4.4&nbsp;km || 5.9%
|-
| 207.0 || ''Col du Maquisard'' || 2.5&nbsp;km || 5.0%
|-
| 219.0 || ''Côte de la Redoute'' || 2.0&nbsp;km || 8.9%
|-
| 231.0 || ''Côte des Forges'' || 1.3&nbsp;km || 7.8%
|-
| 241.0 || ''Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons'' || 1.3&nbsp;km || 11.0%
|}

===Weather===
The weather in April is often unpredictable and the race has repeatedly been affected by harsh weather conditions. In 1919, 1957, 1980, and 2016 there was severe snowfall. The edition of 1980 was exceptionally hard: snow fell from the start and temperatures were near freezing point, leading commentators to call it '' 'Neige-Bastogne-Neige' '' (Snow-Bastogne-Snow). [[Bernard Hinault]] attacked with {{convert|80|km|mi|abbr=on}} to go and finished nearly 10 minutes ahead.

A feature published by the British magazine, ''Procycling'' in 2000, described the infamous race:

:A cold wind that blew across Belgium brought snow flakes and then a heavy fall within moments of the race starting. (...) Riders struggled on, with hands to faces to keep a view of the road. The race was an anonymous mass of plastic jackets and windcheaters. Spectators stood in goggles like upmarket snowmen, red-faced in the bitterness. Within the hour some teams had barely a man left on the road. They pulled out two dozen at a time, men like [[Gianbattista Baronchelli|Gibi Baronchelli]] and [[Giuseppe Saronni]], [[Lucien Van Impe]] and [[Jean-René Bernaudeau]].<ref name="Procycling, UK, May 2000"/>

Bernard Hinault, the winner, was one of just 21 riders to finish the race of 174 starters. It took three weeks for proper movement to return to two fingers of his right hand.<ref name="Procycling, UK, May 2000"/>

==Ardennes Classics==
{{Main article|Ardennes classics}}

Liège–Bastogne–Liège is the concluding race of the [[Ardennes classics|Ardennes Classics]] series, which includes [[La Flèche Wallonne]]. Both are organised by [[Amaury Sport Organisation|ASO]].

The Flèche Wallonne ("Walloon Arrow"), although younger than Liège–Bastogne–Liège, was longtime considered the more prestigious event of the two Ardennes Classics, showing how prestige and importance of a race can sometimes change over time. At one time, Flèche Wallonne and Liège–Bastogne–Liège were run on successive days known as ''Le Weekend Ardennais'', with Liège–Bastogne–Liège organized on Saturday and the Flèche Wallonne on Sunday.

Only eight riders have won both races in the same year: [[Spain|Spaniard]] [[Alejandro Valverde]] three times (2006, 2015 and 2017), [[Switzerland|Swiss]] [[Ferdinand Kübler]] twice (in 1951 and 1952), [[Belgium|Belgians]] [[Stan Ockers]] (1955), [[Eddy Merckx]] (1972), and [[Philippe Gilbert]] (2011), [[Italy|Italians]] [[Moreno Argentin]] (1991) and [[Davide Rebellin]] (2004), and [[Slovenia|Slovenian]] [[Tadej Pogačar]] (2025).

In [[2011 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2011]] Belgian [[Philippe Gilbert]] won Liège–Bastogne–Liège, completing a unique streak of classics victories in a span of ten days. Gilbert had previously won the [[Brabantse Pijl (men's race)|Brabantse Pijl]], [[Amstel Gold Race (men's race)|Amstel Gold Race]] and [[La Flèche Wallonne]], thus achieving a historic ''quadruple'' of victories in the hilly classics of April. Gilbert beat [[Luxembourg]] brothers [[Fränk Schleck|Fränck]] and [[Andy Schleck]] in a sprint of three.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/gilbert-nets-historic-quadruple-in-liege-bastogne-liege|title=Gilbert nets historic quadruple in Liège–Bastogne–Liège|author=Brecht Decaluwé|work=Cyclingnews.com|date=24 April 2011 }}</ref>

==Winners==
{{Cycling past winner start}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1892 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1892]]|name={{sortname|Léon|Houa||Houa, Leon}}|nat=BEL|team=–}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1893 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1893]]|name={{sortname|Léon|Houa||Houa, Leon}}|nat=BEL|team=–}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1894 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1894]]|name={{sortname|Léon|Houa||Houa, Leon}}|nat=BEL|team=–}}
{{Cycling pw no race|year=1895–1907}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1908 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1908]]|name={{sortname|André|Trousselier||Trousselier, Andre}}|nat=FRA|team=–}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1909 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1909]]|name={{sortname|Victor|Fastre}}|nat=BEL|team=–}}
{{Cycling pw no race|year=1910}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1911 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1911]]|name={{sortname|Joseph Van|Daele}}|nat=BEL|team=–}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1912 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1912]]|name={{sortname|Omer|Verschoore}}|nat=BEL|team=–}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1913 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1913]]|name={{sortname|Maurits|Moritz}}|nat=BEL|team=–}}
{{Cycling pw no race|year=1914–1918}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1919 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1919]]|name={{sortname|Léon|Devos|Léon Devos (cyclist)}}|nat=BEL|team=–}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1920 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1920]]|name={{sortname|Léon|Scieur||Scieur, Leon}}|nat=BEL|team=[[La Sportive]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1921 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1921]]|name={{sortname|Louis|Mottiat}}|nat=BEL|team=[[La Sportive]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1922 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1922]]|name={{sortname|Louis|Mottiat}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|Alcyon|1922}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1923 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1923]]|name={{sortname|René|Vermandel||Vermandel, Rene}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|Alcyon|1923}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1924 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1924]]|name={{sortname|René|Vermandel||Vermandel, Rene}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|Alcyon|1924}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1925 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1925]]|name={{sortname|Georges|Ronsse}}|nat=BEL|team=–}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1926 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1926]]|name={{sortname|Dieudonné|Smets||Smets, Dieudonne}}|nat=BEL|team=–}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1927 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1927]]|name={{sortname|Maurice|Raes}}|nat=BEL|team=–}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1928 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1928]]|name={{sortname|Ernest|Mottard}}|nat=BEL|team=–}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1929 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1929]]|name={{sortname|Alfons|Schepers}}|nat=BEL|team=–}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1930 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1930]]|name={{sortname|Hermann|Buse}}|nat=GER|natvar=Weimar|team=Duerkopp}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1931 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1931]]|name={{sortname|Alfons|Schepers}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|La Française}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1932 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1932]]|name={{sortname|Marcel|Houyoux}}|nat=BEL|team=–}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1933 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1933]]|name={{sortname|François|Gardier||Gardier, François}}|nat=BEL|team=Cycles De Pas}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1934 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1934]]|name={{sortname|Theo|Herckenrath}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|La Française|1943}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1935 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1935]]|name={{sortname|Alfons|Schepers}}|nat=BEL|team=Dilecta}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1936 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1936]]|name={{sortname|Albert|Beckaert}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|Alcyon|1936}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1937 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1937]]|name={{sortname|Éloi|Meulenberg}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|Alcyon|1937}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1938 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1938]]|name={{sortname|Alfons|Deloor}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|Helyett|1938}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1939 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1939]]|name={{sortname|Albert|Ritserveldt}}|nat=BEL|team=Dilecta–De Dion}}
{{Cycling pw no race|year=1940–1942}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1943 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1943]]|name={{sortname|Richard|Depoorter}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|Helyett|1943}}}}
{{Cycling pw no race|year=1944}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1945 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1945]]|name={{sortname|Jean|Engels}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|Alcyon|1945}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1946 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1946]]|name={{sortname|Prosper|Depredomme}}|nat=BEL|team=Dilecta–Wolber–Garin}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1947 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1947]]|name={{sortname|Richard|Depoorter}}|nat=BEL|team=Garin–Wolber}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1948 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1948]]|name={{sortname|Maurice|Mollin}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|Mercier|1948}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1949 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1949]]|name={{sortname|Camille|Danguillaume}}|nat=FRA|team={{UCI team code|Peugeot|1949}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1950 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1950]]|name={{sortname|Prosper|Depredomme}}|nat=BEL|team=Girardengo}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1951 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1951]]|name={{sortname|Ferdinand|Kübler||Kübler, Ferdinand}}|nat=SUI|team={{UCI team code|Fréjus|1951}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1952 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1952]]|name={{sortname|Ferdinand|Kübler||Kübler, Ferdinand}}|nat=SUI|team={{UCI team code|Fréjus|1952}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1953 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1953]]|name={{sortname|Alois De|Hertog}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|Alcyon|1953}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1954 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1954]]|name={{sortname|Marcel|Ernzer}}|nat=LUX|team=Terrot–Hutchinson}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1955 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1955]]|name={{sortname|Stan|Ockers}}|nat=BEL|team=Elvé–Peugeot}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1956 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1956]]|name={{sortname|Fred De|Bruyne}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|Mercier|1956}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider2|year=[[1957 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1957]]|name={{sortname|Frans|Schoubben}}|nat=BEL |team=Elvé–Peugeot|name2={{sortname|Germain|Derycke}}|nat2=BEL |natvar2=|team2={{UCI team code|Faema|1957}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1958 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1958]]|name={{sortname|Fred De|Bruyne}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|Carpano|1958}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1959 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1959]]|name={{sortname|Fred De|Bruyne}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|Carpano|1959}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1960 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1960]]|name={{sortname|Albertus|Geldermans}}|nat=NED|team={{UCI team code|Saint-Raphael|1960}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1961 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1961]]|name={{sortname|Rik Van|Looy}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|Faema|1961a}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1962 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1962]]|name={{sortname|Jef|Planckaert}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|Flandria|1962}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1963 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1963]]|name={{sortname|Frans|Melckenbeeck}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|Mercier|1963}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1964 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1964]]|name={{sortname|Willy|Blocklandt}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|Flandria|1964}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1965 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1965]]|name={{sortname|Carmine|Preziosi}}|nat=ITA|team={{UCI team code|Pelforth|1965}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1966 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1966]]|name={{sortname|Jacques|Anquetil}}|nat=FRA|team={{UCI team code|Ford France|1966}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1967 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1967]]|name={{sortname|Walter|Godefroot}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|Flandria|1967}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1968 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1968]]|name={{sortname|Valere Van|Sweevelt}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|Smiths|1968}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1969 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1969]]|name={{sortname|Eddy|Merckx}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|Faemino|1969}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1970 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1970]]|name={{sortname|Roger|De Vlaeminck}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|Flandria|1970}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1971 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1971]]|name={{sortname|Eddy|Merckx}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|Molteni|1971}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1972 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1972]]|name={{sortname|Eddy|Merckx}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|Molteni|1972}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1973 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1973]]|name={{sortname|Eddy|Merckx}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|Molteni|1973}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1974 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1974]]|name={{sortname|Georges|Pintens}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|Miko|1974}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1975 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1975]]|name={{sortname|Eddy|Merckx}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|Molteni|1975}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1976 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1976]]|name={{sortname|Joseph|Bruyère||Bruyere, Joseph}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|Molteni|1976}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1977 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1977]]|name={{sortname|Bernard|Hinault}}|nat=FRA|team={{UCI team code|Gitane–Campagnolo|1977}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1978 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1978]]|name={{sortname|Joseph|Bruyère||Bruyere, Joseph}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|C&A|1978}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1979 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1979]]|name={{sortname|Dietrich|Thurau}}|nat=FRG|team={{UCI team code|IJsboerke|1979}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1980 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1980]]|name={{sortname|Bernard|Hinault}}|nat=FRA|team={{UCI team code|REN|1980}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1981 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1981]]|name={{sortname|Josef|Fuchs|dab=cyclist}}|nat=SUI|team={{UCI team code|Cilo|1981}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1982 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1982]]|name={{sortname|Silvano|Contini}}|nat=ITA|team={{UCI team code|BIA|1982}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1983 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1983]]|name={{sortname|Steven|Rooks}}|nat=NED|team={{UCI team code|SEM|1983a}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1984 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1984]]|name={{sortname|Sean|Kelly|Sean Kelly (cyclist)}}|nat=IRL|team={{UCI team code|SKIL|1984}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1985 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1985]]|name={{sortname|Moreno|Argentin}}|nat=ITA|team={{UCI team code|BIA|1985}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1986 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1986]]|name={{sortname|Moreno|Argentin}}|nat=ITA|team={{UCI team code|BIA|1986}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1987 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1987]]|name={{sortname|Moreno|Argentin}}|nat=ITA|team={{UCI team code|BIA|1987}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1988 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1988]]|name={{sortname|Adri van der|Poel}}|nat=NED|team={{UCI team code|PDM|1988}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1989 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1989]]|name={{sortname|Sean|Kelly|Sean Kelly (cyclist)}}|nat=IRL|team={{UCI team code|PDM|1989}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1990 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1990]]|name={{sortname|Eric Van|Lancker}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|Panasonic|1990}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1991 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1991]]|name={{sortname|Moreno|Argentin}}|nat=ITA|team={{UCI team code|ARI|1991}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1992 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1992]]|name={{sortname|Dirk De|Wolf}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|Chateau d'Ax|1992}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1993 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1993]]|name={{sortname|Rolf|Sørensen||Sorensen, Rolf}}|nat=DEN|team={{UCI team code|CAR|1993}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1994 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1994]]|name={{sortname|Eugeni|Berzin}}|nat=RUS|team={{UCI team code|GEW|1994}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1995 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1995]]|name={{sortname|Mauro|Gianetti}}|nat=SUI|team={{UCI team code|POL|1995}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1996 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1996]]|name={{sortname|Pascal|Richard}}|nat=SUI|team={{UCI team code|RIS|1996}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1997 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1997]]|name={{sortname|Michele|Bartoli}}|nat=ITA|team={{UCI team code|RIS|1997}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1998 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1998]]|name={{sortname|Michele|Bartoli}}|nat=ITA|team={{UCI team code|ASI|1998}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1999 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1999]]|name={{sortname|Frank|Vandenbroucke|Frank Vandenbroucke (cyclist)}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|COF|1999}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2000 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2000]]|name={{sortname|Paolo|Bettini}}|nat=ITA|team={{UCI team code|MAP|2000}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2001 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2001]]|name={{sortname|Oscar|Camenzind}}|nat=SUI|team={{UCI team code|LAM|2001}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2002 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2002]]|name={{sortname|Paolo|Bettini}}|nat=ITA|team={{UCI team code|MAP|2002}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2003 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2003]]|name={{sortname|Tyler|Hamilton}}|nat=USA|team={{UCI team code|SAX|2003}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2004 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2004]]|name={{sortname|Davide|Rebellin}}|nat=ITA|team={{UCI team code|GST}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2005 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2005]]|name={{sortname|Alexandre|Vinokourov}}|nat=KAZ|team={{UCI team code|THR|2005}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2006 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2006]]|name={{sortname|Alejandro|Valverde}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|GCE|2006}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2007 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2007]]|name={{sortname|Danilo|Di Luca}}|nat=ITA|team={{UCI team code|LIQ|2007}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2008 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2008]]|name={{sortname|Alejandro|Valverde}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|GCE|2008}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2009 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2009]]|name={{sortname|Andy|Schleck}}|nat=LUX|team={{UCI team code|SAX|2009}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2010 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2010]]|name={{sortname|Alexandre|Vinokourov}}|nat=KAZ|team={{UCI team code|AST|2010}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2011 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2011]]|name={{sortname|Philippe|Gilbert}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|LOT|2011}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2012 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2012]]|name={{sortname|Maxim|Iglinsky}}|nat=KAZ|team={{UCI team code|AST|2012}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2013 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2013]]|name={{sortname|Dan|Martin|Dan Martin (cyclist)}}|nat=IRL|team={{UCI team code|GRM|2013}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2014 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2014]]|name={{sortname|Simon|Gerrans}}|nat=AUS|team={{UCI team code|OGE|2014}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2015 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2015]]|name={{sortname|Alejandro|Valverde}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|MOV|2015}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2016 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2016]]|name={{sortname|Wout|Poels}}|nat=NED|team={{UCI team code|SKY|2016}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2017 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2017]]|name={{sortname|Alejandro|Valverde}}|nat=ESP|team={{UCI team code|MOV|2017}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2018 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2018]]|name={{sortname|Bob|Jungels}}|nat=LUX|team={{UCI team code|QST|2018}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2019 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2019]]|name={{sortname|Jakob|Fuglsang}}|nat=DEN|team={{UCI team code|AST|2019}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2020 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2020]]|name={{sortname|Primož|Roglič}}|nat=SLO|team={{UCI team code|TJV|2020}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2021 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2021]]|name={{sortname|Tadej|Pogačar}}|nat=SLO|team={{UCI team code|UAE|2021}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2022 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2022]]|name={{sortname|Remco|Evenepoel}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|QST|2022}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2023 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2023]]|name={{sortname|Remco|Evenepoel}}|nat=BEL|team={{UCI team code|QST|2023}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2024 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2024]]|name={{sortname|Tadej|Pogačar}}|nat=SLO|team={{UCI team code|UAE|2024}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2025 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2025]]|name={{sortname|Tadej|Pogačar}}|nat=SLO|team={{UCI team code|UAE|2025}}}}
{{Cycling past winner end}}

===Multiple winners===
''Active riders are in italic''.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Wins
! Rider
! Years
|-
| align=center | 5 || {{flagathlete|[[Eddy Merckx]]|BEL}} || [[1969 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1969]], [[1971 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1971]], [[1972 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1972]], [[1973 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1973]], [[1975 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1975]]
|-
| align=center rowspan=2| 4 || {{flagathlete|[[Moreno Argentin]]|ITA}} || [[1985 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1985]], [[1986 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1986]], [[1987 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1987]], [[1991 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1991]]
|-
|{{flagathlete|[[Alejandro Valverde]]|ESP}}||[[2006 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2006]],  [[2008 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2008]], [[2015 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2015]], [[2017 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2017]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan=4| 3 || {{flagathlete|[[Léon Houa]]|BEL}} || [[1892 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1892]], [[1893 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1893]], [[1894 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1894]]
|-
|{{flagathlete|[[Alphonse Schepers]]|BEL}} || [[1929 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1929]], [[1931 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1931]], [[1935 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1935]]
|-
|{{flagathlete|[[Fred De Bruyne]]|BEL}} || [[1956 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1956]], [[1958 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1958]], [[1959 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1959]]
|-
| {{flagathlete|''[[Tadej Pogačar]]''|SLO}} || [[2021 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2021]], [[2024 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2024]], [[2025 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2025]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="13"| 2 || {{flagathlete|[[Louis Mottiat]]|BEL}} || [[1921 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1921]], [[1922 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1922]]
|-
|{{flagathlete|[[René Vermandel]]|BEL}} || [[1923 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1923]], [[1924 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1924]]
|-
|{{flagathlete|[[Richard Depoorter]]|BEL}} || [[1943 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1943]], [[1947 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1947]]
|-
|{{flagathlete|[[Prosper Depredomme]]|BEL}} || [[1946 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1946]], [[1950 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1950]]
|-
|{{flagathlete|[[Ferdinand Kübler]]|SUI}} || [[1951 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1951]], [[1952 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1952]]
|-
|{{flagathlete|[[Joseph Bruyère]]|BEL}} || [[1976 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1976]], [[1978 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1978]]
|-
|{{flagathlete|[[Bernard Hinault]]|FRA}} || [[1977 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1977]], [[1980 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1980]]
|-
|{{flagathlete|[[Seán Kelly (cyclist)|Seán Kelly]]|IRL}} || [[1984 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1984]], [[1989 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1989]]
|-
|{{flagathlete|[[Michele Bartoli]]|ITA}}|| [[1997 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1997]], [[1998 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|1998]]
|-
|{{flagathlete|[[Paolo Bettini]]|ITA}} || [[2000 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2000]], [[2002 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2002]]
|-
|{{flagathlete|[[Alexander Vinokourov]]|KAZ}} || [[2005 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2005]], [[2010 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2010]]
|-
|{{flagathlete|''[[Remco Evenepoel]]''|BEL}} || [[2022 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2022]], [[2023 Liège–Bastogne–Liège|2023]]
|}

===Wins per country===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Wins
!Country
|-
|align=center | 61
|{{BEL}}
|-
|align=center | 12
|{{ITA}}
|-
|align=center | 6
|{{SUI}}
|-
|align=center | 5
|{{FRA}}
|-
|align=center | 4
|{{NED}}<br> {{ESP}}<br> {{SLO}}
|-
|align=center | 3
|{{IRL}}<br> {{KAZ}}<br> {{LUX}} 
|-
|align=center | 2
|{{DEN}}<br>  {{GER}}
|-
|align=center | 1
|{{AUS}}<br> {{RUS}}<br> {{USA}}
|}

== Liège–Bastogne–Liège Femmes ==
{{Main article|Liège–Bastogne–Liège Femmes}}

In 2017, Liège–Bastogne–Liège Femmes in the [[UCI Women's World Tour]] was inaugurated, following the example of [[La Flèche Wallonne Féminine]] and [[Amstel Gold Race (women's race)|Women's Amstel Gold Race]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Women's teams gear up for historic first Ardennes triple New Amstel Gold and Liège–Bastogne–Liège races bring fresh spark to the Classics|url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/womens-teams-gear-up-for-historic-first-ardennes-triple/|website=[[CyclingNews]]|date=13 April 2017 |access-date=14 April 2018}}</ref> The first Liège–Bastogne–Liège Femmes, run on 23 April 2017, was won by Olympic champion [[Anna van der Breggen]] of the Netherlands.<ref name="Immediate Media Company">{{cite web |title=Van der Breggen wins the first ever Liege-Bastogne-Liege Femmes |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/liege-bastogne-liege-femmes-2017/results/ |access-date=23 April 2017 |website=[[cyclingnews.com]] |date=23 April 2017 |publisher=[[Immediate Media Company]]}}</ref>

At 135.5&nbsp;km, the race is approximately half the distance of the men's event. Hence, it does not start in [[Liège]] but in [[Bastogne]], from where it heads north past Liège to finish in [[Ans, Belgium|Ans]] on the same location as the men's race. The route features four categorized 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 of Saint-Nicolas comes at 5.5&nbsp;km from the finish.<ref>{{cite web|title=A.S.O. a dévoilé aujourd'hui les parcours de La Flèche Wallonne et de Liège–Bastogne–Liège version féminine, Van Der Breggen se rapproche de Marianne Vos.|url=http://www.velo101.com/feminines/article/lactu-feminine-du-25-janvier--18933|website=velo101.com|access-date=14 April 2018|language=fr}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=N}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://www.liege-bastogne-liege.be/en/ Official website]
* {{Cycling archives race|307}}

{{Liège–Bastogne–Liège}}
{{UCI World Tour}}
{{Liège}}
{{Classic cycle races}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Liege-Bastogne-Liege}}
[[Category:Liège–Bastogne–Liège| ]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1892]]
[[Category:1892 establishments in Belgium]]
[[Category:Classic cycle races]]
[[Category:Cycle races in Belgium]]
[[Category:UCI ProTour races]]
[[Category:UCI Road World Cup races]]
[[Category:UCI World Tour races]]
[[Category:Annual sporting events in Belgium]]
[[Category:Sport in Liège Province]]
[[Category:Sport in Luxembourg (Belgium)]]
[[Category:Sport in Bastogne]]
[[Category:Sport in Liège]]
[[Category:Ans, Belgium]]
[[Category:Spring (season) in Belgium]]
[[Category:Challenge Desgrange-Colombo races]]
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