The oldest professional bike race in the world takes place this Sunday – here’s how to watch, who to watch, and what to watch out for
Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2025 takes place on Sunday 27 April in Wallonia, the French speaking part of Belgium. Known as La Doyenne, or the Old Lady, Liège-Bastogne-Liège was first run in 1892 and is the oldest professional cycling race in the world.
Here are five things to look out for at the Monument, as well as everything else you need to know about this year’s men’s and women’s editions.
After what must seem like weeks of Flemish dominance of the bike racing narrative, Liège finally gives the French-speaking part of Belgium something to shout about. The race takes place in the very east of the country, in the hilly Ardennes. It’s more Liège waffles than Flemish frites, and Orval and Chimay over Bolleke and Westvleteren in terms of beer.
In the 10 year history of a women’s Liège-Bastogne-Liège – I know, only 10 years?! – there have only been two non-Dutch winners: Lizzie Deignan in 2020, and Grace Brown last year. With Demi Vollering and Anna van der Breggen among the favourites, this record might continue. What is it about Wallonia that makes the Oranje pedal so hard?
The last four years of Liège have seen two wins apiece for Tadej Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel, although intriguingly, both have never finished the same race. On the one occasion they were both on the same start list, 2023, Pogačar crashed out early. Is a genuine duel between the pair too much to ask for?
