Liège-Bastogne-Liège

This is the race that closes the spring classics season and sorts the Ardennes hierarchy. It rewards patience and precision more than explosive power alone. The route accumulates fatigue through repetition rather than altitude, and the finale often comes down to who can still respond when the road tilts up for the tenth or twelfth time. It is the oldest Monument, first run in 1892, and it retains a distinct identity among the five: less mythic than the cobbled races, less spectacular than Lombardia, but unforgiving in its own way.

The race is defined by short climbs that repeat and accumulate rather than a single decisive ascent. The Côte de la Redoute, the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons, and a handful of others appear in the final 50 kilometers, but the exact sequence and finishing circuit vary by edition. What remains constant is the tactical pattern: teams try to control the middle kilometers, attacks begin on the Redoute or shortly after, and the finale rewards riders who can position well, respond to accelerations, and still sprint or solo after 250 kilometers of attrition. Breakaways rarely survive. The winner usually comes from a late selection or a small group that forms in the final 20 kilometers. Positioning into the climbs matters as much as power on them, and crashes or hesitation can end a contender's race in seconds.