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Spring is the quintessential time of the year for classics, as the majority of the world's most prestigious one-day races are held during this part of the calendar. Specifically, of the 5 Monuments, four are held during spring (in this order: Milano-Sanremo, Ronde Van Vlaanderen, Paris-Roubaix, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège) while only one (Il Lombardia) takes place in autumn. This Sunday, then, Liège-Bastogne-Liège marks the end of this beautiful period, as fans' attention will turn to stage races, especially to the Giro d'Italia starting on May 4th.

Men's Race: Route and Favorites

The men's race covers 254 kilometers with over 4000 meters of climbing. The profile, characteristic of the Ardennes, is dotted with short and steep climbs. The Côte de la Redoute (1.6 km at 8.7%), the Côte des Forges (1.3 km at 7.9%), and the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons (1.2 km at 11%) are the last three challenges of the route before the descent to the finish line in Liège.

With injuries to Wout Van Aert (12000), Jonas Vingegaard (1200), and Remco Evenepoel (1200), all specialists predict a duel between Tadej Pogačar (1200) and Mathieu Van Der Poel (800), although on paper the route clearly suits the Slovenian better than the Dutchman. Other contenders for victory in Liège include Mattias Skjelmose (1000), Alexandr Vlasov (1000), Thomas Pidcock (1000), Richard Carapaz (1000), David Gaudu (1000), Marc Hirschi (600), Guillaume Martin (600), Maxim Van Gils (400), Kévin Vauquelin (400), Dylan Teuns (600), Ben Healy (400), Wout Poels (600), Alexey Lutsenko (400), Benoît Cosnefroy (400), Warren Barguil (400), Stephen Williams (200), or Egan Bernal (200).

Women's Race: Route and Favorites

The women's race starts in Bastogne and heads straight to Liège, following the second half of the men's race. In total, 153 kilometers and 2300 meters of positive elevation will test the world's best puncheurs.

Demi Vollering (1200), Elisa Longo Borghini (1200), Katarzyna Niewiadoma (1000), Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (1000), Shirin Van Anrooij (600), Lotte Kopecky (1200), Juliette Labous (1000), Evita Muzic (1000), Silvia Persico (800), Cecile Uttrup Ludwig (1000), Elise Chabbey (1000), Mavi Garcia (800), Ane Santesteban (600), or Olivia Baril (400) are some of the top favorites for the race.

Photo: © Liège-Bastogne-Liège