Chasing the ardent glory

January 21 ^st 2020 - 12:00

Liège keeps the good practice reignited in 2019. La Doyenne returned last year to the heart of the ardent city with a thrilling finish. The 106th edition will also see four-time winner Alejandro Valverde and his many rivals head to the boulevard d'Avroy as they chase the legend of Eddy Merckx.

With his record five victories in the streets of Liège, the Cannibal is a phantasmagorical horizon for the riders that will travel past the stone dedicated to his achievements in the côte de Stockeu, in the middle of the iconic triptych this climb marks with the côte de Wanne and the côte de Haute-Levée. At this time, the peloton will be riding on the way back to Liège, facing nine ascents in the last 100 kilometres.

Today's heroes might think of Eddy Merckx. They can also be inspired with Bernard Hinault's conquering spirit on the 40th birthday of the Badger's iconic success through the snow. A Spring Monument, Liège-Bastogne-Liège has seen snowflakes accompany the riders again in recent years and Jakob Fuglsang survived a near miss on wet roads before becoming the first rider to conquer the new finish set in Liège last year. The Doyenne is full of histories and surprises.

Christian Prudhomme