The most important facts about Liège-Bastogne-Liège

Who are the favorites?

The 111th edition of Liège-Bastogne-Liège will see the third part of the duel between Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel within a week. Both the world champion and the Olympic champion have what it takes to celebrate their third victory in this monument. Pogacar won in 2021 and 2024, Evenepoel in the two years in between. Or will there be a surprise in the Ardennes like last Sunday in the Gold Race, when Mattias Skjelmose held off the two top favorites in the final sprint? The 2023 Tour de Suisse winner was lucky that he didn't suffer any serious injuries in his crash on Wednesday in the Flèche Wallone semi-classic won by Pogacar.

Is there a key section?

At 252 km, the prestigious Ardennes classic is shorter this year than it has been since 2016. The eleven classified climbs with a total elevation gain of almost 4,500 meters are the ideal playing field for attacks. In 2022 and 2023, Evenepoel launched the decisive attack in the Côte de la Redoute around 30 km before the finish. Last year, Pogacar did the same. The third-to-last ramp is up to 20 percent steep.

And the Swiss?

The Swiss have been waiting for a victory in the "LBL" since 2001 (Oscar Camenzind) - and thus longer than in any other of the five most important one-day races. Marc Hirschi was the last Swiss rider to finish on the podium in Liège. Five years ago, the Bernese rider was only beaten by Primoz Roglic. This season, however, the sixth-placed rider in the World Championships in Zurich has not yet reached his performance level of last fall. In addition to Hirschi, his Tudor teammates Fabian Weiss and Yannis Voisard, Swiss champion Mauro Schmid and Pogacar's helper Jan Christen are also on the provisional start list. The latter impressed on Wednesday with 13th place at the Flèche Wallone in his comeback after a broken collarbone suffered at the beginning of March, Schmid finished a strong tenth.

What about Marlen Reusser?

After a short break from racing, Marlen Reusser is at the start of the women's race, which is being held for the ninth time. The rider from Bern has recently completed a ten-day training block and feels ready to form a double lead in Team Movistar together with the in-form German Liane Lippert. Two years ago, Marlen Reusser finished third on the podium in Liège. Elise Chabbey, the second Swiss hopeful on Sunday, finished 5th (2023) and 4th (2024) in the last two events. The Geneva rider from the FDJ-Suez team can be expected to achieve a top result again this year. The 153 km long women's course includes ten classified climbs.