Ardennes classics preview: Amstel Gold Race, La Fleche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege
By Matt Westby
Last Updated: 13/05/20 3:30pm
The spring one-day season draws to a close over the next week with a trio of hilly races known as the Ardennes classics.
The Amstel Gold Race, La Fleche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege all take place on courses containing a seemingly never-ending barrage of small ascents and often boast more climbing than even the toughest mountain stages of the Tour de France.
They are usually won by pure climbers or specialists known as puncheurs, who can effectively sprint up short and steep ascents.
Some of the most successful Ardennes classics riders of recent years have been Philippe Gilbert, Alejandro Valverde and Joaquim Rodriguez, and those three should once again be in contention this week along with the likes of Michal Kwiatkowski, Dan Martin, Julian Alaphilippe and Simon Gerrans.
Here is a race-by-race guide to the Ardennes classics…
Amstel Gold Race (Sunday, April 17)
Country: Netherlands.
Distance: 248.7km.
2016 winner: Enrico Gasparotto (Wanty-Groupe Gobert).
The Amstel Gold Race gets the Ardennes classics under way and is the only one that doesn't take place in Belgium.
The race hinges on the Cauberg climb, which averages 5.8 per cent in gradient over its 1.5km distance and is tackled four times by the peloton.
The race used to end at the top of the final ascent of the Cauberg, but these days the finish line is situated 1.8km of flat road further back, meaning that sprinting is just as important as climbing in a normally gripping finale.
The race starts in Maastricht and then takes in several loops to the east of the city before finishing in Valkenberg.
La Fleche Wallonne (Wednesday, April 20)
Country: Belgium.
Distance: 196km.
2016 winner: Alejandro Valverde (Movistar).
Just as the Amstel Gold Race is built around the Cauberg, La Fleche Wallonne centres on the notorious climb of the 'Mur de Huy', which translates to 'Wall of Huy'.
Although it is ridden only three times, it is far tougher than the Cauberg, hitting a maximum gradient of 26 per cent and an average of 9.3 per cent over its 1.3km distance.
And to make it even harder for the contenders, the race ends at the summit of the third ascent, so there is no way back if you're lacking energy, positioned badly at the bottom or time your attack poorly.
The sight of the peloton wrestling the steep slopes of the Mur is one of the most iconic in cycling and the race's finale is always thrilling.
The race starts in Marche-en-Famenne, in the south-east of Belgium, and ends in Huy, just to the west of Liege.
Liege-Bastogne-Liege (Sunday, April 24)
Country: Belgium.
Distance: 253km.
2015 winner: Alejandro Valverde (Movistar).
Liege-Bastogne-Liege is the most prestigious of the three Ardennes classics and is the fourth of the season's five 'Monuments', following Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, and preceding Il Lombardia.
It is also one of the oldest races in cycling, having first been held in 1892, and is consequently nicknamed 'La Doyenne', or 'Old Lady'.
The race has traditionally been decided on the late climbs of the Cote de Redoute, which averages 8.4 per cent in gradient over its 2.1km distance, and the Cote de Saint Nicolas, which averages 11.1 per cent over 1km, followed by a flat dash to the finish.
However, organisers have this year introduced the cobbled Cote de la Rue Naniot, which averages 10.5 per cent over 550m, as an additional test inside the final 2.5km.
As its name suggests, the race starts in Liege, heads south to Bastogne and then loops back to the finish in Ans, just outside Liege.
