Liège, Tuesday, January, 22nd 2019
2019 ARDENNES CLASSICS:
SEE YOU AT HUY… AND IN LIÈGE!
Key points:
The World’s best puncheurs will vie for the Flèche Wallonne on Wednesday, April 24th. The men and women’s races of Liège-Bastogne-Liège are set on Sunday, April 28th.
The Doyenne goes back to Liège with a finish inside the city, after 27 editions set in Ans. The Côte de la Redoute and the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons are expected to play a key role in the new finale.
The Flèche Wallonne will see the women’s peloton start for the first time from the city centre of Huy, and the female riders will arrive for the first time inside Liège with the new finish of La Doyenne.
As historical and attached to traditions as they are, the Ardennes classics still manage to bring novelty. The city of Ans was used to welcoming the champions at the end of La Doyenne, in 2019 it will host the start of the 83rd edition of the Flèche Wallonne, a 195.5-km challenge leading to the legendary battle up the Mur de Huy. The stars lining up to succeed Julian Alaphilippe will first tackle the Côte des Forges, a classic from Liège-Bastogne-Liège, before entering the final circuit. They will then face three ascents of the Côte d’Ereffe, the Côte de Cherave and the Mur de Huy.
The puncheurs will also need resilience four days later to come out on top after the 256 km awaiting them for the 105th edition of Liège-Bastogne-Liège. The challenges are as usual concentrated in the second part of the race, with nine climbs in the last 100 km. The Wanne, Stockeu and Haute-Levée triptych comes back with the addition of the Côte de Mont-le-Soie to spice it up. But the main changes come from the finale, redesigned to ensure a finish in the city center. The iconic Côte de la Redoute, the historic Côte des Forges and the always spectacular Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons (where Luxembourg champions Andy Schleck and Bob Jungels built their successes) will lead the riders to glory.
The women’s peloton will tackle the Flèche Wallonne from Huy on the Wednesday morning. The start will be given for the first time from the Grand-Place, at the bottom of the Mur. The champions will cover a 70-km loop before entering the final circuit. Two ascents of the Côte d’Ereffe, the Côte de Cherave and the Mur de Huy will give them the opportunities to try and topple Anna van der Breggen, in this 118.5-km long 22nd edition.
On Sunday, the Dutch star will discover new grounds for the third women’s race of Liège-Bastogne-Liège. After her two triumphs in Ans, she will head to Liège, for a finish in the city centre after 138.5 km of battle. Van der Breggen and her rivals will face five climbs, beginning with the Côte de Wanne, Côte de Brume and Côte de la Vecquée. They will then battle it out over the Côte de La Redoute and Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons.
As well as unveiling the courses of the Ardennes classics, the organisers revealed the team selection for the upcoming editions of La Flèche Wallonne and Liège–Bastogne–Liège. The following squads have been selected to compete alongside the 18 WorldTour outfits:
2019 Flèche Wallonne
SPORT VLAANDEREN – BALOISE
WALLONIE BRUXELLES
WANTY – GOBERT CYCLING TEAM
COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CRÉDITS
EUSKADI BASQUE COUNTRY – MURIAS
ISRAEL CYCLING ACADEMY
RALLY UHC CYCLING
2019 Liège-Bastogne-Liège
SPORT VLAANDEREN – BALOISE
WALLONIE BRUXELLES
WANTY – GOBERT CYCLING TEAM
COFIDIS, SOLUTIONS CRÉDITS
DIRECT ÉNERGIE
TEAM ARKEA – SAMSIC
VITAL CONCEPT – B&B HOTELS
9th edition of the Liège-Bastogne-Liège Challenge: Saturday, April, 27th
The day before the elite race, more than 8,000 amateur riders will be expected on the same race as professionals to challenge the most beautiful Ardennes hills. The three distances on the menu will make sure there is something for riders of all levels: 273 km, 153 km and 75 km.
Information and registration on www.lblchallenge.be
@ASO