The first part of the season, dedicated to the classics of the north and the Ardennes, ends with the   Liège-Bastogne-Liège , the 'Doyenne' with its 257 km dotted with historic climbs and a modified finish in recent years. Unlike when you arrived in Ans, after having climbed the Saint Nicolas, the finish line is suitable for resistant riders but also with a good quick start.

Tomorrow, as always, the first part of the race will be the simplest one, useful for forming the breakaway of the day. After the halfway point in Bastogne, we will return to Liège with a respectable course.

The race will get underway at -90 from the end, when in the space of 20 kilometers they will climb Côte de Mont-le-Soie, Côte de Wanne, Côte de Stockeu (1 km at 12.5%) and Côte de la Haute-Levée . Then the Col du Rosier, the longest ascent of the race with its 4400 meters, after the 200 kilometers of the race.

The ascent to the legendary one will move the race   Redoute , 2100 meters long at 8.9%. From the top there will be 30 kilometers to go to the finish.

After the brow, still the Côte de Sprimont and the   Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons , last bump of the day about fifteen kilometers from the finish. Here the average slope will be 11% with peaks of 15%. Along the 1300 meters of ascent someone will try to make the decisive selection but it is more likely that a small group will be able to take advantage of it that, after having covered a downhill stretch and a short flat, will play for the final victory as has happened in the last two years.

The starting list is promising: Primoz Roglic is absent, all eyes will be on   Wout Van Aert,   fresh from a brilliant Paris-Roubaix, and on his teammate Tiesj Benoot, who often did well in Liège. The prices of Jonas Vingegaard, on the other hand, appear to be decreasing, appearing not at all brilliant at the Freccia Vallone. But Jumbo Visma will not be the only team to have at least two strikers. There is Team Ineos, for example, who shows up with at least two arrows in his bow: it is   Daniel Martinez and Michal Kwiatkowski , while a big question mark concerns Thomas Pidcock, who retired on Wednesday long before climbing the Huy wall.

Tadej Pogacar will not be at the start due to the loss of his girlfriend.   At this point the captain becomes   Marc Hirschi , with George Bennett, Marc Soler and Brandon McNulty working for him. The Quick Step responds with   Julian Alaphilippe , who has an open account with the doyen of the classics given the sprints lost in 2020 and 2021. The French does not seem to be at the top but Remco Evenepoel could help him, at his first appearance on the home roads and eager to do well in a race from the historic palmares.

It is not possible to forget   Alejandro Valverde , second Wednesday to the Freccia and who has stamped the Liege four times (in addition to obtaining a very long series of placings). The 42-year-old from Movistar will be able to count on an Enric Mas who, more than downhill, looked really brilliant in the last few outings.

Watch out for Bahrain Victorius, which presents the winner on Wednesday,   Dylan Teuns , but also Matej Mohoric, fresh from fifth place at Roubaix, and Wout Poels, who has already won in Liège in the past.

Then a nice list of suitors capable of obtaining a good result: we mention   Benoit Cosnefroy   from Ag2R, Alexandr Vlasov and Sergio Higuita from Bora, Guillaume Martin and Ion Izagirre from Cofidis, Quentin Pacher and Rudy Molard (back to shine on the Huy wall) for Groupama Fdj, Tim Wellens from Lotto Soudal,   Michael Woods   and Jakob Fulgslang of Israel Premier Tech, Bauke Mollema of Trek Segafredo, Tour of the Alps winner,   Romain Bardet , and his Team DSM teammate, Soren Kragh Andersen,   Warren Barguil   Arkea Samsic and, why not, Michael Matthews of Team Bike Exchange. A look also at Tobias Johannessen of Uno X and Alexis Vuillermoz of Total Energies.

The Italians are presented at the start, once again, in reduced ranks. However, we expect a jolt from   Vincenzo Nibali   for Astana,   Lorenzo Rota   for Intermarchè Wanty Gobert, e   Diego Ulissi   of UAE Emirates.

It will be the last Liege not only for Valverde but also for   Philippe Gilbert,   winner in 2011. Another piece of cycling history that he will leave at the end of the season.

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