Cycling: Liège – Bastogne – Liège and the Flèche Wallonne are among the highlights of every cycling season. The ASO announced in a press release on Tuesday that fans of the two Ardennes classics can look forward to serious changes. But which professionals also like these innovations?
Liège – Bastogne – Liège 2019: La Doyenne no longer ends in Ans
For the past 27 years, the one-day classic Liège-Bastogne-Liège has ended in the suburb of Ans. In 2019, the organizers are taking a different approach. Now the finish line is being drawn on the tarmac in the center of Liege - and this is having serious repercussions. The 105th edition of the Doyenne will lead the peloton over 28 kilometers on April 256th. Eleven of the dreaded steep climbs in the Ardennes have to be mastered. The Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons, the last elevation, is already 15 kilometers from the finish, which should have a major impact on the course of the race. If the last climb was five kilometers before the finish line, in 2019 it is 15 kilometers long. This should be a thorn in the side of soloists who are weak in sprinting. In addition to the 18 already seeded WorldTour teams, the seven second division teams Wanty - Groupe Gobert, Cofidis, Israel Cycling Academy, Euskadi Basque, Sport Vlaanderen - Baloise, Wallonnie Bruxelles and Rally UHC will be at the start.
Flèche Wallonne 2019: 3x the legendary Mur de Huy
If Liège - Bastogne - Liège does not end in Ans this year, the residents of the Liège suburb can at least look forward to a start. The Flèche Wallonne will start in Ans on April 24, 2019 and then rush the drivers over 195,5 kilometers. The difficulty is once again not only the distance, but above all the constant ups and downs - and this season it should be even harder. Because at the 83rd edition of the Flèche Wallonne, the dreaded Mur de Huy has to be crossed three times. A total of eleven climbs are on the program. It is doubtful whether the additional finish lap will have a major impact on the outcome of the race. After all, hardly any favorite team will want to risk a decisive attack so early. The fans can probably look forward to another duel between Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) and last year's winner Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck - Quick-Step). The same teams are at the start, which four days later will also tackle Liège – Bastogne – Liège.
