Five storylines to watch at 2024 Liege-Bastogne-Liege

The 2024 edition of Liege-Bastogne-Liege carries with it plenty of storylines to follow across the men’s and women’s races.

As Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar prepare for battle in Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Demi Vollering will defend her title in the women's race.

(L-R) As Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar prepare for battle in Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Demi Vollering will defend her title in the women's race. Source: Getty

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British hat-trick?

The 2024 Ardennes Classics have been a British affair thus far and it could continue at the 'Old Lady'.

Tom Pidcock’s long-awaited victory in the Amstel Gold Race helped put an end to his years of heartbreak, his last-ditch sprint securing Great Britain’s first win at the Classic in the process.
Days later, it was Stephen Williams’ turn; the Briton overcoming the other 43 riders who managed to complete the race in bone-chilling conditions to claim the Flèche Wallonne in impressive fashion.
Both men will be on the road to complete the nation's hat-trick in Liege, where the British contingent will also have Jayco-AlUla’s Simon Yates in their ranks and eager to claim a Classic of his own.

Heavyweight bout

The two most successful Classic specialists in the peloton will take to the start line in Liege looking to increase their respective tallies.

World champion Mathieu van der Poel earned his sixth Monument win in Roubaix, while Tadej Pogacar remains one adrift with five following Il Lombardia last October.

Pogacar has been near unbeatable in 2024, his third-placed finish in Milan-Sanremo the only blemish - by his standards - in a run that includes victories at Strade Bianche and Volta a Catalunya.

However, not one to shy away from a challenge, van der Poel will take confidence from his recent performance in France where he dropped his rivals on the cobbles with 60 kilometres remaining.

It all makes for a mouth-watering battle in Belgium, and the latest litmus test ahead of upcoming stage races and Grand Tours.

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French twist to homeland hopefuls?

Belgian cycling enthusiasts will feel Maxim van Gils can turn heads on home soil, particularly after the 24-year-old finished third in Fleche Wallonne.

Tiesj Benoot, who finished ninth in Huy, is another hopeful, though he’ll have to contend with several rivals from across the Franco-Belgian border.

Half the top eight and even half of the top 18 riders from Fleche Wallonne hailed from France, and they’ll retain a healthy contingent of riders for the finale in Liege.

Kevin Vauquelin (Arkea–B&B Hotels) will race with high hopes after finishing second in Huy, with Romain Gregoire (Groupama-FDJ), Benoit Cosnefroy (Decathlon–AG2R La Mondiale), Guillaume Martin (Cofidis), and Romain Bardet (Team dsm–firmenich PostNL) also threatening to make an impact.

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Fleche-Wallonne 2024: Men's Race

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Vos returns

For the first time since 2021, Marianne Vos will compete in the women’s edition of Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

Vos finished sixth on that occasion but this time enters the final Classic fresh from her .

The nature of her victory was a testament to her experience and determination, having pipped Lorena Wiebes to the line after the SD Worx-Protime star celebrated too early.

Nevertheless, the 36-year-old will have the help of Rosita Reijnhout for the 152.9-kilometre course, the Deakin University Road Race winner forming part of Visma-Lease a Bike’s squad alongside Riejanne Markus.

Demi’s defence

Demi Vollering is yet to recapture the form that saw her take a hat-trick in the Ardennes last year en route to the yellow jersey at the Tour de France Femmes.

The Dutchwoman came close in the most recent Fleche Wallonne race, finishing second behind Katarzyna Niewiadoma to go with her third-placed effort at the Strade Bianche.

Defending her Liege title will be of the utmost importance as a result, though she’ll have to contend with SD Worx-Protime teammate and world champion Lotte Kopecky who returns with the .

Niewiadoma will also threaten alongside Canyon-SRAM Racing’s Elise Chabbey and Soraya Paladin, as will Elisa Longo Borghini and her Lidl-Trek team.

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4 min read
Published 19 April 2024 9:49am
Updated 19 April 2024 10:00am
By SBS Sport
Source: SBS

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